Clinical trial NCT00001536: Issues Surrounding Prenatal Genetic Testing for Achondroplasia
Official title: Issues Surrounding Prenatal Genetic Testing for Achondroplasia
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Achondroplasia
Dwarfism
Keywords: Disability
Dwarfism
Ethics in Genetic Counseling
Quality of Life
Reproductive Issues
Support Groups
Achondroplasia
Lead sponsor: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Sponsor class: NIH
First posted: 2002-12-10
Enrollment: 2000
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary: Since the gene responsible for achondroplasia was identified in 1994, it has become possible to test for achondroplasia prenatally. Moreover, prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia is relatively simple and is highly likely to be informative for any couple seeking testing. Four diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. are currently performing prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia. Before prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia becomes more widely available, however, it is essential that we learn more about the lives of affected individuals and their families, the implications of offering testing for achondroplasia, and the education and the counseling needs of this community. Personal interviews and stories have been published and discussed at national meetings (Ablon 1984). We conducted a pilot telephone interview survey of 15 individuals with achondroplasia. What is needed now is a large scale quantitative study of the community of little people and their families. To meet this need, we have developed a survey tool to analyze family relationships, quality of life, tendencies toward optimism or pessimism, information-avoiding or information-seeking behaviors, social support, involvement in Little People of America Inc. (LPA), self-esteem, sociodemographics and views on achondroplasia, religiousness, reproductive and family plans, genetic testing, and abortion. The self-administered survey will be completed nationally by a sample of persons with achondroplasia and their family members.

Detailed description: Since the gene responsible for achondroplasia was identified in 1994, it has become possible to test for achondroplasia prenatally. Moreover, prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia is relatively simple and is highly likely to be informative for any couple seeking testing. Four diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. are currently performing prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia. Before prenatal genetic testing for achondroplasia becomes more widely available, however, it is essential that we learn more about the lives of affected individuals and their families, the implications of offering testing for achondroplasia, and the education and the counseling needs of this community. Personal interviews and stories have been published and discussed at national meetings (Ablon 1984). We conducted a pilot telephone interview survey of 15 individuals with achondroplasia. What is needed now is a large scale quantitative study of the community of little people and their families. To meet this need, we have developed a survey tool to analyze family relationships, quality of life, tendencies toward optimism or pessimism, information-avoiding or information-seeking behaviors, social support, involvement in Little People of America Inc. (LPA), self-esteem, sociodemographics and views on achondroplasia, religiousness, reproductive and family plans, genetic testing, and abortion. The self-administered survey will be completed nationally by a sample of persons with achondroplasia and their family members.

Eligibility criteria: Adult individuals of either gender with achondroplasia and their first degree relatives (both short and average statured) of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

No short-statured persons with conditions other than achondroplasia.

No average-statured family members of short statured persons with conditions other than achondroplasia.

No minors less than 18 years of age.

Primary outcomes:
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bethesda
country: United States
facility: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
state: Maryland
Study officials:
References:
citation: Bellus GA, Escallon CS, Ortiz de Luna R, Shumway JB, Blakemore KJ, McIntosh I, Francomano CA. First-trimester prenatal diagnosis in couple at risk for homozygous achondroplasia. Lancet. 1994 Nov 26;344(8935):1511-2. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)90332-8. No abstract available.
citation: Bellus GA, Hefferon TW, Ortiz de Luna RI, Hecht JT, Horton WA, Machado M, Kaitila I, McIntosh I, Francomano CA. Achondroplasia is defined by recurrent G380R mutations of FGFR3. Am J Hum Genet. 1995 Feb;56(2):368-73.
citation: Elejalde BR, de Elejalde MM, Hamilton PR, Lombardi JM. Prenatal diagnosis in two pregnancies of an achondroplastic woman. Am J Med Genet. 1983 Jul;15(3):437-9. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.1320150308.