Neuropediatrics 2018; 49(03): 180-184
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1620239
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Phenotype–Genotype Correlation in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Christophe Barrea
1   Department of Pediatrics, Centre Regional de la Citadelle, Liege, Belgium
,
Sandrine Vaessen
1   Department of Pediatrics, Centre Regional de la Citadelle, Liege, Belgium
,
Saskia Bulk
2   Department of Genetics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Liege, Belgium
,
Julie Harvengt
2   Department of Genetics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Liege, Belgium
,
Jean-Paul Misson
1   Department of Pediatrics, Centre Regional de la Citadelle, Liege, Belgium
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

17 October 2017

07 December 2017

Publication Date:
22 February 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant disorder with an incidence of ∼1 in 4,000 live births. Neurofibromin, the gene product, is ubiquitously expressed at high levels in the nervous system and functions as a tumor suppressor. Haploinsufficiency of neurofibromin through mutation leads to an increased risk of developing benign and malignant tumors in affected individuals. Although NF1 has complete penetrance, it displays considerable inter- and intrafamilial variability in phenotypic expression which poses disease prediction and management problems. Some NF1 genotype–phenotype correlations have been described. To evaluate the genetic component of variable expressivity in NF1, we examined the phenotypic correlations between affected relatives in 52 NF1 patients from 45 families.