You are seeing this message because your Web browser does not support basic Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing and what you can do to make your experience on this site better.


ABOUT ARCHIVES
Advanced Search

Welcome   | My Account | E-mail Alerts | Access Rights | Sign In


  Vol. 130 No. 3, March 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Archives
  •  Online Features
  Original Article
 This Article
 •Abstract
 •PDF
 • Reply to article
 •Send to a friend
 • Save in My Folder
 •Save to citation manager
 •Permissions
 Citing Articles
 •Citation map
 •Citing articles on ISI (4)
 •Contact me when this article is cited
 Related Content
 •Similar articles in this journal
 Topic Collections
 •Genetics
 •Genetic Disorders
 •Neurology
 •Neuro-otology
 •Audiology
 •Genetics of Head & Neck Disease
 •Hearing Loss/ Deafness
 •Alert me on articles by topic

A Dutch Family With Hearing Loss Linked to the DFNA20/26 Locus

Longitudinal Analysis of Hearing Impairment

Martijn H. Kemperman, MD; Els M. R. De Leenheer, MD, PhD; Patrick L. M. Huygen, PhD; Erwin van Wijk; Gerard van Duijnhoven; Frans P. M. Cremers, PhD; Hannie Kremer, PhD; Cor W. R. J. Cremers, MD, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:281-288.

ABSTRACT

Objectives  To perform linkage analysis and to outline hearing loss characteristics in a family exhibiting a nonsyndromic, autosomal dominant type of progressive sensorineural hearing loss.

Design  Genetic analysis was performed using microsatellite markers. Audiometric data were collected and analyzed longitudinally. Sigmoidal dose-response curves enabled us to perform nonlinear regression analysis per frequency and on phoneme recognition scores. Speech recognition scores were compared with those of DFNA2, DFNA5, DFNA9, and presbyacusis subjects.

Subjects  Affected family members of a Dutch family (W99-060).

Results  We revealed linkage of hearing loss to the DFNA20/26 locus (maximum logarithm of odds score, 3.1 at {theta} = 0.04) and reduced the critical region from 12 to 9.5 centimorgans. Patients younger than 15 years already showed gently downsloping audiograms. At ages 15 to 20 and 25 to 40 years, hearing loss was profound at 8 kHz and 1 to 4 kHz, respectively. The 0.25- to 0.5-kHz thresholds showed more gradual progression by about 1.5 to 2 dB/y. From about age 40 years onward, hearing was residual. Hearing impairment took a more severe course than in a known DFNA20 family. Score recognition in DFNA20/26 subjects was better than in DFNA9 subjects at any pure-tone average (1-4 kHz) threshold. Compared with subjects having DFNA2 and DFNA5, speech recognition in those with DFNA20/26 scored better at threshold levels below 85 dB hearing level, but worse at levels above 90 dB. Compared with presbyacusis subjects, those with DFNA20/26 scored better in speech recognition at levels below 100 dB and worse at levels above 100 dB.

Conclusions  Autosomal dominant hearing loss is linked to the DFNA20/26 locus in this Dutch family. The critical region is reduced from 12 to 9.5 centimorgans. Phenotypically, patients are more severely affected than those of a known DFNA20 family.



INTRODUCTION
 Jump to Section
 •Top
 •Introduction
 •Methods
 •Results
 •Comment
 •Author information
 •References

Genetic hearing loss is one of the most frequent forms of sensorineural deficits handicapping people of all ages worldwide. Ten percent of the population older than 65 years and 50% of those older than 80 years are affected.1 About 1 child in 1000 is born with prelingual hearing loss, and in at least half of these cases, the cause is inherited.2-3 According to Morton,1 approximately 77% of the nonsyndromic inherited forms of moderate to profound hearing loss in early childhood show an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance (DFNB) in contrast to 22% with an autosomal dominant (DFNA) type. The percentage of X-linked hearing loss (DFN) is 1%, whereas hearing loss with a mitochondrial pattern of inheritance occurs sporadically.1, 4 It seems that most of the hereditary types of postlingual hearing loss are due to either autosomal dominant or mitochondrial mutations.5 In recent years, mapping of deafness loci has become a common research effort. So far, 41 autosomal dominant, 33 autosomal recessive, and 6 X-linked loci associated with nonsyndromic hearing impairment have been mapped, and 29 different genes have been identified.6

