Rate Of Consanguineous Marriages Research Articles

Rare Manifestations of Neu-Laxova Syndrome

Neu-Laxova syndrome is a rare lethal congenital disorder involving multiple systems. Intrauterine growth retardation, ichthyosis, microcephaly, abnormal facial findings and limb contractures are its key features. We present a stillborn female baby of 1.5 kg with characteristic features including growth retardation, microcephaly, severe ectropion, micrognathia, flattened nose, eclabion, large ears, puffy hands and feet. In addition to these features, lissencephaly, severely hypoplastic cerebrum and corpus callossum, Dandy-Walker malformation, Transposition of Great Vessels and hepatomegaly were noted at autopsy. The patient was born at 38 weeks of gestation to consanguineous (second degree) Indian parents. The mother was 26 year old second gravida with lack of prenatal followup. Therefore, the condition was diagnosed postnatally. Because of the autosomal recessive inheritence of Neu-Laxova syndrome, in countries with high rates of consanguineous marriage, serial prenatal ultrasound examinations with genetic counseling should be performed on pregnant women at high risk to offer termination of affected pregnancies.

Clinical characterization and NPHP1 mutations in nephronophthisis and associated ciliopathies: A single center experience

Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is a recessive disorder of the kidney that is the leading genetic cause of end-stage renal failure in children. Egypt is a country with a high rate of consanguineous marriages; yet, only a few studies have investigated the clinical and molecular characteristics of NPHP and related ciliopathies in the Egyptian population. We studied 20 children, from 17 independent families, fulfilling the clinical and the ultrasonographic criteria of NPHP. Analysis for a homozygous deletion of the NPHP1 gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction on the genomic DNA of all patients. Patients were best categorized as 75% juvenile NPHP, 5% infantile NPHP, and 20% Joubert syndrome-related disorders (JSRD). The mean age at diagnosis was 87.5 + 45.4 months, which was significantly late as compared with the age at onset of symptoms, 43.8 ± 29.7 months (P <0.01). Homozygous NPHP1 deletions were detected in six patients from five of 17 (29.4%) studied families. Our study demonstrates the clinical phenotype of NPHP and related disorders in Egyptian children. Also, we report that homozygous NPHP1 deletions account for 29.4% of NPHP in the studied families in this cohort, thereby confirming the diagnosis of type-1 NPHP. Moreover, our findings confirm that NPHP1 deletions can indeed be responsible for JSRD.

Spinal muscular atrophy: Clinical spectrum and genetic mutations in Pakistani children

In Pakistan the rate of consanguineous marriages is high, thus, the chance of incidence of autosomal recessive disorders is likely to be high. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and genetics of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children who presented to Aga Khan University, Karachi. This study was a retrospective review of the medical charts of children (neonate: 15 years) with discharge diagnosis of SMA during last 10 years. Demographic features, consanguinity, and diagnostic analysis (including genetic analysis) were noted. During the study period 67 children had a discharge diagnosis of SMA. Werdnig Hoffman disease (SMA type I) was the commonest variant seen in 37 (56%) children. Overall 68% were infants. High parental consanguinity was observed in 68% of the study cohort. The history of delayed development and undiagnosed early death was observed in the families of 19 children. Genetic testing was performed in 22 (33%) children. Survival motor neuron (SMN) 1 gene deletion was found in 19 (86%) of the 22 patients in whom the gene analysis was done and 13 (68%) were also positive for neuronal apoptosis inhibitory proteins (NAIP) deletion. SMA is not an uncommon neurodegenerative disorder in Pakistan and SMA type I was the most common type. SMN1 gene deletion was the most common genetic deletion found in this study. In addition, family history of developmental delay and frequent early deaths highlights the need for implementation of prenatal diagnosis for early detection, effective control, and management of this disorder in Pakistan.

Aborting a malformed fetus: a debatable issue in saudi arabia.

Congenital anomalies contribute a significant proportion of infant morbidity and mortality, as well as fetal mortality. They are generally grouped into three major categories: structural/metabolic, congenital infections, and other conditions. The most prevalent conditions include congenital heart defects, orofacial clefts, Down syndrome, and neural tube defects. Several prenatal diagnostic procedures have been introduced, both cytogenetic (such as chorion biopsy, amniocentesis and funiculocentesis) and biophysical (ultrasound 2-D, 3-D and 4-D, ultrasonography with Doppler, etc.). Insufficient data are currently available from Saudi Arabia on the epidemiology of the lethal congenital abnormalities which should be a priority due to high rate of consanguineous marriages among first cousins and their association with congenital anomalies. In terms of consanguinity and birth defects, a significant positive association has been consistently demonstrated between consanguinity and morbidity, and congenital defects with a complex etiology appear to be both more prevalent in consanguineous families and have a greater likelihood of recurrence. A debate regarding aborting a malformed fetus still exists among the senior Islamic scholars in many of the Islamic countries. The progressive interpretations of Islam have resulted in laws allowing for early abortion on request in two countries; six others permit abortion on health grounds and three more also allow abortion in cases of rape or fetal impairment. In Saudi Arabia, efforts to legalize abortion in certain circumstances have been recently discussed among Senior Religious Scholars and specialized physicians to permit abortions in certain circumstances. In this mini-review we discuss the current debate regarding aborting a malformed fetus in Saudi Arabia with a focus on the Islamic perspective.

Hepatocerebral form of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome due to mutation in MPV17 gene

Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes (MDSs) are autosomal recessive diseases characterized by a severe decrease in mitochondrial DNA content leading to dysfunction of the affected organ. Autosomal recessive mutations in MPV17 have been identified in the hepatocerebral form of MDS. We describe the clinical features, biochemical and molecular results of a Saudi infant with a new mutation of MPV17 and compared the features to those of previously reported cases. We stress the importance of such rare cases particularly in countries with high consanguineous marriage rate.

Estimating the Allele Frequency of Autosomal Recessive Disorders through Mutational Records and Consanguinity: The Homozygosity Index (HI)

In principle mutational records make it possible to estimate frequencies of disease alleles (q) for autosomal recessive disorders using a novel approach based on the calculation of the Homozygosity Index (HI), i.e., the proportion of homozygous patients, which is complementary to the proportion of compound heterozygous patients P(CH). In other words, the rarer the disorder, the higher will be the HI and the lower will be the P(CH). To test this hypothesis we used mutational records of individuals affected with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and Phenylketonuria (PKU), born to either consanguineous or apparently unrelated parents from six population samples of the Mediterranean region. Despite the unavailability of precise values of the inbreeding coefficient for the general population, which are needed in the case of apparently unrelated parents, our estimates of q are very similar to those of previous descriptive epidemiological studies. Finally, we inferred from simulation studies that the minimum sample size needed to use this approach is 25 patients either with unrelated or first cousin parents. These results show that the HI can be used to produce a ranking order of allele frequencies of autosomal recessive disorders, especially in populations with high rates of consanguineous marriages.

Arg77His and Trp187Arg are the Most Common Mutations Causing FXIII Deficiency in Iran

The aim of this study was to review the literature for the genetic mutations causing inherited factoe XIII (FXIII) deficiency in patients from Iran, where the consanguineous marriage is common. Data were collected from 30 patients (18 males and 12 females) with FXIII deficiency, from 26 unrelated families. Data of mutation analysis were obtained from 2 previously published studies. A total of 7 mutations consisting of 5 new mutations and 2 previously reported mutations were identified. Of the 5 novel missense mutations, 2, Arg77His and Trp187Arg, were the most common in Iranian FXIII-deficient patients. In regions like Iran with high rate of consanguineous marriages, the identification of common mutations in disease like severe FXIII deficiency increases the capacity to make a precise screening and diagnosis assays to screen and diagnose families with high risk of FXIII deficiency for prevention of clinical complications in them.

Identification of forty cases with alkaptonuria in one village in Jordan

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is one of the four initially identified inborn errors of metabolism. The prevalence of AKU is unknown in Jordan. Therefore, a research project was started in April 2009 at the Faculty of Medicine/Mutah University in southern Jordan. The aims of the project were to identify people with AKU, to screen all family members with history of AKU, and to increase the awareness about the disease among health care professionals and the community in southern Jordan. Targeted family screening method was used to identify patients with AKU. In this paper, we present preliminary results of screening 17 families with history of AKU in a single village in southern region of Jordan. Forty cases with AKU were identified in this village (age range, 1-60 years). Early cases with AKU were diagnosed through out this study, two-third of patients (n = 28) were under the age of thirty. Interestingly, nine cases with AKU were identified in one family. Our experience suggests that for the identification of cases with AKU where consanguinity is common, the focus for screening should be extended to all family members. The prevalence of AKU among Jordanian is likely to be greater than the prevalence rates worldwide due to high rates of consanguineous marriages. Further studies and effective screening programs are needed to detect undiagnosed cases of AKU, to provide genetic counseling, and ultimately to prevent the occurrence of new cases of AKU in Jordan.

Thirty years of primary immunodeficiencies in Turkey

Turkey, with its population of some 75 million, has a high rate of consanguineous marriages. Because the majority of the primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are inherited as autosomal recessive (AR) forms, the high consanguinity rate leads to a high prevalence of PID diseases in Turkey. The first pediatric immunology division was established in 1972, since then over 10 other immunology divisions have been established in different cities. Approximately 4,000 patients with possible PID are referred to these centers annually. The percentages of some of the major immunodeficiency groups and individual disease numbers among these patients differ somewhat in comparison with Western countries, likely because the relative incidences of PIDs with AR inheritance and of rare diseases are higher. These characteristics of the patient population, and our determination of differences in disease presentation and unusual features, have led us to undertake studies in collaboration with various centers in Western countries. These collaborations have contributed to the identification of the genes responsible for some rare immunodeficiencies, to the resolution of the genetic heterogeneity underlying conventional phenotypes, and to the description of new clinical phenotypes.

How to deal with medical and social aspects of bleeding disorders – preparing women and the family in developing countries

There is a considerable number of women with inherited bleeding disorders in Iran. von Willebrand disease, Glanzman thrombasthenia and factor XIII deficiency are the most common coagulation disorders. The main cause of this high rate of coagulation disorders is attributed to a high rate of consanguineous marriages in Iran. Medical care continues to improve for individuals affected with coagulation disorders in Iran. However, these disorders continue to have a significant impact on the affected Iranian women. As a result of the hereditary nature of these disorders, the impact extends to the psychosocial dimension of the lives of the women. Therefore it is recommended that women with coagulation disorders are provided with psychological and social support along with coagulation therapy.

Prevalence of IgA deficiency in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate any association between IgA deficiency (IgAD) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) among Iranian children.This case-control study was carried out on 83 children who were diagnosed as JRA according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria; Patients were admitted at the rheumatology clinic of Children's Medical Center, (Tehran). Serum immunoglobulins concentrations were determined by nephelometry method. Control group was 112 healthy children who were matched for age and gender. Informed consent obtained from all parents.Selective IgA deficiency (sIgAD) was found only in a boy (1.2%) among JRA children; however, partial IgA deficiency was found in 6(7.1%) of patients with JRA and in 12(10.7%) of control subjects, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.46). Immunoglobulins levels in patients with JRA (IgM: 126.7±57.2, IgG: 1182.3±351 and IgA:169.3±98) were significantly higher than their controls (IgM: 104±52, IgG:802±220 and IgA: 94.6±47) (p<0.05). Patients with growth failure had higher IgM, IgG and IgA levels in comparison with patients without growth failure; however, this difference was significant about IgM and IgG levels (p<0.05).In contrast to other similar studies, the number of IgAD did not differ significantly between JRA patients and their control counterpart; this might be partly due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages in Iran that resulted in increased prevalence of clinically undiagnosed partial IgAD in general population. Hence, future epidemiological studies are warranted to make it clear.

Prevalence of IgA deficiency in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate any association between IgA deficiency (IgAD) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) among Iranian children.This case-control study was carried out on 83 children who were diagnosed as JRA according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria; Patients were admitted at the rheumatology clinic of Children's Medical Center, (Tehran). Serum immunoglobulins concentrations were determined by nephelometry method. Control group was 112 healthy children who were matched for age and gender. Informed consent obtained from all parents.Selective IgA deficiency (sIgAD) was found only in a boy (1.2%) among JRA children; however, partial IgA deficiency was found in 6(7.1%) of patients with JRA and in 12(10.7%) of control subjects, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.46). Immunoglobulins levels in patients with JRA (IgM: 126.7±57.2, IgG: 1182.3±351 and IgA:169.3±98) were significantly higher than their controls (IgM: 104±52, IgG:802±220 and IgA: 94.6±47) (p<0.05). Patients with growth failure had higher IgM, IgG and IgA levels in comparison with patients without growth failure; however, this difference was significant about IgM and IgG levels (p<0.05).In contrast to other similar studies, the number of IgAD did not differ significantly between JRA patients and their control counterpart; this might be partly due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages in Iran that resulted in increased prevalence of clinically undiagnosed partial IgAD in general population. Hence, future epidemiological studies are warranted to make it clear.

Homozygosity for a novel missense mutation in the leptin receptor gene (P316T) in two Egyptian cousins with severe early onset obesity

Congenital deficiency of the leptin receptor is a very rare cause of severe early-onset obesity. To date, only 9 families have been reported in the literature to have mutations in the leptin receptor gene. The clinical features include severe early onset obesity, severe hyperphagia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and T cell and neuroendocrine/metabolic dysfunction. Here we report two cousins with severe early onset obesity and recurrent respiratory tract infections. Their serum leptin levels were elevated but they were within the range predicted by the elevated fat mass in both cousins. Direct sequencing of the entire coding sequence of the leptin receptor gene revealed a novel homozygous missense mutation in exon 6, P316T. The mutation was found in the homozygous form in both cousins and in the heterozygote state in their parents. This mutation was not found in 200 chromosomes from 100 unrelated normal weight control subjects of Egyptian origin using PCR–RFLP analysis. In conclusion, finding this new mutation in the LEPR beside our previous mutation in the LEP gene implies that monogenic obesity syndromes may be common in the Egyptian population owing to the high rates of consanguineous marriages. Further screening of more families for mutations in LEP, LEPR, and MC4 might confirm this assumption.

Critique of an Economic Evaluation Using the Drummond Checklist

In this issue of Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Sladkevicius et al.[1] report the results of an economic evaluation of establishing a neonatal screening programme for phenylketonuria (PKU) in Libya. The authors undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and a return on investment analysis. Against a background of limited resources and rational decision making, economic evaluations have been used more frequently over the past 2 decades as pressures to control healthcare spending have increased.[2] The central purpose of an economic evaluation is to compare the relative value of different interventions in creating better health, longer life or a return on investment.[3] The results of such evaluations are typically summarized as a ratio, where the denominator reflects the gain in health from an intervention (measured as units natural to the programme at hand, such as life-years gained, for a CEA or converted to monetary terms for a cost-benefit analysis [CBA]), and the numerator reflects the cost of obtaining that health gain. A variant of CEA, cost-utility analysis (CUA) measures the gain according to health-state preference scores or utility weights, thus providing an opportunity to measure the quality of life-years gained (or disability-adjusted life-years averted), not just the crude number of years.[3] Given the rise in popularity of the use of economic evaluations, guidelines have been developed to improve the methodological rigour, and hence comparability, of each evaluation. Two of the more commonly cited references are the Washington Consensus Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine[2] and a textbook by Drummond et al.[3] Both provide recommendations for the conduct of economic evaluations in order to improve their quality. Drummond et al.[3] developed a checklist for assessing economic evaluations, which provides useful guidance for those undertaking their own study. It is in the general context of these guidelines that the contribution by Sladkevicius et al.[1] is critiqued. 1. Was a Well Defined Question Posed in Answerable Form? The Libyan healthcare system is faced with resource constraints, with only 3.5% of total GDP being allocated to health. Libya's population is characterized by large families, high maternal and paternal age and high rates of consanguineous marriages, which are thought to increase the prevalence of disabling and expensive inherited metabolic diseases.[1] With the evident success of neighbouring countries in initiating neonatal screening, primarily for PKU, which can lead to a patient having a healthy life, the Libyan Government is considering a neonatal screening programme for PKU. Against this rationale, the authors' research question is timely, relevant and clearly stated as an examination of the cost effectiveness of establishing a national neonatal screening programme for PKU in Libya from a societal perspective. 2. Was a Comprehensive Description of the Competing Alternatives Given? The authors provide an excellent overview of the current management of PKU in Libya and model the proposed screening intervention on a protocol produced by the Medical Advisory Panel of the National Society for Phenylketonuria,[4] following adaptation to reflect the Libyan infrastructure. 3. Was the Effectiveness of the Programme Established? The authors based their results on a decision model constructed in Microsoft® Excel. The model was populated with data collected from experts, families of patients with PKU and secondary data sources. The primary outcome used in the economic evaluation was the incremental number of life-years gained. The time-horizon of the model comprised the shelf life of the screening equipment and the lifetime of patients with PKU. In a sensitivity analysis, the authors varied, among other things, the potential incidence of PKU and life expectancy of treated PKU patients. 4. Were All the Important and Relevant Costs and Consequences for Each Alternative Identified? …

Early Marriages Among Adolesencent Girls in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Aim: Early marriages have considerable adverse effects on adolescents and children health. To determine the factors associated with early marriages, this study was conducted in a forensic sample of Afyonkarahisar province. Method: Between 2005–2006, Adolesencent women who were admitted to the court subsequently referred to the psychiatric outpatient clinics of the univercity. The authors who are psychiatrist individually interviewed all subjects by using a sociodemographic questionnaire form which was applied to 61 women aged between 15-17 years. Result: Most of adolescents in our sample were from rural area and about 65.5 % of participants did not view early marriage as a problem. Of all cases the rate of consanguineous marriage was 23.0 %. More than half of participants reported that their knowledge of sexuality were none or little, and the most common sources of information on sexuality were relatives and friends. Conclusion: It was detected that most adolescents in our sample were from a low socio-economic class, and after finishing the prima ry school, they wait for a marriage. Furthermore, they receive very little sex education from their parents and a modern institutional education programme in their school is needed.

A REPORT OF 8 CASES WITH HEMOGLOBIN H DISEASE IN AN IRANIAN FAMILY

α-Thalassemia is a common genetic disorder in Iran. However, no comprehensive data on epidemiology of severe forms of α-thalassemia, including hemoglobin H (HbH) or hydrops fetalis, is available in this population. This is a first case report of an Iranian family with large number of HbH individuals. The proband is a 48-year-old woman, referred to our center with anemia and no history of previous blood transfusions. Similar clinical phenotype has been observed in all of her 5 siblings, 2 of her 4 children, and her granddaughter, whose parents are first cousins. A reverse hybridization assay covering 21 α globin mutations was performed to determine the genotype in 11 members of this family and a fetus. HbH genotype was identified in 9 individuals, representing 3 generations, including a fetus. The high prevalence of α-thalassemia carriers together with the high rate of consanguineous marriages could lead to a large number of individuals with HbH or even hydrops fetalis in Iranian families. Therefore, to avoid the risk of having affected offspring, carrier detection, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis would be of vital importance for individuals with low red blood cell (RBC) indices, normal iron status, and normal HbA2 level, who are suspected to be α-thalassemia carriers.

Evolution in health and medicine Sackler colloquium: Consanguinity, human evolution, and complex diseases.

There is little information on inbreeding during the critical early years of human existence. However, given the small founding group sizes and restricted mate choices it seems inevitable that intrafamilial reproduction occurred and the resultant levels of inbreeding would have been substantial. Currently, couples related as second cousins or closer (F >or= 0.0156) and their progeny account for an estimated 10.4% of the global population. The highest rates of consanguineous marriage occur in north and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and west, central, and south Asia. In these regions even couples who regard themselves as unrelated may exhibit high levels of homozygosity, because marriage within clan, tribe, caste, or biraderi boundaries has been a long-established tradition. Mortality in first-cousin progeny is approximately 3.5% higher than in nonconsanguineous offspring, although demographic, social, and economic factors can significantly influence the outcome. Improving socioeconomic conditions and better access to health care will impact the effects of consanguinity, with a shift from infant and childhood mortality to extended morbidity. At the same time, a range of primarily social factors, including urbanization, improved female education, and smaller family sizes indicate that the global prevalence of consanguineous unions will decline. This shift in marriage patterns will initially result in decreased homozygosity, accompanied by a reduction in the expression of recessive single-gene disorders. Although the roles of common and rare gene variants in the etiology of complex disease remain contentious, it would be expected that declining consanguinity would also be reflected in reduced prevalence of complex diseases, especially in population isolates.

Unverricht‐Lundborg disease (EPM1)

Unverricht‐Lundborg disease (EPM1)

The Medical and Social Costs of Consanguineous Marriages among British Mirpuris

Consanguineous marriage has been widespread within the Pakistani Mirpuri community in Britain today. Such marriage arrangements are now increasingly perceived to create various problems and harms, including a high degree of insularity with barriers to integration and lack of contact with the wider community. Many instances of forced marriage give rise to human rights concerns. Since such marriages are often arranged with partners from Pakistan to aid the extended family financially, large-scale immigration from Pakistan into Britain continues. Many of these new spouses cannot speak English and are unfamiliar with English culture, which continues to slow down the pace of integration of Mirpuris. The article highlights particularly that the rates of consanguineous marriage are increasing within this particular community despite awareness of the medical risks involved, including an increase in congenital defects and infant mortality. Serious and culturally sensitive thought needs to be given on all sides, therefore, to addressing such issues rather than infl ating controversies and damaging community relations.

Consanguinity and reproductive health among Arabs

Consanguineous marriages have been practiced since the early existence of modern humans. Until now consanguinity is widely practiced in several global communities with variable rates depending on religion, culture, and geography. Arab populations have a long tradition of consanguinity due to socio-cultural factors. Many Arab countries display some of the highest rates of consanguineous marriages in the world, and specifically first cousin marriages which may reach 25-30% of all marriages. In some countries like Qatar, Yemen, and UAE, consanguinity rates are increasing in the current generation. Research among Arabs and worldwide has indicated that consanguinity could have an effect on some reproductive health parameters such as postnatal mortality and rates of congenital malformations. The association of consanguinity with other reproductive health parameters, such as fertility and fetal wastage, is controversial. The main impact of consanguinity, however, is an increase in the rate of homozygotes for autosomal recessive genetic disorders. Worldwide, known dominant disorders are more numerous than known recessive disorders. However, data on genetic disorders in Arab populations as extracted from the Catalogue of Transmission Genetics in Arabs (CTGA) database indicate a relative abundance of recessive disorders in the region that is clearly associated with the practice of consanguinity.