Copy number variations in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by qualitative impairment in social interaction and communication and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. They have a multifactorial etiology, but today different studies are showing the central role of genetics. Different genetic alterations were detected: chromosomal abnormalities, mutations, trinucleotide repeats and copy number variations (CNVs). Several studies identified many CNVs associated with ASDs and possible candidate genes, whose loss or gain could have a key role in the etiopathogenesis of these disorders. In particular, t…

Diagnosis and follow-up of complex congenital malformations/mental retardation (MRA/MR)

Complex congenital malformations, associated in 30% of cases with mental retardation, recognize different etiologies: environmental causes, mendelian disease, chromosomal abnormalities, imprinted anomalies. Frequently complex congenital disorders are rare diseases. Rare diseases are infrequent pathological conditions (prevalence in the general population of less than 1/2.000 live births1), and often poorly understood. Because of their rarity these morbid conditions often either go undiagnosed or are diagnosed late with a negative impact for both the affected person and the family. The birth prevalence is high (2-4% of all births). The diagnosis is essential to program complex and integrated…

16P11.2 microdeletion/microduplication syndrome: Further characterization of a critical region for neuropsychiatric development

Copy number variations in the etiology of epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in humans with a prevalence of 1% and a lifetime incidence of 3%. Idiopathic epilepsies occur in the absence of identifiable causal factors, but recent evidences show the role of genetic factors in the developing of these disorders. In particular, several studies focused their attention on the role of copy number variations (CNVs) in the etiology of epilepsy. In recent years, many CNVs have been identified, like 15q11.2, 15q13.3 and 16p13.11 microdeletions, 22q11.2 microduplication and many others. Possible candidate genes included in these regions were also studied and they seem to be involved in neuronal transmission and ion transp…