Recessive forms of hearing loss generally involve all frequencies, are mostly congenital or prelingual, and range in severity from severe to profound.7 For dominantly inherited hearing loss, there is more variation, and clearly different types can be distinguished on the basis of the frequencies involved, severity, age of onset, and speech recognition scores.7-10 Despite intrafamilial and interfamilial variation in hearing loss caused by specific loci and/or genes, it is possible to differentiate between a number of these loci based on clinical characteristics.7, 9, 11-12 Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of families is important for insight into intralocus and interlocus variation in hearing loss.

Herein, we describe a Dutch family (W99-060) with progressive sensorineural autosomal dominant hearing impairment linked to the DFNA20/26 locus. Statistical analysis was performed on pure-tone audiometry data and on speech-recognition scores. The results were compared with those previously reported for 4 affected family members of a known DFNA20 family13; speech recognition scores were compared with those found in subjects with DFNA2,8 DFNA5,9 DFNA9,8 and presbyacusis.14


METHODS
 Jump to Section
 •Top
 •Introduction
 •Methods
 •Results
 •Comment
 •Author information
 •References

In 1999, we began our investigations of hearing loss in a large Dutch family (W99-060) spanning 6 generations (Figure 1)15 with the approval of the institutional review board. Fourteen family members had a history of progressive hearing impairment that first manifested in adolescence. After having obtained written and informed consent, we obtained pure-tone and speech audiograms from 22 individuals using standard procedures and, in some cases, a portable audiometer. Previously obtained audiograms were retrieved for 13 individuals. Blood samples were collected from 11 presumably affected and 22 unaffected persons for linkage analysis. Special attention was paid to the presence of syndromic features possibly accompanying hearing loss.



View larger version (41K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Figure 1. Pedigree of family W99-060 and genotypic data for 17q25 markers listed in centromere-to-telomere order. The most likely haplotypes are shown. A black bar indicates the haplotype that is associated with the affected status. Solid lines indicate an unknown phase. The order of the markers D17S1806, D17S784, D17S668, and D17S928 follows that of the Marshfield genetic map (available at: http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/genetics) and the Decode high-resolution recombination map.15 The additional markers were positioned as given in the most recent freeze (April 2003) of the Human Genome Working Draft (http://genome.ucsc.edu) and the Celera database. A square indicates a male family member; circle, female member; open symbol, unaffected person; solid symbol, affected person; slash through a symbol, deceased person; double slash through connecting lines, separated relationship; question mark, affected by history.


LINKAGE ANALYSIS

Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes according to established procedures.16 Analysis of polymorphic markers involved amplification by polymerase chain reaction. Each reaction contained 100 ng of genomic DNA and 30 ng of each primer in 15 µL of Supertaq buffer (50mM potassium chloride, 1.5mM magnesium chloride, 10mM Tris-hydrochloride [pH 9.0], 0.1% Triton X-100, and 0.01% [wt/vol] gelatin) in the presence of phosphorus 32–dCTP with 0.06 U of Supertaq (HT Biotechnology Ltd, Cambridge, England). Amplification was achieved by 35 cycles of 1 minute at 94°C, 2 minutes at 55°C, and 3 minutes at 72°C with microsatellite markers. The radiolabeled polymerase chain reaction products were mixed with 15 µL of sample buffer (95% formamide, 20mM EDTA, and 0.05% bromophenol blue) and heated to 95°C for 3 minutes; 4 µL of this mixture was separated on a 6.6% denaturing polyacrylamide gel.

