Correlations between triplet repeat expansion and clinical features in Huntington's disease

S. Claes, K. Van Zand, E. Legius, R. Dom, M. Malfroid, F. Baro, J. Godderis and J. J. Cassiman
Center for Human genetics, University of Leuven, Belgium.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible correlations between the length of the (CAG)n trinucleotide repeat in Hungtington's disease gene IT15 and clinical features (age at onset, symptoms at onset, and mode of progression) in Huntington's disease. DESIGN: In 59 patients with Huntington's disease, the expansion of the (CAG)n trinucleotide repeat was determined and clinical data were obtained retrospectively. SETTING: The Center for Human Genetics, affiliated with a university hospital. PATIENTS: All patients belonged to an initial group of 248 individuals tested in an indirect predictive testing procedure. RESULTS: A good correlation was found between the expansion of the (CAG)n trinucleotide repeat and the age at onset (r = -.71). No correlation was found between the repeat length of the normal allele and the age at onset. No correlations were found between repeat expansion and other clinical features, such as the nature of the symptoms at onset (neurologic, psychiatric/cognitive, or both) and the mode of progression. CONCLUSION: Factors that determine the nature of symptoms at onset and the mode of progression of Huntington's disease seem to be operating independently of the (CAG)n trinucleotide repeat in gene IT15.