DNA Diagnostic screening for turner syndrome and sex chromosome disorders

Abstract

The present invention encompasses methods, assays and kits for the diagnosis, screening and identification of Turner syndrome and other disorders of sexual differentiation in a human using single nucleotide polymorphisms present on the X and Y chromosomes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 671,214, filed Apr. 13, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Turner syndrome is the most common genetic condition affecting women (Saenger, 1997, Curr. Ther. Endocrinol. Metab. 6: 239-243; Gravholt, 2004, Eur. J. Endocrinol. 151: 657-687; Ranke and Saenger, 2001, Lancet 358: 309-314). The incidence of Turner syndrome is 1 in 1,500 to 2,000 live female births (Saenger, 1997, Curr. Ther. Endocrinol. Metab. 6: 239-243; Gravholt, 2004, Eur. J. Endocrinol. 151: 657-687; Ranke and Saenger, 2001, Lancet 358: 309-314), and occurs when an entire, or a portion of an X chromosome is deleted (Saenger, 1997, Curr. Ther. Endocrinol. Metab. 6: 239-243; Ranke and Saenger, 2001, Lancet 358: 309-314). Phenotypic features include primary hypogonadism, renal abnormalities, difficulties...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Cardiac problems include coarctation of the aorta, single coronary vessels, bicuspid aortic valves, atrial and ventricular spatial defects, and abnormalities of great vessels.

Renal problems include duplex, solitary, or horseshoe kidneys.

Hearing problems may be secondary to a higher frequency of otitis media or sensorineural hearing loss.

Yet, some girls may have problems with spatial perception and mathematical skills.

Some girls with Turner syndrome have communication problems and social difficulties.

Short stature in Turner syndrome has been shown to result in significant long-term problems with self-esteem.

With later recognition, however, replacement therapy with estrogen and progestin is delayed resulting in late pubertal development (Savendahl and Davenport, 2000, J. Pediatr., 137: 455-459; Bertelloni, et al., 2003, J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. Metab., 16 Suppl 2: 307-315).

While cytogenetic analysis by light microscopy has drastically advanced in resolution over the past 50 years, it remains a labor intensive and expensive method that is not practical for population screening.

However, perinatal changes in FSH secretion are similar to those in normal girls, thus FSH measurement are not effective for neonatal screening of Turner syndrome (Heinrichs, et al., 1994, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.

Given that current methods for diagnosing Turner syndrome are not sufficient to detect the condition in neonates, and detection in girls does is not accurate until an age when symptoms of Turner syndrome are already manifest, there exists a long felt need for assays and methods to detect Turner syndrome quickly, efficiently, accurately and early.

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