Rapid and powerful decaplex and dodecaplex PGD protocols for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a common childhood lethal X-linked recessive disorder, resulting from deletions, duplications and point mutations in the dystrophin gene. Single-cell protocols for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) still remain challenging due to the enormous size of the gene and the high risk of intragenic recombination, limitations that often lead to sex determination and selection of female embryos. This study describes direct and rapid decaplex and dodecaplex polymerase chain reaction protocols enabling the analysis of five or seven exons and four microsatellite markers scattered along the dystrophin gene, chosen to be located in the two deletion hotspots, and the analysis of amelogenin sequences for gender determination. The dodecaplex protocol may be applied to most of the couples requesting PGD for DMD in whom the female partner is a carrier of a deletion. This generic approach will allow prompt response to the PGD referrals by reducing the pre-clinical PGD work-up. It was successfully applied in three DMD families, resulting in the birth of a girl as well as in a healthy ongoing pregnancy.