Is familial hemiplegic migraine a hereditary form of basilar migraine?

We studied aura symptoms in 83 patients from 6 unrelated families suffering from familial hemiplegic migraine. Fifty-five of the patients reported symptoms that allowed us to categorize them as basilar migraine (BM) patients, in accordance with the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria. In a control group of 33 patients suffering from migraine with aura and 33 patients suffering from migraine without aura, 9 patients complained of vertigo, and only one patient of diplopia during one of her attacks.

Association of particular HLA class II alleles, haplotypes and genotypes with susceptibility to IDDM in the Belgian population.

Using a highly discriminatory DNA typing technique, based on the polymerase chain reaction and reverse dot blot hybridization, more refined results were obtained on the association of particular HLA class II alleles, haplotypes and genotypes with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the Belgian population. The previously reported predisposing effect for the DRB1*0301 encoded DR3 serologic specificity was confirmed and could be assigned to the DRB3*0200 encoded DR52b serologic specificity. A second high risk haplotype, DRB1*0401-DQB1*0302 encoding the DR4-DQ8 serologic specificity, accounted for increased susceptibility both in the total insulin-dependent diabetic population and among DR4-positive patients.

Diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome by analysis of the X chromosome inactivation patterns in maternal leucocyte populations using the hypervariable DXS255 locus.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is characterized by severe recurrent infections, petachiae and chronic eczema. The syndrome involves differentiation disorders in several haematopoietic cell lineages usually manifested as T lymphocyte deficiency, dysgammaglobulinaemia and thrombocytopenia. The defect is inherited in an X-linked recessive mode.

Mapping of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy gene to chromosome 4q35-qter by multipoint linkage analysis and in situ hybridization.

We have recently assigned the facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) gene to chromome 4 by linkage to the microsatellite marker Mfd 22 (locus D4S171). We now report that D4S139, a VNTR locus, is much more closely linked to FSHD. Two-point linkage analysis between FSHD and D4S139 in nine informative families showed a maximum combined lod score (Zmax) of 17.

Progress in the search for genetic linkage with Tourette syndrome: an exclusion map covering more than 50% of the autosomal genome.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance and reduced penetrance at a single genetic locus. Several research groups have genetic linkage studies underway to detect the chromosomal location of the gene that predisposes for this disorder. Strong and clear evidence of linkage has not yet been produced for Tourette syndrome.

Genetic heterogeneity in tuberous sclerosis.

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by widespread hamartosis. Preliminary evidence of linkage between the TSC locus and markers on chromosome 9q34 was established, but subsequently disputed. More recently, a putative TSC locus on chromosome 11 has been suggested and genetic heterogeneity seems likely.

The impact of phenotypic variation on genetic analysis: application to X-linkage in manic-depressive illness.

Genetic linkage studies have opened new vistas for behavioral and psychiatric genetics. However, phenotypic diversity and diagnostic uncertainties can lead to spurious linkage findings. A method of analysis is proposed that takes these factors into account.

The mutation delta F508 on Dutch cystic fibrosis chromosomes: frequency and relation to patients age at diagnosis.

We tested 190 chromosomes from Dutch cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and carriers for the presence or absence of the major CF mutation delta F508. This mutation was found on 77% of the Dutch CF chromosomes. We observed a significant difference in the distribution of the ages at diagnosis between homozygotes for delta F508 and the other patients.

No evidence for genetic linkage of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome on chromosomes 7 and 18.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a heritable neuropsychiatric disorder. In order to determine the chromosomal localisation of the locus involved, genetic linkage studies were initiated in six extended families. The Gilles de la Tourette gene has been tentatively assigned to chromosome 18q22.

Genetic mapping of X-linked albinism-deafness syndrome (ADFN) to Xq26.3-q27.I.

X-linked albinism-deafness syndrome (ADFN) was described in one Israeli Jewish family and is characterized by congenital nerve deafness and piebaldness. The ADFN mutation probably affects the migration of neural crest-derived precursors of the melanocytes. As a first step toward identifying the ADFN gene, a linkage study was performed to localize the disease locus on the X chromosome.

