Search

Síndrome de Angelman; Fenotipo Síndrome d'Angelman; Fenotip Angelman syndrome; Phenotype Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by severe developmental delay with absence of speech, happy disposition, frequent laughter, hyperactivity, stereotypies, ataxia and seizures with specific EEG abnormalities. There is a 10–15% of patients with an AS phenotype whose genetic cause remains unknown (Angelman-like syndrome, AS-like). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on a cohort of 14 patients with clinical features of AS and no molecular diagnosis. As a result, we identified 10 de novo and 1 X-linked pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 10 neurodevelopmental genes (SYNGAP1, VAMP2, TBL1XR1, ASXL3, SATB2, SMARCE1, SPTAN1, KCNQ3, SLC6A1 and LAS1L) and one deleterious de novo variant in a candidate gene (HSF2). Our results highlight the wide genetic heterogeneity in AS-like patients and expands the differential diagnosis. This work is supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MG, PI16/01411), Asociación Española de Síndrome de Angelman (EG), Institut d’investigació i innovació Parc Taulí I3PT (CA, CIR2016/025, CIR2018/021) and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (XD, SAF2016-14 80255-R). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene; however, defects in other genes (CDKL5 and FOXG1) can lead to presentations that resemble classic RTT, although they are not completely identical. Here, we attempted to identify other monogenic disorders that share features of RTT. A total of 437 patients with a clinical diagnosis of RTT-like were studied; in 242 patients, a custom panel with 17 genes related to an RTT-like phenotype was run via a HaloPlex-Target-Enrichment-System. In the remaining 195 patients, a commercial TruSight-One-Sequencing-Panel was analysed. A total of 40 patients with clinical features of RTT had variants which affect gene function in six genes associated with other monogenic disorders. Twelve patients had variants in STXBP1, nine in TCF4, six in SCN2A, five in KCNQ2, four in MEF2C and four in SYNGAP1. Genetic studies using next generation sequencing (NGS) allowed us to study a larger number of genes associated with RTT-like simultaneously, providing a genetic diagnosis for a wider group of patients. These new findings provide the clinician with more information and clues that could help in the prevention of future symptoms or in pharmacologic therapy.

Aceruloplasminemia is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by mild microcytic anemia, diabetes, retinopathy, liver disease, and progressive neurological symptoms due to iron accumulation in pancreas, retina, liver, and brain. The disease is caused by mutations in the Ceruloplasmin (CP) gene that produce a strong reduction or absence of ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity, leading to an impairment of iron metabolism. Most patients described so far are from Japan. Prompt diagnosis and therapy are crucial to prevent neurological complications since, once established, they are usually irreversible. Here, we describe the largest series of non-Japanese patients with aceruloplasminemia published so far, including 13 individuals from 11 families carrying 13 mutations in the CP gene (7 missense, 3 frameshifts, and 3 splicing mutations), 10 of which are novel. All missense mutations were studied by computational modeling. Clinical manifestations were heterogeneous, but anemia, often but not necessarily microcytic, was frequently the earliest one. This study confirms the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of aceruloplasminemia, a disease expected to be increasingly diagnosed in the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) era. Unexplained anemia with low transferrin saturation and high ferritin levels without inflammation should prompt the suspicion of aceruloplasminemia, which can be easily confirmed by low serum ceruloplasmin levels. Collaborative joint efforts are needed to better understand the pathophysiology of this potentially disabling disease. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) may exhibit an incomplete clinical presentation, making difficult to reach a clinical diagnosis. A phenotypic overlap may exist in children with other RASopathies or with other genetic conditions if only multiple café-au-lait macules (CALMs) are present. The syndromes that can converge in these inconclusive phenotypes have different clinical courses. In this context, an early genetic testing has been proposed to be clinically useful to manage these patients. We present the validation and implementation into diagnostics of a custom NGS panel (I2HCP, ICO-IMPPC Hereditary Cancer Panel) for testing patients with a clinical suspicion of a RASopathy (n = 48) and children presenting multiple CALMs (n = 102). We describe the mutational spectrum and the detection rates identified in these two groups of individuals. We identified pathogenic variants in 21 out of 48 patients with clinical suspicion of RASopathy, with mutations in NF1 accounting for 10% of cases. Furthermore, we identified pathogenic mutations mainly in the NF1 gene, but also in SPRED1, in more than 50% of children with multiple CALMs, exhibiting an NF1 mutational spectrum different from a group of clinically diagnosed NF1 patients (n = 80). An NGS panel strategy for the genetic testing of these two phenotype-defined groups outperforms previous strategies.

