The presymptomatic phase of Huntington disease.

At-risk persons' attitudes toward presymptomatic and prenatal testing of Huntington disease in Michigan.

One hundred fifty-five individuals at 50% risk of inheriting Huntington disease (HD) were given a questionnaire surveying their sociodemographic characteristics, experience with HD, and attitudes toward presymptomatic and prenatal testing in HD. About two-thirds (63.2%) of the persons indicated they would take a presymptomatic test even if no specific treatment was available. Although one-half ...

Are Presymptomatic Carriers of Huntington’s Chorea

Non-disclosing preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Huntington disease.

OBJECTIVES Individuals at risk for Huntington disease face difficult decisions regarding their reproductive options. Most do not wish to pass on the gene for Huntington disease to their children, but may not be prepared themselves to undergo presymptomatic testing and learn their genetic status. For these reasons, many at-risk individuals with a family history of HD would choose a method of gen...

Diffusion tensor imaging of brain white matter in Huntington gene mutation individuals.

Objective To evaluate the role of the involvement of white matter tracts in huntingtin gene mutation patients as a potential biomarker of the progression of the disease. Methods We evaluated 34 participants (11 symptomatic huntingtin gene mutation, 12 presymptomatic huntingtin gene mutation, and 11 controls). We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging to assess white matter integrity using...

National symposium on problems of presymptomatic testing for Huntington's disease, Cardiff.

Presymptomatic testing for Huntington's disease has given rise to several ethical problems relating to such issues as confidentiality, the privacy of the individual, the testing of minors and informed consent in connection with blood sample donation. A multidisciplinary conference of staff from genetic centres involved with presymptomatic testing was organised in Cardiff to discuss these and ot...