Thromb Haemost 1994; 71(05): 563-570
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1642483
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

First Report on UK Database of Haemophilia B Mutations and Pedigrees

S Saad
1   Division of Medical & Molecular Genetics, United Medical 8c Dental Schools of Guy's & St Thomas's Hospitals, London
,
G Rowley
1   Division of Medical & Molecular Genetics, United Medical 8c Dental Schools of Guy's & St Thomas's Hospitals, London
,
L Tagliavacca
1   Division of Medical & Molecular Genetics, United Medical 8c Dental Schools of Guy's & St Thomas's Hospitals, London
,
P M Green
1   Division of Medical & Molecular Genetics, United Medical 8c Dental Schools of Guy's & St Thomas's Hospitals, London
,
F Giannelli
1   Division of Medical & Molecular Genetics, United Medical 8c Dental Schools of Guy's & St Thomas's Hospitals, London
,
and UK haemophilia centres› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 09 November 1993

Accepted after revision 12 January 1994

Publication Date:
06 July 2018 (online)

Preview

Summary

In order to obtain complete success in the carrier and prenatal diagnoses required for genetic counselling in haemophilia B a new strategy is being implemented in the UK. This entails the construction of a national confidential database of mutations, pedigrees and haema- tological data. This will allow the inefficient indirect tests based on the analysis of DNA polymorphisms to be abandoned and direct detection of the gene defect to be used instead. After two and a half years of nationwide collaboration, 702 samples have been collected from 313 families, representing more than half of the UK haemophilia B families, and 217 mutations have been characterised. The 141 diagnostic tests so far performed have clearly indicated that the new strategy not only allows virtually 100% diagnostic success, but also rapid results. This work on haemophilia B may represent a model for other diseases with high mutational heterogeneity.