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Updated: Sep 24, 2026

FISH for Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
Published on: February 24, 2011
Assignment of a locus for dominantly inherited venous malformations to chromosome 9p
L M Boon1, J B Mulliken, M Vikkula
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Insights
Researchers identified a gene locus for inherited venous malformations on chromosome 9p. This discovery offers insights into the causes of these common vascular anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Vascular Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Venous malformations are common vascular anomalies, often sporadic but sometimes inherited.
- They can cause significant health issues including pain, disfigurement, and life-threatening complications.
Observation:
- A three-generation family presented with multiple cutaneous and mucosal venous malformations.
- The condition followed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.
Findings:
- A specific genetic locus for this disorder was mapped to a 24 cM interval on chromosome 9p.
- This region contains important genes, including interferon clusters and potential tumor suppressors (MTS1, MTS2).
Implications:
- Identifying the responsible gene will elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of venous malformations.
- This research may lead to new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for vascular anomalies.
Abstract:
Venous malformation is the most common type of vascular anomaly. Depending upon size and location, these slow-flow anomalies may cause pain, anatomic distortion, or threaten life. Most venous malformations occur sporadically and present as solitary lesions. They also occur in several syndromes, some of which demonstrate Mendelian inheritance. We have mapped the locus for an autosomal dominant disorder in a three generation family that manifests as multiple cutaneous and mucosal venous malformations. This locus lies within a 24 cM interval on chromosome 9p, defined by the markers D9S157 and D9S163. The alpha and beta interferon gene cluster and the putative tumor suppressor genes MTS1 and MTS2 are also in this region. Characterization of the gene responsible for this disorder should yield insights into the precise pathogenic mechanisms for venous malformations.
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