Molecular Aspects of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for NF1

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a multisystem disorders characterized by skin abnormalities, such as café-au-lait spots and neurofibromas, learning disabilities, skeletal anomalies and vascular complications. Experience learns that this disorder is a great burden for patients. NF1 is an autosomal dominant disorder with 50% risk of transmission. The penetrance is nearly 100%, but the expression varies greatly even within families, which makes it nearly impossible to predict severity in offspring. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a reproductive option for couples at risk of transmitting NF1 to their offspring. We perform a retrospective and observational multicentric study in the Maastricht University Medical Center, the University Hospital of Brussel and Strasbourg University Hospital. Our specific (and first) goal is to evaluate the molecular aspects of PGD for NF1 in an international cohort of couples requesting PGD for NF1. About 50% of the patients with NF1 have a de novo mutation that can complicate development of a PGD test. Earlier studies from 1990 and 1992 have shown that de novo NF1 mutations usually occur on the paternal allele. We want to confirm these findings with collected data from our cohort. The high incidence of de novo mutations results in a higher chance of finding mosaicism in patients or their parents. As a result of this, it can become apparent during PGD test preparation that PGD treatment is no longer possible or indicated. The investigators will evaluate these aspects of PGD for NF1 in our cohort. They are also interested, as a second goal, in other aspects of PGD treatment for NF1, such as the success rate in thier cohort. They expect the success rate to be the same as for other autosomal dominant disorders