A genetic analysis of unexplained mild-moderate intellectual disability and co-morbid psychiatric or behavioural disorders is not systematically conducted in adults. A cohort of 100 adult patients affected by both phenotypes were analysed in order to identify the presence of copy number variants (CNVs) responsible for their condition identifying a yield of 12.8% of pathogenic CNVs (19% when including clinically recognizable microdeletion syndromes). Moreover, there is a detailed clinical description of an additional 11% of the patients harbouring possible pathogenic CNVs—including a 7q31 deletion (IMMP2L) in two unrelated patients and duplications in 3q29, 9p24.2p24.1 and 15q14q15.1—providing new evidence of its contribution to the phenotype. This study adds further proof of including chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) as a mandatory test to improve the diagnosis in the adult patients in psychiatric services. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10519-018-9902-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Rett Working Group., Rett syndrome (RTT) is an early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that almost exclusively affects girls and is totally disabling. Three genes have been identified that cause RTT: MECP2, CDKL5 and FOXG1. However, the etiology of some of RTT patients still remains unknown. Recently, next generation sequencing (NGS) has promoted genetic diagnoses because of the quickness and affordability of the method. To evaluate the usefulness of NGS in genetic diagnosis, we present the genetic study of RTT-like patients using different techniques based on this technology. We studied 1577 patients with RTT-like clinical diagnoses and reviewed patients who were previously studied and thought to have RTT genes by Sanger sequencing. Genetically, 477 of 1577 patients with a RTT-like suspicion have been diagnosed. Positive results were found in 30% by Sanger sequencing, 23% with a custom panel, 24% with a commercial panel and 32% with whole exome sequencing. A genetic study using NGS allows the study of a larger number of genes associated with RTT-like symptoms simultaneously, providing genetic study of a wider group of patients as well as significantly reducing the response time and cost of the study., The work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/FEDER, PI15/01013); Crowdfunding program PRECIPITA, from the Spanish Ministry of Health (Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología); Catalan Association for Rett Syndrome; Fondobiorett and Mi Princesa Rett. The molecular analyses of eleven WES in 2014 were funded by the CNAG’s 2013 call "300 exomes to elucidate rare diseases”. AGC is supported by the ISCIII grant: FIS PI15/01082.

Statin therapy response is highly variable. Variants of lipid metabolism genes and statin pharmacokinetic modulators could play a role, however, the impact of most of these variants remains unconfirmed. A prospective and multicenter study included 252 patients was carried out in order to assess, according to achievement of LDL-C or non-HDL-C therapeutic targets and quantitative changes in lipid profiles, the impact of CETP, ABCA1, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9 gene candidate variants on the simvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin response. Patients carrier ABCA1 rs2230806 and CYP2D6*3 variants are less likely to achieve therapeutic lipid targets (p = 0.020, OR = 0.59 [0.37, 0.93]; p = 0.040, OR = 0.23 [0.05, 0.93], respectively). Among CETP variants, rs708272 was linked to a 10.56% smaller reduction in LDL-C with rosuvastatin (95% CI = [1.27, 19.86] %; p = 0.028). In contrast, carriers of rs5882 had a 13.33% greater reduction in LDL-C (95% CI = [25.38, 1.28]; p = 0.032). If these findings are confirmed, ABCA1, CYP2D6, and CETP genotyping could be used to help predict which statin and dosage is appropriate in order to improve personalized medicine.

In the published version of this paper the author Neus Baena's name was incorrectly given as Neus Baena Diez. This has now been corrected in both the HTML and PDF versions of the paper.

