Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling involves counseling of a patient regarding the risk of disease inheritance. A genetic disorder is a condition with a problem in the genome. Genetic disorders may be inherited. Treatment of genetic disorders is difficult. Genetic counseling helps prevent the disease. It involves a discussion about the risk factors of genetic disorders and their management. Genetic counseling gives an idea of the possible risks of giving birth to a child with a genetic defect.

Indications for Genetic Counseling:

People with the following conditions require a genetic counseling session:

·        The family history of genetic disorders.

·        Women who are above age 35 and wish to conceive.

·        People who have a child with genetic defects.

·        Women with repeated spontaneous abortions.

·        Issues of disputed paternity.

·        Cousins marriage.

Who is a Genetic Counselor?

Genetic counselors are specified counselors with genetics background. They are certified to practice genetic diagnosis, counseling, and management of genetic disorders. Genetic counselors help patients in decision making. They are professionals in medical genetics. The patients first fix an appointment with the genetic counselor. The genetic counselor may choose a specific genetic test based on the careful examination of the individual. After the test result, the genetic counselor interprets it and explains it to the patient. In the case of patients with repeated abortions, prenatal diagnosis may be adviced.

Diagnosing a genetic disorder is extremely important. The patient and his relatives must be well informed. They must know the prognosis and treatment. A genetic counselor may diagnose genetic disorder based on the three important parameters such as family history, careful examination of the patient and laboratory investigations.

Carrier detection and fetal analysis are helpful in detecting genetic disorders. Carrier detection identifies heterozygosity for a recessive gene mutation. Thus it helps in the risk assessment. An example of heterozygosity is a sickle cell trait. People having a sickle cell trait possess HbA/HbS genotype. Hence, these individuals are known as heterozygotes. The fetal analysis involves two main procedures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.

Image 1: Genetic counseling

Prenatal and Postnatal Genetic Counseling:

About 3% of babies are born with defects per year. Prenatal genetic counseling is not useful for those who are about to deliver the baby. It helps before pregnancy or during the initial stages of pregnancy. Cleft lip, cleft palate, and club feet are the most common defects that can be corrected by surgery. Postnatal genetic counseling is helpful for an inborn error of metabolism.

Risk of Abnormalities in Normal Population:

Risks	Ratio
Risks of congenital abnormality	1 in 30
Risk of a serious mental or physical handicap	1 in 50
Risk of spontaneous abortion	1 in 8
Risk of perinatal death	1 in 30 to 1 in 100
Risk of infertility	1 in 10

Table: It mentions the risk of abnormalities and their corresponding ratios.

Family History and Pedigree Analysis:

Mode of inheritance is studied using pedigree analysis. A pedigree represents the presentation of family information in the form of charts. A family tree is constructed using standardized symbols. Pedigree analysis helps to study the inheritance of the genes.

There are two types of pedigree:

1.Dominant pedigree: It involves studying traits that exhibit dominant gene action. There are two conditions for assessing this. Individuals have an affected parent. Sometimes both the parents may be affected. A phenotype appears in every generation.

2.Recessive pedigree: It exhibits a trait with a recessive gene. In this, an unaffected parent can have an affected offspring. Affected progeny are both male and female.

Image 2: Pedigree analysis of dominant and recessive types of inheritance

Laboratory Investigations:

Genetic tests are performed using a sample of blood, hair, amniotic fluid, skin or any other part. The samples are analyzed further. Laboratory investigations may include biochemical analysis, chromosomal analysis, and molecular studies. Prenatal diagnosis detects abnormalities in the fetus before birth.

Techniques for prenatal diagnosis include:

·        Amniocentesis

·        Chorionic villus sampling

·        Fetoscopy

·        Ultrasonography

·        Maternal serum screening

·        Fetal blood sampling

Determination of Mode of Inheritance:

There are five modes of inheritance such as Autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, sex-linked, mitochondrial and multifactorial inheritances. Couples with an affected first child must know the status of the next pregnancy. The study of the mode of inheritance may help to detect the presence or absence of abnormalities in the second child. It may help to assess the risk of disability.

Decision Making:                       

Genetic counseling helps in decision making. After diagnosing the disease and assessing the risk factors, parents are advised to take a decision. The high-risk factor may indicate termination of the pregnancy. However, the decision lies with the couple. In cases of repeated abortions, the couple may be advised to adopt a baby. Parents who are suffering from the autosomal dominant disorder may require artificial insemination by a healthy donor.

Genetic Counseling in Disputed Paternity:

Genetic counseling may help to deal with disputed paternity. In such cases, a genetic counselor may ask for the blood groups of the child, the mother, and the putative father. Matching blood groups may help to decide the paternity. Genetic fingerprinting may also be useful.

Cousins Marriage:

Marriages between close relatives may increase the risk of genetic diseases. If the offspring are from mating between first degree relatives, there are 50% chances of inheriting the disease. If the offspring are from mating between second-degree relatives, there are 5-10% chances of inheriting the disease. Marriage between third-degree relatives possesses the risk of 3-5%.

Genetic Counseling and Adoption:

Couples with the problem of conceiving or repeated abortions may be advised to go for adoption. In the case of consanguineous marriages, genetic counseling may be helpful.

Genetic Counseling for Congenital Heart Defects:

Genetic testing during pregnancy may help to find out the genetic cause of heart disease. Genetic counseling for congenital heart defects involves studying genetic test reports and fetal echocardiogram.

Cancer Genetic Counseling:

Genetic counseling is also helpful for people who have a family history of cancer. Hereditary cancers are passed on from generations to generations.

Cancer genetic counseling is useful for:

·        Individuals with a family history of cancer.

·        People with cancer genetic mutations.

·        People with genetic disorders along with cancer.

·       Rare or unusual cancers.

 References:
[1] A Guide to Genetic Counseling, Wendy R. Uhlmann, Jane L. Schuette, Beverly Yashar
[2] Genetic counseling-UNESCO 
[3] Counseling About Cancer: Strategies for Genetic Counseling, Katherine A.      Schneider
[4] Genetic Counseling Practice: Advanced Concepts and Skills, Bonnie S. LeRoy

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