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Original Article

The changing face of Usher syndrome: Clinical implications

El aspecto cambiante del síndrome de Usher: implicaciones clínicas

, &
Pages 82-93 | Received 08 Mar 2006, Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Usher syndrome is both genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. Traditionally, the condition has been classified into three clinical types, differentiated by the severity and progression of the hearing impairment and by the presence or absence of vestibular symptoms. Recent advances in molecular genetics have enabled researchers to study the phenotypic expression in confirmed molecular groups of Usher. In response to the expansion of clinical and genetic information on Usher, we report an up to date review of the different clinical forms of Usher in known molecular groups and use the emerging evidence to appraise the diagnostic utility of the traditional classification of Usher. Our findings undermine the traditional view that the clinical types of Usher have distinct genetic causes. The pleiotropic effects of some of the major causes of Usher lead to considerable overlap between the different clinical types, with very little evidence for phenotypic-genotypic correlations. The novel synthesis emerging from this review suggests more productive approaches to the diagnosis of Usher in hearing-impaired children which would provide more accurate prognostic information to families.

Acronyms
HI=

Hearing impairment

ERG=

Electroretinogram

ARNSHI=

Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment

RP=

Retinitis pigmentosa

ENG=

Electronystagmography

Acronyms
HI=

Hearing impairment

ERG=

Electroretinogram

ARNSHI=

Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment

RP=

Retinitis pigmentosa

ENG=

Electronystagmography

Sumario

El síndrome de Usher es heterogéneo tanto genética como fenotípicamente. Tradicionalmente, la condición ha sido clasificada en tres tipos clínicos, diferenciados por la severidad y la progresión del trastorno auditivo y por la presencia o ausencia de síntomas vestibulares. Los avances recientes en genética molecular han permitido a los investigadores el estudio de la expresión fenotípica en grupos moleculares confirmados de Usher. En respuesta a la expansión de información clínica y genética sobre el Usher, reportamos una revisión actualizada de las diferentes formas clínicas del msimo, en grupos moleculares conocidos, y del uso de la evidencia emergente para evaluar la utilidad diagnóstica de la clasificación tradicional del síndrome. Nuestros hallazgos socavan la apreciación tradicional de que los tipos clínicos del Usher poseen causas genéticas diferentes. Los efectos pleiotrópicos de algunas de las causas principales del Usher conducen a un traslape considerable entre los diferentes tipos clínicos, con muy poca evidencia de correlaciones fenotípicas-genotípicas. La novedosa síntesis que emerge de esta revisión sugiere enfoques más productivos para el diagnóstico del Usher en niños hipoacúsicos, que podrían aportar información pronóstica más exacta para las familias.

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