PurposeWe delineate the clinical spectrum and describe the histology in arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS), a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by tortuosity of the large and medium-sized arteries, caused by mutations in SLC2A10.MethodsWe retrospectively characterized 40 novel ATS families (50 patients) and reviewed the 52 previously reported patients. We performed histology and electron microscopy (EM) on skin and vascular biopsies and evaluated TGF-β signaling with immunohistochemistry for pSMAD2 and CTGF.ResultsStenoses, tortuosity, and aneurysm formation are widespread occurrences. Severe but rare vascular complications include early and aggressive aortic root aneurysms, neonatal intracranial bleeding, ischemic stroke, and gastric perforation. Thus far, no reports unequivocally document vascular dissections or ruptures. Of note, diaphragmatic hernia and infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) are frequently observed. Skin and vascular biopsies show fragmented elastic fibers (EF) and increased collagen deposition. EM of skin EF shows a fragmented elastin core and a peripheral mantle of microfibrils of random directionality. Skin and end-stage diseased vascular tissue do not indicate increased TGF-β signaling.ConclusionOur findings warrant attention for IRDS and diaphragmatic hernia, close monitoring of the aortic root early in life, and extensive vascular imaging afterwards. EM on skin biopsies shows disease-specific abnormalities.GENETICS in MEDICINE advance online publication, 11 January 2018; doi:10.1038/gim.2017.253. ispartof: Genetics in Medicine vol:20 issue:10 pages:1236-1245 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Mandibulofacial dysostosis, Guion-Almeida type (MFDGA) is a recently delineated multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome characterized by the association of mandibulofacial dysostosis (MFD) with external ear malformations, hearing loss, cleft palate, choanal atresia, microcephaly, intellectual disability, oesophageal atresia (OA), congenital heart defects (CHDs), and radial ray defects. MFDGA emerges as a clinically recognizable entity, long underdiagnosed due to highly variable presentations. The main differential diagnoses are CHARGE and Feingold syndromes, oculoauriculovertebral spectrum, and other MFDs. EFTUD2, located on 17q21.31, encodes a component of the major spliceosome and is disease causing in MFDGA, due to heterozygous loss-of-function (LoF) mutations. Here, we describe a series of 36 cases of MFDGA, including 24 previously unreported cases, and we review the literature in order to delineate the clinical spectrum ascribed to EFTUD2 LoF. MFD, external ear anomalies, and intellectual deficiency occur at a higher frequency than microcephaly. We characterize the evolution of the facial gestalt at different ages and describe novel renal and cerebral malformations. The most frequent extracranial malformation in this series is OA, followed by CHDs and skeletal abnormalities. MFDGA is probably more frequent than other syndromic MFDs such as Nager or Miller syndromes. Although the wide spectrum of malformations complicates diagnosis, characteristic facial features provide a useful handle.

Context: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by severe hyperphagia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and leptin are reciprocally involved in energy homeostasis. Objectives: To analyze the role of BDNF and leptin in satiety in genetic subtypes of PWS. Design: Experimental study. Setting: University hospital. Subjects: 90 adults: 30 PWS patients; 30 age-sex-BMI-matched obese controls; and 30 age-sex-matched lean controls. Interventions: Subjects ingested a liquid meal after fasting ≥10 hours. Main Outcome Measures: Leptin and BDNF levels in plasma extracted before ingestion and 30’, 60’, and 120’ after ingestion. Hunger, measured on a 100-point visual analogue scale before ingestion and 60’ and 120’ after ingestion. Results: Fasting BDNF levels were lower in PWS than in controls (p = 0.05). Postprandially, PWS patients showed only a truncated early peak in BDNF, and their BDNF levels at 60' and 120' were lower compared with lean controls (p

Colobran, Roger et al., The complement system plays a central role in defense to encapsulated bacteria through opsonization and membrane attack complex (MAC) dependent lysis. The three activation pathways (classical, lectin, and alternative) converge in the cleavage of C5, which initiates MAC formation and target lysis. C5 deficiency is associated to recurrent infections by Neisseria spp. In the present study, complement deficiency was suspected in three families of North-African origin after one episode of invasive meningitis due to a non-groupable and two uncommon Meningococcal serotypes (E29, Y). Activity of alternative and classical pathways of complement were markedly reduced and the measurement of terminal complement components revealed total C5 absence. C5 gene analysis revealed two novel mutations as causative of the deficiency: Family A propositus carried a homozygous deletion of two adenines in the exon 21 of C5 gene, resulting in a frameshift and a truncated protein (c.2607_2608del/p.Ser870ProfsX3 mutation). Families B and C probands carried the same homozygous deletion of three consecutive nucleotides (CAA) in exon 9 of the C5 gene, leading to the deletion of asparagine 320 (c.960_962del/p.Asn320del mutation). Family studies confirmed an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Although sharing the same geographical origin, families B and C were unrelated. This prompted us to investigate this mutation prevalence in a cohort of 768 North-African healthy individuals. We identified one heterozygous carrier of the p.Asn320del mutation (allelic frequency = 0.065 %), indicating that this mutation is present at low frequency in North-African population., This study was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, grant PI14/00405, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by MINECO grant CGL2013-44351-P.

