DECLINE IN THE PREDICTED INCIDENCE OF HUNTINGTON'S CHOREA ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMATIC GENETIC COUNSELLING AND FAMILY SUPPORT

It appears that genetic counselling, even in the absence of effective predictive and prenatal diagnostic tests, may be helpful in the long-term prevention of HC in this population of relatives at high risk.

Abstract

Prospective study of relatives at high risk of Huntington's chorea (HC) in a previously documented1 South Wales population with a high incidence of the disorder has shown a pronounced fall in the number of births at risk and in the predicted future incidence of the disease, contrasting with relatively stable levels before the introduction of our programme of systematic genetic counselling and family support. Although the reasons for the reduction in births at risk are probably complex, it appears that genetic counselling, even in the absence of effective predictive and prenatal diagnostic tests, may be helpful in the long-term prevention of HC in this population.