[Genetic carrier detection for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis].

The gene for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an X-linked immunodeficiency disease, has been mapped between the RFLP markers DXS7 and DXS14 on the short arm of the X-chromosome. Close linkage to these markers permits accurate carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. In one family with WAS patients in two generations, RFLP analysis was applied to three women at risk.

Identification of a closely linked DNA marker, DXS178, to further refine the X-linked agammaglobulinemia locus.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an inherited recessive disorder in which the primary defect is not known and the gene product has yet to be identified. Utilizing genetic linkage analysis, we previously localized the XLA gene to the map region of Xq21.3-Xq22 with DNA markers DXS3 and DXS17.

A leucine-to-proline mutation in the insulin receptor in a family with insulin resistance.

We have determined the primary structure of a mutant insulin receptor of a leprechaun patient born from a consanguineous marriage. A characteristic feature of leprechaunism is an extreme resistance to insulin. In this patient the insulin resistance seems to result from an observed lack of insulin binding to intact cells.

Determining informativity of marker typing for genetic counseling in a pedigree.

For the situation of a Mendelian disease linked to a genetic marker, a new method is described that allows evaluating for genetic counseling the information potentially available from the linked marker before the marker data are actually obtained, that is, prior to drawing blood for marker typing. For a consultand in a family pedigree, the method determines the risk distribution (small families) or an approximation to it (larger families) and calculates the probability that the risk will deviate beyond certain limits from its a priori value, which exists without marker data, for example, that the risk will be smaller than 0.10 or larger than 0.

Polyclonal hyper-immunoglobulin G1(A1) syndrome. Evidence for a dominant immunoglobulin production regulator within the human immunoglobulin heavy chain gene complex.

The hyper-IgG1(A1) syndrome entails a polyclonal selective increase of the serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 and to a lesser extent of IgA1; this is not mediated by malignancy, infectious or autoimmune diseases or environmental agents. In three generations of a family, all the affected individuals carried an immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) allele distinguished by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis; the IgH allele was not present in non-affected family members. A 32:1 chance for the linkage of this rare IgH haplotype with the hyper-IgG1(A1) syndrome in the family argues for a dominant regulator located at the human IgH locus having a selective influence on the production of IgG1 and IgA1.

Assignment of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA1) centromeric to the HLA region on the short arm of chromosome 6, using multilocus linkage analysis.

A 7-generation kindred with the HLA-linked form of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA1) was studied to determine whether the SCA1 gene maps centromeric or telomeric to the HLA loci. The DNA markers flanking the HLA-(A-B) region were used for polymorphism studies and multilocus linkage analysis. These two markers are the cDNA for the beta-subunit of HLA-DP, which is centromeric to HLA-(A-B), and the cDNA for coagulation factor XIIIa (F13A), which is telomeric to HLA-(A-B).

Affective disorders: evaluation of a three-allele model accounting for clinical heterogeneity.

The group of major affective disorders is clinically heterogeneous. In the genetic linkage study of the Old Order Amish [Egeland et al., 1987] the same disease gene appears to be responsible for the occurrence in one family of several clinically variant forms of affective disorders.

Tissue-specific splicing mutation in acute intermittent porphyria.

An inherited deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase [porphobilinogen ammonia-lyase (polymerizing), EC 4.3.1.

Genetic mapping of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome with two highly-linked polymorphic DNA markers.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive genetic disease in which the molecular defect is unknown. In 15 families with WAS, seven restriction fragment length polymorphic loci from the X chromosome were used to map the disease locus. Of the eight intervals studied, the likelihood of the WAS gene lying between DXS7 (Xp11.

Early diagnosis in X-linked agammaglobulinaemia.

The genetic transmission of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) can be determined with high probability using closely linked DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP's). In a family known to be at risk for XLA in male offspring, RFLP analysis demonstrated that the mother was an XLA carrier and her newborn son was affected. The infant developed immunological deficiencies a few months later, confirming the diagnosis.