We applied comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in six patients with de novo prenatal or postnatal extra marker chromosomes (MC). In four cases, MCs were mosaic and in one of them, the MC was detected in less than 50% of the cells. In three cases, CGH identified the origin of the extra MCs. In the other three, two prenatal cases and one child with an abnormal phenotype, CGH showed normal profiles. Among these cases, a normal profile and entirely C-band positive was identified suggesting that MC did not contain euchromatin. Genetic imbalances detected by CGH were as follow: a gain of 8p10-p12 in a boy with facial dysmorphism, hyperactivity and speech delay, a gain of 8q10-q12 in a healthy man with a history of spontaneous abortions, and a gain of 15q11-q13 in a girl with speech delay, and motor skill and object manipulation difficulties. Clinical data of these patients were compared with those reported in the literature. We conclude that CGH is a very useful and powerful tool for characterizing prenatal or postnatal MCs, even when the mosaicism is present and the MCs are present in less than 50% of the cells.

The study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of prenatal ultrasound diagnoses for renal anomalies in 20 registries of 12 European countries, and to compare the different prenatal scanning policies. Standardized data were acquired from 709,030 livebirths, stillbirths, and induced abortions during the study period of 2.5 years and transmitted for central analysis. At least one renal malforruation was diagnosed in 1130 infants and fetuses. Prenatal diagnosis (PD) was given in 81.8% of all cases, 29% of these pregnancies were terminated. The highest detection rate was reported for unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys with 97% (102/105). An early diagnosis was documented for exstrophy of bladder at a mean gestational age of 18.5 weeks. Dilatations of the upper urinary tract were seen late in pregnancy at 28.3 weeks. Terminations of pregnancies (TOP) were performed in 67% (58/86) of the detected bilateral renal agenesis/dysgenesis, but only 4% of the unilateral multicystic dysplastic renal malformations (4/102). In about 1/3 of the cases, renal malformations are within the category of associated malformations, which include multiple non-syndromal malformations, chromosomal aberrations, and non-chromosomal syndromes. Renal malformations were detected in 2/3 of the associated category by the first prenatal ultrasound scan. Detection rates vary in the different countries of the European community due to diverse policies, ethical, and religious background. Countries with no routine ultrasound show the lowest rates in detection, and termination of pregnancy. Prenatally detected renal malformations should result in a careful examination for further anomalies. Prenatal ultrasound fulfills the needs of screening examinations and is a good tool in detecting lethal and severe renal malformations. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Objective To investigate outcomes of ultrasound investigations (US) and invasive diagnostic procedures in cases of congenital malformations (CM), and to compare the use of invasive prenatal test techniques (amniocentesis (AC) versus chorionic villus sampling (CVS)) among European populations.Design Analysis of data from population-based registries of CM.Subjects 25 400 cases of CM recorded by 14 EUROCAT registries covering a total population of 1013 352 births 1995-99.Results US were performed in 91% of cases, and positively detected CM in 35% of cases. AC was performed in 24% of the cases and CVS in 3% of cases. Thirty-eight percent of invasive tests gave positive results. Fifty-two percent of cases with maternal age greater than or equal to35 years had an invasive test performed compared to 20% of cases with younger mothers.Considerable variation was found between registries in the uptake rate of invasive tests in cases with older maternal age and on the use of invasive tests with only four regions employing CVS techniques in at least a third of the cases having invasive tests. For chromosomal anomalies US gave positive results in 46% of cases with maternal ageConclusion Prenatal US was performed in 91% of all pregnancies with CM but the test was only positive in a third of the cases. There was large regional variation in the uptake rate of invasive tests with maternal age of 35 years or more. For every CVS carried out there were nine AC tests. US is an important tool in the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies in Europe. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of ultrasound scanning to the prenatal detection of trisomy 21 in a large unselected European population. Data from 19 congenital malformation registers in 11 European countries were included. The prenatal ultrasound screening programs in the countries ranged from no routine screening to three ultrasound investigations per patient. Routine serum screening was offered in four of the 11 countries and routine screening on the basis of maternal age amniocentesis in all. The results show that overall 53% of cases of trisomy 21 were detected prenatally with a range from 3% in Lithuania to 88% in Paris. Ninety-eight percent of women whose babies were diagnosed before 24 weeks gestation chose to terminate the pregnancy. Centres/countries that offer serum screening do not have a significantly higher detection rate of trisomy 21 when compared to those that offer maternal age amniocentesis and anomaly scanning only. Fifty percent of trisomy 21 cases were born to women aged 35 years or more. In conclusions, second trimester ultrasound plays an important role in the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21. Of those cases prenatally diagnosed, 64% of cases in women