Subsequently, the gel was dried and exposed overnight to Kodak X-OMAT film (Eastman Kodak Co, Rochester, NY) to visualize the separated allelic bands. Two-point logarithm of odds (lod) scores were calculated using the MLINK subroutine of the computer program LINKAGE (version 5.1)10 on the basis of autosomal dominant inheritance. For the calculation, the relative prevalence of the disease allele was assumed to be 0.0001; penetrance, 95%. A relative prevalence of 0.001 was assumed for phenocopies. The cutoff age for unaffected family members was 20 years.

AUDIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Audiometric configuration and threshold asymmetry were evaluated according to the criteria and classification established by the European Work Group on Genetics of Hearing Impairment.17 Serial audiometry was available for 8 patients and suitable for longitudinal analysis for 5 of them (VI:4, IV:19, V:6, V:15, and V:21). Nonlinear longitudinal regression analysis (air-conduction threshold on age) was performed using a commercial program (Prism 3.02; GraphPad, San Diego, Calif). The bone conduction threshold was measured to exclude conductive hearing loss. One-way analysis of variance was used to detect significant differences between any groups or subgroups of patients. Pooling was only performed where it was permitted according to the results of such tests. All these data enabled us to construct age-related typical audiograms (ARTA).

Speech-recognition scores were measured using (phonetically balanced) standard consonant-vocal-consonant (CVC) syllables (Dutch CVC word lists). The phoneme score was analyzed in relation to age and pure-tone average (PTA) of the thresholds at 1, 2, and 4 kHz (PTA1-4 kHz). Nonlinear regression analysis was performed using a sigmoid response curve with variable slope. Details can be found in a previous report.8

Analysis of variance and the t test (with the Welch correction if the Bartlett test demonstrated significantly unequal variances) were used to compare the results with those previously obtained in (1) a group of patients with presbyacusis14; (2) a group of DFNA9 subjects8; and (3) a group of DFNA5 subjects.9

VESTIBULOOCULAR EXAMINATION AND IMAGING TECHNIQUES

Seven family members (IV:7, IV:11, IV:22, V:5, V:6, V:15, and VI:4) underwent vestibular and ocular motor tests. These included evaluation of vestibuloocular responses using electronystagmography with computer analysis and saccadic, smooth pursuit, and optokinetic nystagmus responses. Vestibular stimulation comprised rotatory and caloric tests. Details and normal values have been previously described.18 A computed tomographic scan of the petrosal bones of subject IV:22 was performed (Somatom Plus 4; Siemens, Forchheim, Germany).


RESULTS
 Jump to Section
 •Top
 •Introduction
 •Methods
 •Results
 •Comment
 •Author information
 •References

The hearing loss trait in the family (Figure 1) exhibits an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. The case histories and physical examinations excluded syndromic involvement. Most of the patients dated their first symptoms of hearing loss to the first 2 decades of life. Given the normal speech and language development and the substantial progression of hearing loss, especially in the second decade, the hearing loss is expected to be mainly postlingual in origin.

LINKAGE ANALYSIS RESULTS

Because of the apparent similarity of the present type of hearing loss to that associated with DFNA5, this locus was tested first with polymorphic markers (eg, D7S673, D7S2444, and D7S2493). The locus was excluded by lod scores lower than -2 (data not shown). Subsequently, a genome scan was initiated, and after exclusion of about one third of the genome, linkage was detected with marker D17S928 (17q25) at a maximum 2-point lod score of 3.1 at {theta} = 0.04. This marker flanks the DFNA20 interval on the telomeric side.19 Additional markers derived from this region were tested, and 2-point lod scores were calculated (Table 1).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Two-Point Logarithm of Odds Scores Between the Hearing Loss and Polymorphic Markers of the DFNA20/26 Region


The most likely haplotypes were constructed to determine the borders of the critical region (Figure 1). This revealed that individual IV:2 had only the allele for marker D17S668 as seen with the affected haplotype. A genotyping error was excluded by analyzing DNA from 2 independent samples. Since both parents had died, we were unable to determine whether allele 2 was derived from the affected mother. Therefore, we decided to determine the critical region primarily on the basis of the remaining part of the pedigree.

