Genetic analysis of haemophilia A in Bulgaria

BACKGROUND: Haemophilias are the most common hereditary severe disorders of blood clotting. In families afflicted with heamophilia, genetic analysis provides opportunities to prevent recurrence of the disease. This study establishes a diagnostical strategy for carriership determination and prenatal diagnostics of haemophilia A in Bulgarian haemophilic population. METHODS: A diagnostical strategy consisting of screening for most common mutations in the factor VIII gene and analysis of a panel of eight linked to the factor VIII gene locus polymorphisms was established. RESULTS: Polymorphic analysis for carrier status determination of haemophilia A was successful in 30 families out of 32 (94%). Carrier status was determined in 25 of a total of 28 women at risk (89%). Fourteen prenatal diagnoses in women at high risk of having a haemophilia A – affected child were performed, resulting in 6 healthy boys and 5 girls. CONCLUSION: The compound approach proves to be a highly informative and cost-effective strategy for prevention of recurrence of haemophilia A in Bulgaria. DNA analysis facilitates carriership determination and subsequent prenatal diagnosis in the majority of Bulgarian families affected by haemophilia A

The impact of prenatal diagnosis on the incidence of haemophilia in Sweden

Summary A demographic survey was made of all children (n= 137) born with severe or moderate haemophilia in Sweden during the period 1970‐92. Bn addition, all prenatal diagnoses (n= 86) performing during the period were evaluated. The annual incidence of severe and moderate haemophilia, having remained constant for decades, increased from 0.78/10,000 males in the 1970s to 1.34 in the 1980s, levelling off at 1.31 in the 1990s. Although prenatal diagnosis did not affect the incidence of haemophilia in the 1970s and 1980s, it did so in the 1990s, because the incidence would have been 40% higher (1.83) had not prental diagnosis been available and 16 affected fetuses been aborted. The average proportion of sporadic cases, 62%, remained almost unchanged during the study period, suggesting mutation rates to be constant. There were fewere children in families with known haemophilia than in sporadic families, but no evidence was found to suggest that the frequency of female offspring (i.e. potential carriers) born in haemophilia families had increased since the option of prenatal diagnosis was introduced

“It was a lot Tougher than I Thought It would be”. A Qualitative Study on the Changing Nature of Being a Hemophilia Carrier

Studies on carriers of genetic disorders mainly focus on the process of genetic testing and reproductive choices, and less on how psychosocial aspects of being a carrier change over time. Our study sought to understand more about the psychosocial aspects of hemophilia carrier status, and thereby improve counseling aiming to advance carriers' quality of life and well-being. We analyzed 16 in-depth interviews from women who were carriers of hemophilia and had a son with hemophilia. Three themes emerged: Guilt and sorrow across generations; the choices and future consequences of genetic testing; and preparing to have a child with hemophilia. Experience with being a hemophilia carrier is a process that changes over time while feelings of guilt and sorrow run across generations. The carrier status may create "mothers-in-waiting" living at risk of having a sick child or not. The women think they are prepared to have a son with hemophilia, but experience more sadness than they expect when a son is diagnosed. Our findings suggest that health professionals, especially clinical geneticists and genetic counselors, carriers, families and patient organizations need to be aware that women's experiences of being a carrier of hemophilia changes during the biographical life course. The women may benefit from several rounds of genetic counseling at different stages of life