title: A Study of a Geographical Cluster of Huntington's Disease in a Brazilian Town of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate a geographical cluster of Huntington's disease (HD) in Ervalia, a Brazilian town of Minas Gerais state (MG). Therefore, we calculated the minimum prevalence of HD in Ervalia, known to have many HD affected families. We also determined the genetic profile of the polymorphic CAG region of the HTT gene in 32 subjects of these affected families.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed, starting in January 2011 until June 2013. Individuals who participated in the survey were all from Ervalia town, MG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimum prevalence rate found was 7.2/10,000 people, higher than the worldwide prevalence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The minimum prevalence of HD in Ervalia was at least 10.3- to 14.4-fold greater than that of the world population, although it does not represent the overall prevalence of the disease in Brazil. Certainly an expanded survey in the country will lead to a lower prevalence estimate than Ervalia's.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UNIRIO, Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, HUGG, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana de Andrade
authors.initials: Lde A
authors.lastname: Agostinho
authors.forename: Iane Dos Santos
authors.initials: Idos S
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Lorena Agostini
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Mariana de Almeida
authors.initials: Mde A
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Távia Muniz Ribeiro de Oliveira
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Thays Andrade
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Apolinario
authors.forename: Simão Pedro
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Rafael de Lima
authors.initials: Rde L
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Suely Rodrigues
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Carmen Lúcia Antão
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires