Lecture 19 Flashcards
Spectrum of Clinical Geneticist
Diagnosis and clinical management of genetic disease
Identification of preventable complications by early surveillance e.g. cancer in familial cancer predisposition syndromes, aortic dissection in Marfan Syndrome
Consultation regarding reproductive implications of genetic disorders and reproductive options
Advice about inheritance of genetic conditions
Information and genetic testing for those affected by of perceived to be at risk of genetic disorders in extended families
Genetics eduction for professional and lay groups
Types of Genetic conditions
Chromosomal:
-individually rare, typically sporadic e.g. Down syndrome
Single Gene (Mendelian)
-individually rare but collectively numerous with clear patterns of inheritance e.g. cystic fibrosis, Huntingtons Disease
Multifactorial
-common conditions with no clear pattern of inheritance genetic predisposition with environmental threshold e.g. T2DM
Burden of genetic disease
2004 study: admission to children’s hospital in Ohio in 1996 (McCandless et al. AJHG 2004)
71% of children admitted had an underlying disorder with significant genetic component
Increasing knowledge about genetic component of common diseases e.g. cancer, heart disease, psychiatric illness
Personalised genomics - risk treatment
Genetic Counseling
Genetic counselling is a communication process, which aims to help individuals, couples and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, familial and reproductive implications of the genetic contribution to specific conditions
Methods of providing genetic counselling
Provide information in plain language
Explain individual genetic risk in a way the patient clearly understands
Discuss current testing procedures and research
Explore potential impact the condition/decision/testing may have on the patient and their famaily
Identify issues and negative psychological outcomes and provide support and strategies to help them adjust
Facilitate decision-making to promote informed choices
Advocate for parents and their fmaily
Liason with laboratory
Work closely with cytogenetics and molecular genetic laboratory located at LabPLUS at ACH
NZ Herald Google
Stag’s Hoani MacDonald in induced coma after collapsing on rugby pitch
Tourist dies of natural causes during dolphin swim. Found floating face down in the water after 10 minutes
The Rotorua cycling community are in chock following the sudden death of the 21 year old last night. He fell of his bike towards the end of the race, there is a possibility he had a heart attack but dont know the cause
Christmas 2005 was fun for AJ. 2 days later their fit sun collapsed and died regardless of paramedic help.
Unravelling the cases of SUDY
SUDY= Sudden Unexpected Death in Young
Incidence - 20/1mil /year (80 in NZ)
In NZ they are Coronal cases
Postmortem performed:
-Positive in 2/3 of cases, many cardiac related deaths (dilated cardio myopathy- not pumping, muscle saggy, hypertrophic (thicker), arythmagenic rV cardiomyopathy-muscle replace by fat, ion channel disorders-effects electrical signals)
-negative in 1/3 of cases
All post mortem negative cases of sudden unexplained death under the age of 40 referred to CIDG team in Auckland Hospital
Case study SUDY: 13 yr old child with clinical diagnosis of epilepsy has a community VF arrest (Hawkes Bay)
Doesn’t survive
Post mortem negative. DNA stored
referred to CIDG
Family very concerned about their relatives risks (engagement is variable)
-cardiologists look at family history. ECG looking at heart rhythm and electrical activity (not normal + abnormal repolorisation)
Case history SUDY Long QT syndrome
(part of ECG)- abnormal repolorisation Ion channel disorder Multiple genes Autosomal Dominant Variable expressivity --KCNH2 Deletion of exons 6-14
Genetic Testing
Cost $2000 for 7 gene panel
pick up rate
Management of gene positive living relatives
Risk stratification on which gene, sex, age, history of symptoms, FHx
-avoid LQT prolonging drugs
-Beta blockade
-Sympathectomy
-Implanted defibrillators
All of this is sorted out in joint cardiac genetics outpatient clinics
NICU and Pediatric referrals
Reasons for referral:
- Risk of future recurrent cases in family
- Concerns over unusual appearance
- Collection of structural problems with no obvious cause
- Developmentally delayed
- Autism or FHx autism
- Abnormal genetic test result … microarray
- Brain abnormalities on MRI and Abnormal neurology/seizures
Dysmorphology
Looking at faces and other subtle clues, and whether or not theyre in a pattern which suggests a particular diagnosis
-trying to figure out is it different from normal and down it Nose
Remarkable variability, profile, frontal plane and undersurface
Soft tissue and boney landmarks
Roof, bridge, tip (pronesion), Base, Nares, Columella, ala nasi
Syndrome
Collection of unusual features