This study evaluated the prenatal diagnosis of Turner syndrome by ultrasound examination in an unselected population from all over Europe. Data from 19 congenital malformation registries from 11 European countries were analyzed. Turner syndrome was diagnosed in 125 cases (7.2%) in a total of 1,738 chromosome abnormalities. Sixty-seven percent of cases were detected prenatally by ultrasound examination due to the presence of congenital defects. The most frequent anomalies were cystic hygroma (59.5%) and hydrops fetalis (19%). The most frequent karyotype was 45,X (81.6%) followed by different types of mosaicism (16.8%). Significant differences in congenital defects (P = 0.0003) were observed between 45,X karyotypes and 45,X mosaicism cases. Prenatal counseling for 45,X mosaicism should take into account the expectation of a milder phenotype. In 78.6% of cases diagnosed by ultrasound examination due to congenital anomalies, the pregnancy was terminated. Prenatal detection of Turner syndrome by ultrasound examination was high in this unselected population.

High throughput methods such as next generation sequencing are increasingly used in molecular diagnosis. The aim of this study was to develop a workflow for the detection ofBRCA1andBRCA2mutations using massive parallel sequencing in a 454 GS Junior bench top sequencer. Our approach was first validated in a panel of 23 patients containing 62 unique variants that had been previously Sanger sequenced. Subsequently, 101 patients with familial breast and ovarian cancer were studied.BRCA1andBRCA2exon enrichment has been performed by PCR amplification using the BRCA MASTR kit (Multiplicom). Bioinformatic analysis of reads is performed with the AVA software v2.7 (Roche). In total, all 62 variants were detected resulting in a sensitivity of 100%. 71 false positives were called resulting in a specificity of 97.35%. All of them correspond to deletions located in homopolymeric stretches. The analysis of the homopolymers stretches of 6 bp or longer using the BRCA HP kit (Multiplicom) increased the specificity of the detection ofBRCA1andBRCA2mutations to 99.99%. We show here that massive parallel pyrosequencing can be used as a diagnostic strategy to test forBRCA1andBRCA2mutations meeting very stringent sensitivity and specificity parameters replacing traditional Sanger sequencing with a lower cost.

Altres ajuts: Fundació Parc Taulí - Institut Universitari UAB CIR2009/33 i CIR2010/034 Deletions in the 2p16.3 region that includes the neurexin (NRXN1) gene are associated with intellectual disability and various psychiatric disorders, in particular, autism and schizophrenia. We present three unrelated patients, two adults and one child, in whom we identified an intragenic 2p16.3 deletion within the NRXN1 gene using an oligonucleotide comparative genomic hybridization array. The three patients presented dual diagnosis that consisted of mild intellectual disability and autism and bipolar disorder. Also, they all shared a dysmorphic phenotype characterized by a long face, deep set eyes, and prominent premaxilla. Genetic analysis of family members showed two inherited deletions. A comprehensive neuropsychological examination of the 2p16.3 deletion carriers revealed the same phenotype, characterized by anxiety disorder, borderline intelligence, and dysexecutive syndrome. The cognitive pattern of dysexecutive syndrome with poor working memory and reduced attention switching, mental flexibility, and verbal fluency was the same than those of the adult probands. We suggest that in addition to intellectual disability and psychiatric disease, NRXN1 deletion is a risk factor for a characteristic cognitive and dysmorphic profile. The new cognitive phenotype found in the 2p16.3 deletion carriers suggests that 2p16.3 deletions might have a wide variable expressivity instead of incomplete penetrance.

