© 2018, GENASSIST, Inc.

By Keith S. Wexler, MBA, CFO, CIO – Maternal Fetal Medicine, Prenatal Diagnosis and Biotech/Life Sciences Consultant, GENASSIST, Inc.

Paul Wexler, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., Medical Director, GENASSIST, Inc.

Clinical Professor, Department of OB/GYN, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Clinical Professor, Division of Genetics/Dept. of Pediatrics, Univ. of Colorado/The Children’s Hospital

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is rare type of lung disease that is more common in women and is characterized by:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Autism

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Tuberous Sclerosis Type I have been attributed to mutations in the TSC1 gene on chromosome 9q36 or TSC2 gene on chromosome 16p13.3.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is believed to be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner (50%). Tuberous Sclerosis Type 1 and Tuberous Sclerosis Type 2 are also inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

It is estimated that there are between 4,000 and 20,000 diseases (with over 7000 rare genetic diseases) and several companies are offering screening panels for the carrier state of several hundred conditions and the possible predisposition for various cancers including some hematologic and neurologic malignancies.

Analysis: One of the greatest dilemmas facing the healthcare provider is when a family presents with a positive family history of a very rare genetic disease and/or syndrome (e.g. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis) and the family wants to know from the healthcare provider:

  • Whether the disease and/or syndrome is inherited (autosomal dominant manner (50%), autosomal recessive (25% if both parents are gene carriers) or sex (X) linked (50% of males will be affected, 50% of females will be carriers), multifactorial (interaction of multiple genes with the environmental, both genetic and non-genetic factors)?
  • Whether the disease and/or syndrome is sporadic (due to a new mutation) and might or might not reoccur in a family?
  • Whether the disease is caused by a Microdeletion?
  • Whether there is testing for the disease and/or syndrome?
  • If there is testing, is prenatal diagnosis and/or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) available?

Furthermore, if screening and/or testing is available, the healthcare provider has the responsibility of deciding whether to recommend testing which may or may not detect patients who are carriers or affected with one or more disorders.

Resources:https://www.thelamfoundation.org/