Cytogenetic analysis in a large series of children with non-syndromic mental retardation.
Mental retardation affects 1-3% of the population. To evaluate the implication of chromosomal abnormalities in the etiology of mental retardation, 1420 patients with non-syndromic mental retardation recruited at the department of cytogenetics of Farhat Hached hospital (Sousse, Tunisia) between January 2005 and December 2009, were analyzed using standard cytogenetic techniques. Age ranged between 3 and 18 years with a median of 8 years. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 7.8% of patients and an increased prevalence of chromosome anomalies was observed in patients when the mental retardation is associated with a severe degree of intellectual disability, facial dysmorphic features and/or congenital malformations or epilepsy.
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; Common Service Units for Research in Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sousse, Tunisia.
Inesse Ben Abdallah
IB
Bouhjar
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.
Abir
A
Gmidène
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; Common Service Units for Research in Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sousse, Tunisia.
Soumaya
S
Mougou-Zrelli
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; Common Service Units for Research in Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sousse, Tunisia.
Hanene
H
Hannachi
Department of Pediatrics, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.
Najla
N
Soyah
Department of Psychiatric, Fatouma Bourguiba University Teaching Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia.
Naoufel
N
Gadour
Department of Epidemiology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.
Imed
I
Harrabi
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; Common Service Units for Research in Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sousse, Tunisia.
Hatem
H
Elghezal
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; Common Service Units for Research in Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sousse, Tunisia.
Ali
A
Saad
Chromosomal abnormalities; congenital malformations; epilepsy; facial dysmorphism; karyotype; mental retardation