Objectives: The objective of this work is to provide updated guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of girls and women with Turner syndrome (TS). Participants: The Turner Syndrome Consensus Study Group is a multidisciplinary panel of experts with relevant clinical and research experience with TS that met in Bethesda, Maryland, April 2006. The meeting was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and unrestricted educational grants from pharmaceutical companies. Evidence: The study group used peer-reviewed published information to form its principal recommendations. Expert opinion was used where good evidence was lacking. Consensus: The study group met for 3 d to discuss key issues. Breakout groups focused on genetic, cardiological, auxological, psychological, gynecological, and general medical concerns and drafted recommendations for presentation to the whole group. Draft reports were available for additional comment on the meeting web site. Synthesis of the section reports and final revisions were reviewed by e-mail and approved by whole-group consensus. Conclusions:Wesuggest that parents receiving a prenatal diagnosis of TS be advised of the broad phenotypic spectrum and the good quality of life observed in TS in recent years. We recommend that magnetic resonance angiography be used in addition to echocardiography to evaluate the cardiovascular system and suggest that patients with defined cardiovascular defects be cautioned in regard to pregnancy and certain types of exercise. We recommend that puberty should not be delayed to promote statural growth. We suggest a comprehensive educational evaluation in early childhood to identify potential attention-deficit or nonverbal learning disorders. We suggest that caregivers address the prospect of premature ovarian failure in an open and sensitive manner and emphasize the critical importance of estrogen treatment for feminization and for bone health during the adult years. All individuals with TS require continued monitoring of hearing and thyroid function throughout the lifespan. We suggest that adults with TS be monitored for aortic enlargement, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92: 10–25, 2007) TURNER SYNDROME (TS) affects approximately one in 2500 live-born females (1). This disorder presents the clinician with a challenging array of genetic, developmental, endocrine, cardiovascular, psychosocial, and reproductive issues. There have been important advances in each of these arenas since publication of the previous recommendations for the care of girls and women with TS (2). This paper is based on the proceedings of a multidisciplinary international conference sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in April 2006. Discussions at this conference and the ensuing recommendations have been based upon recent, peer-reviewed scientific publications. However, there are very few TS studies that would qualify as guidance for evidence-based recommendations, and hence

Objectives: Birth defects are a major health burden. Primary prevention is at present emerging, i.e. folate supplementation. When it is not possible, as is still the case for most birth defects, research is needed to determine how an optimal provision of prenatal diagnosis and use of services can be achieved. Ultrasound scans in the midtrimester of pregnancy are now a routine part of antenatal care in most European countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies by fetal ultrasonographic examination across Europe. Methods: Data from 20 registries of congenital malformations in 12 European countries were included. The prenatal ultrasound screening programs in the countries ranged from no routine screening to 3 fetal scans offered, including 2 for biometric purposes and 1 for search of congenital anomalies, the anomaly scan. Results: There were 8,126 cases with congenital anomalies with an overall prenatal detection rate of 44.3%. Termination of pregnancy was performed in 1,657 cases (21.8%). There was significant variation in the prenatal detection rate between regions with the lowest detection rate in registries of countries without routine fetal screening (Denmark and The Netherlands) and the highest detection rate in registries of countries with at least 1 anomaly scan (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK). However, there were large variations among the registries with a high detection rate. There were significant differences in the prenatal detection rate and proportion of induced abortions between isolated anomalies and associated anomalies (chromosomal aberrations, recognized syndromes, and multiple without chromosomal aberrations or recognized syndromes). Conclusions: Prenatal detection rate of congenital anomalies by fetal scan varies significantly between registries of European countries even with the same screening policy. Prenatal detection of congenital anomalies is significantly higher when associated malformations are present. The rate of induced abortions varies between registries of countries even with the same detection rate of congenital anomalies. The variation described may be due to cultural and policy differences.

