[Association between consanguinity with the ocular congenital abnormalities in Togo]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Genetics
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Congenital ocular abnormalities are a significant cause of visual impairment in children.
• Parental consanguinity, a union between related individuals, is known to increase the risk of autosomal recessive disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between parental consanguinity and the occurrence of congenital ocular abnormalities.
• To identify specific types of ocular abnormalities potentially linked to consanguinity.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted over three years (2016-2018) at the University Hospital Campus of Lomé, Togo.
• Data collected included patient demographics, geographic origin, parental consanguinity status, and types of congenital ocular abnormalities.
• Statistical analyses, including Odds Ratio and logistic regression, were employed to assess correlations.

Main Results:

• Out of 103 patients, 26.2% were born to consanguineous parents, predominantly from second-cousin marriages and rural areas.
• Parental consanguinity showed a significant correlation with developmental abnormalities of the globe (OR=37.50), sclerocornea (OR=13.04), and corneal dystrophy (OR=9.37).

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a significant correlation between parental consanguinity and the incidence of congenital ocular abnormalities.
• These findings underscore the role of genetic factors, particularly consanguinity, in the etiology of certain congenital eye conditions.