Genetic linkage of the familial cavernous malformation (CM) gene to chromosome 7q
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ (United States)
- Marshfield Medical Research Foundation, WI (United States); and others
Cavernous malformations (also known as cavernous angiomas) are abnormalities of the central nervous system vasculature that affect approximately 0.5% of the population often leading to clinical sequelae such as headaches, seizures, hemorrhage and/or progressive neurological deficits. Non-familial and familial (autosomal dominant) forms of CM exist. Diagnosis is definitively made by surgery, autopsy or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Increased availability of MRI has recently made pre-symptomatic diagnosis possible, and reveals that familial CM may represent up to 70% of patients. This is a larger percentage than previously appreciated. A large Hispanic family from Arizona with CM was studied by MRI, and blood samples collected for DNA isolation and linkage analysis. Twenty-seven family members underwent brain MRI to determine disease status, regardless of clinical symptoms: 18 were positive for CM and 9 were unaffected. DNA samples were obtained from 19 of the imaged individuals (12 affected, 7 unaffected). Using a panel of highly informative polymorphic markers, the CM gene was localized to a 27 cM region of chromosome 7q. A maximum pairwise lod score of 4.2 was attained from this family alone. One individual within this pedigree may be a recombinant, which if proven by further analysis, will significantly narrow the region of localization. We are also studying another unrelated Hispanic pedigree with familial CM. Fourteen members have been imaged by brain MRI. DNA samples have been obtained from 10 of these (7 affected, 3 unaffected). Linkage analysis within this additional pedigree will help refine the map position and could provide evidence for genetic heterogeneity for this disease. Additional members from both pedigrees are being added to the analysis to further refine the linkage map. This work provides the first step in identifying the gene and etiology of this medically important disease.
- OSTI ID:
- 133322
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941009--
- Journal Information:
- American Journal of Human Genetics, Journal Name: American Journal of Human Genetics Journal Issue: Suppl.3 Vol. 55; ISSN AJHGAG; ISSN 0002-9297
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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