Genetics of consanguineous marriage: Impact and importance of counseling

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Mohammad Akrami, Seyed

Affiliations: Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Seyed Mohammad Akrami, Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. P.O. Box: 14155-6447; Tel./Fax: +98 21 88953005; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Consanguineous marriage, marriage between close biological kin, especially that between first cousins, is socially favored in some parts of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. An increased rate of congenital anomalies and autosomal recessive disorders are significantly associated with such practice. In such communities, misunderstanding and external attempts to discourage such marriage without proper genetic counseling seem to be inappropriate and unsuccessful. Update in knowledge of clinicians especially pediatricians is the aim of this paper regarding importance and issues behind consanguineous marriage.

Keywords: Consanguineous marriage, genetic counseling, autosomal recessive disorders

DOI: 10.3233/PGE-12034

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Genetics, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 217-220, 2012