ANÁLISE MOLECULAR DE PACIENTES COM SUSPEITA DA SÍNDROME DO X-FRÁGIL

Abstract

The Intellectual Disability (DM) is defined as an incomplete level of intellectual development, and its manifestation usually occurs before 18 years of age. It is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders, with a prevalence of 5% in our population. The Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation worldwide, and the second most common genetic cause of mental retardation. The phenotype of FXS is associated with mutations in FMR1 (Fragile X Mental Retardation-linked type 1), which is caused by the expansion of repetition of a trinucleotide sequence (CGG) in the regulatory region of the FMR1 gene, located on chromosome X (Xq27 .3). The importance of clinical recognition and specific diagnosis of FXS comes from the fact that theoretically all cases are hereditary and familial. In this context, this study aimed to validate the molecular genetic diagnosis simplified and cost, for patients suspected of FXS in the Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics (LaGene) of the Department of Health of the State of Goiás in Goiânia using the PCR technique. We selected 35 patients referred by medical service of public health to LaGene with clinical indication for diagnosis of FXS. The patients' DNA was extracted and subjected to two PCR methods, here called PCR Screening (PCR-T) and PCR for Pre-mutation (PCR-P). The new methodology, PCRT, 88% produced conclusive results against 100% conclusiveness of the standard technique (PCR-P) and getting a p> 0.11. The alleles amplified by PCR-P allowed the diagnosis of pre-mutation in a sample. From these observations we propose a strategy for the diagnosis of the syndrome using PCR-P research in pre-mutation individuals in parents with inconclusive results. Given the successful results and improved the PCR, including the new and easy diagnosis of pre-mutation samples not completed by the technique of drawing, we suggest the implementation of both PCR genetics laboratory in the State of Goiás (LaGene ) for the diagnosis of FXS.