PGD and heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA point mutations: a systematic review estimating the chance of healthy offspring

D. M. E. I. Hellebrekers, R. Wolfe, A. T. M. Hendrickx, Irenaeus F M de Coo, C. E. de Die, J. P. M. Geraedts, Patrick F Chinnery, H. J. M. Smeets*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Mitochondrial disorders are often fatal multisystem disorders, partially caused by heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations. Prenatal diagnosis is generally not possible for these maternally inherited mutations because of extensive variation in mutation load among embryos and the inability to accurately predict the clinical expression. The aim of this study is to investigate if PGD could be a better alternative, by investigating the existence of a minimal mutation level below which the chance of an embryo being affected is acceptably low, irrespective of the mtDNA mutation. We performed a systematic review of muscle mutation levels, evaluating 159 different heteroplasmic mtDNA point mutations derived from 327 unrelated patients or pedigrees, and reviewed three overrepresented mtDNA mutations (m.3243AG, m.8344AG and m.8993TC/G) separately. Mutation levels were included for familial mtDNA point mutations only, covering all affected (n 195) and unaffected maternal relatives (n 19) from 137 pedigrees. Mean muscle mutation levels were comparable between probands and affected maternal relatives, and between affected individuals with tRNA- versus protein-coding mutations. Using an estimated a priori prevalence of being affected in pedigrees of 0.477, we calculated that a 95 or higher chance of being unaffected was associated with a muscle mutation level of 18 or less. At a mutation level of 18, the predicted probability of being affected is 0.00744. The chance of being unaffected was lower only for the m.3243AG mutation (P 0.001). Most carriers of mtDNA mutations will have oocytes with mutation levels below this threshold. Our data show, for the first time, that carriers of heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations will have a fair chance of having healthy offspring, by applying PGD. Nevertheless, our conclusions are partly based on estimations and, as indicated, do not provide absolute certainty. Carriers of mtDNA should be informed about these constraints.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)341-349
JournalHuman Reproduction Update
Volume18
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012

Keywords

  • PGD
  • mitochondrial DNA mutations
  • heteroplasmy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'PGD and heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA point mutations: a systematic review estimating the chance of healthy offspring'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this