Red Flags in a Family Hx

 

Clues that may SUGGEST a Genetic Condition or an Inherited Susceptibility to a Common Disease 

(Adapted from The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History by Robin Bennett)

 

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Multiple closely related individuals affected with the same condition, particularly if the condition is rare

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Common disorders with earlier age of onset than typical (especially if onset is early in multiple family members). For example:

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Breast cancer < age 45-50 years (premenopausal)

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Colon cancer <age 45-50 years

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Prostate cancer < age 50-60 years

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Vision loss < age 55 years

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Hearing loss < age 50-60 years

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Dementia < age 60 years

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Heart disease < age 40-50 years

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Bilateral disease in paired organs (e.g.., eyes, kidneys, lungs, breasts)

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Sudden cardiac death in a person who seemed healthy

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Individual or couple with three or more pregnancy losses (e.g.., miscarriages, stillbirths)

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Medical problems in the offspring of parents who are consanguineous (first cousins or more closely related)

 

A person with:

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   Two or more seemingly unrelated medical conditions (e.g.., hearing loss and renal disease, diabetes and muscle disease)

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  A medical condition and dysmorphic features

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  Developmental delay with dysmorphic features and/or physical birth anomalies

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  Developmental delay associated with other medical conditions

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   Progressive mental retardation, loss of developmental milestones

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   Progressive behavioral problems

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  Unexplained hypotonia

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A movement disorder

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Unexplained seizures

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Unexplained ataxia

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Two or more major birth anomalies

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Three or more minor birth anomalies

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One major birth defect with two minor anomalies

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A cleft palate, or cleft lip with or without cleft palate

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Unusual birthmarks (particularly if associated with seizures, learning disabilities, or dysmorphic features)

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Hair anomalies (hirsute, brittle, coarse, kinky, sparse or absent)

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Congenital or juvenile deafness

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Congenital or juvenile blindness

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Cataracts at a young age

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Primary amenorrhea

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Ambiguous genitalia

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Proportionate short stature with dysmorphic features and/or delayed or arrested puberty

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Disproportionate short stature

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Premature ovarian failure

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Proportionate short stature and primary amenorrhea

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Males with hypogonadism and/or significant gynecomastia

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Congenital absence of the vas deferens

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Oligozoospermia/azoospermia

 

A fetus with:

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A major structural anomaly

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Significant growth retardation

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Multiple minor anomalies

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Last modified: 01/11/03