Genetic counseling for skin diseases. A statistical analysis of 182 cases

A statistical study was carried out on 182 cases who seeked out genetic counseling about skin diseases. The size of the latent demand for the counseling was assessed to be as much as 3.0% of the outpatients. Most clients were in their twenties. A representative consultand was the patient's child or sibling. The main diseases in question were cleft lip and palate (16%), nevus pigmentosus (12%), Recklinghausen's diseases (8%) and psoriasis (8%). Estimation of the recurrence risk was impossible in 3%, approximate in 54% and accurate in 43%. This defective estimation is due to the insufficiency of the available genetic data, e.g. carrier frequency, penetrance rate, contraction rate by age, etc. The high-risk cases were found to be 36%. In 9 cases (5% of all the counselings) the client decided to avoid reproduction. In 30 cases (16%), the clients asked for counseling after having conceived or given birth to a consultand. They were thought to be too late from the standpoint of prophylaxis of inherited diseases. Our conclusion is that genetic counseling offers some measure of disease prevention and therefore will become an essential branch or dermatology in the future.