The aim of the study was to carry out cytogenetic analyses in pregnancy losses. Samples of cartilage and placenta tissue were obtained prospectively from 237 pregnancy losses of more than 16 weeks of gestation (130 stillbirths, 97 induced abortions and 10 early neonatal deaths). Cartilage culture was performed in 222 samples and placental culture was initiated in 224. The overall culture success rate was 83.5%, 72.3% in stillbirths, 97% in induced abortions and 100% in early neonatal death. An abnormal karyotype was detected in 52 cases: 6.9% in stillbirths, 43.6% in induced abortions and 20% in early neonatal deaths. The rate of discrepancy between the prenatal cytogenetic results in amniotic fluid and the post-termination karyotype was 3%. The tissue of choice for cytogenetic analysis was cartilage in induced abortions and early neonatal death, and placenta in stillbirth. The majority of cases had a chromosome abnormality: multiple congenital anomalies in 74.6%, and a single major anomaly in 9.7%.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prenatal detection of chromosomal abnormalities by fetal ultrasonographic examination in a large database provided by 19 Registries of Congenital Anomalies from 11 European countries. This study included 1738 cases of chromosomal abnormalities, liveborn, stillborn or termination of pregnancy regardless of maternal age from a population of 664,340 births during the period 1996 - 1998. The most frequent chromosomal anomalies were Down syndrome (n=1050), trisomy 18 (n=191), Turner syndrome (n=125), trisomy 13 (n=86), and triploidy (n=56). Fetal ultrasonographic examination resulted in the prenatal detection of 37.7% of the chromosomal abnormalities, thereby resulting in a reduction of 28.6% in their prevalence at birth due to terminations of pregnancy. The detection rate by ultrasound examination varied according to local policies of prenatal diagnosis : it was lower in countries where routine scan were not performed and higher in countries in which at least one routine anomaly scan during the second trimester of pregnancy was performed. The ultrasound detection varied according to the specific chromosomal anomaly and was lowest for Klinefelter syndrome (5.7%) and highest for triploidy (78.6%). For Down syndrome it was 26.4%. Termination of pregnancy was performed in 75.9% of the cases. Among the 655 cases detected by ultrasound, the most frequent ultrasound signs by category of chromosomal abnormalities were analysed. This study shows that ultrasound screening is an important tool in the prenatal detection of chromosomal abnormalities in Europe, leading to a significant reduction in the prevalence of livebirth children with chromosomal anomalies.

Introduction The therapeutic response to statins has a high interindividual variability with respect to reductions in plasma LDL-cholesterol (c-LDL) and increases in HDL cholesterol (c-HDL). Many studies suggest that there is a relationship between the rs20455 KIF6 gene variant (c.2155T> C, Trp719Arg) and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in patients being treated with statins. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the c.2155T> C KIF6 gene variant modulates the hypercholesteremic effects of treatment with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or rosuvastatin. Materials and methods This was a prospective, observational and multicenter study. Three hundred and forty-four patients who had not undergone prior lipid-lowering treatment were recruited. Simvastatin, atorvastatin or rosuvastatin were administered. Lipid profiles and multiple clinical and biochemical variables were assessed before and after treatment. Results The c.2155T> C variant of the KIF6 gene was shown to influence physiological responses to treatment with simvastatin and atorvastatin. Patients who were homozygous for the c.2155T> C variant (CC genotype, ArgArg) had a 7.0% smaller reduction of LDL cholesterol levels (p = 0.015) in response to hypolipidemic treatment compared to patients with the TT (TrpTrp) or CT (TrpArg) genotype. After pharmacological treatment with rosuvastatin, patients carrying the genetic variant had an increase in c-HDL that was 21.9% lower compared to patients who did not carry the variant (p = 0.008). Conclusion Being a carrier of the c.2155T> C variant of the KIF6 gene negatively impacts patient responses to simvastatin, atorvastatin or rosuvastatin in terms of lipid lowering effect. Increasing the intensity of hypolipidemic therapy may be advisable for patients who are positive for the c.2155T> C variant.