On the centromeric side, the critical region is flanked by D17S784 as can be deduced from a recombination event seen in the affected individual V:5. Individual V:10 (33 years old at examination) also displays a recombination event suggesting that marker D17S784 is the proximal flanking marker. However, for this individual, nonpenetrance cannot be excluded. The given location of the marker D17S1830 relative to D17S784 is based on physical maps15, 19-20 (Figure 1 and Figure 2) and might therefore be less reliable than marker orders based on genetic maps or radiation hybrid maps. If markers D17S1830 are located distally from D17S784, the former marker would be the proximal flanking marker.



View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Figure 2. Representation of the critical regions of family W99-060 of the present study, a known DFNA20 family,19 and the USH1G locus.20 Order and distances in centimorgans of the underlined markers are according to the Marshfield genetic map (available at: http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/genetics) (left) and/or the Decode genetic map (right).15 Additional markers are located according to their positions in the Human Genome Working Draft (April 2003 freeze; available at: http://genome.ucsc.edu) and the Celera database.


There is no recombination seen for the most telomeric marker, D17S623, and thus the linkage interval for this family is between D17S784 and 17qter. Marker D17S623 is the only marker shown for which the position in the physical map is not compatible with that shown by the Marshfield genetic map in which it is at the same position as D17S1830 and D17S784 (Marshfield map available at: http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/genetics). Recombination events seen in the individuals V:5 and V:10 indicate that D17S623 is located on the telomeric side of D17S784. The definition of the critical region is not dependent on the position of D17S623.

Regarding the allele of marker D17S668 in individual IV:2 being derived from the haplotype that carries the mutation, the critical region based on the given marker order would be delimited to the interval between D17S761 and D17S928. However, because of the extent of genetic heterogeneity and environmental causes of hearing loss, the results for individual IV:2 must be regarded with caution. Unfortunately, patient IV:1 refused to participate in this study. Assuming that 1 gene is involved in the hearing loss in the 4 families known to be linked to 17q25,5, 19, 21 our data reduce the critical region from 12 centimorgans (cM),19 between D17S1806 and D17S668, to 9.5 cM between D17S784 and D17S668. In the recently published high-resolution recombination map of Decode,15 this distance measures only 6.1 cM.

AUDIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

The available audiograms of 10 affected cases are shown in Figure 3. Before they were 15 years old, the patients had already shown gently downsloping audiograms. By ages 15 to 20 and 25 to 40 years, hearing loss had become severe to profound at 8 kHz and 1 to 4 kHz, respectively. The thresholds at 0.25 to 0.5 kHz showed more gradual progression at an average increase of about 1.5 to 2 dB/y. There was residual hearing (ie, mainly at the lower frequencies) from about age 40 years onward. Figure 4 shows the age-related typical audiograms of the present family and, for the sake of comparison, of a known DFNA20 family.13



View larger version (71K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Figure 3. Serial audiograms of 10 family members (A-J) shown for the right (R) and left (L) ears separately (air-conduction threshold in decibels hearing level [dB HL]). Note that the panels are ordered (top left to bottom right) by age in years at the last visit. Some of the serial audiograms have been omitted for clarity.




View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Figure 4. Age-related typical audiograms of family W99-060, the present family, and of a known American DFNA20 family.13 Italics indicate age in years. HL indicates hearing level.


The plots in Figure 5 combine the longitudinal analyses in the suitable cases with the (cross-sectional) data in the other cases. Cross-sectional data reported by Elfenbein et al13 are included for the purpose of comparison. The bottom panel shows the phoneme recognition score in relation to age. The threshold data showed much higher progression at the high frequencies than at the lower frequencies. The maximum rate of progression culminated within the age range of 10 to 35 years and varied in individual cases between about 3 and 8 dB/y. Onset ages were in the range of 5 to 25 years, showing an apparent decrease at increasing frequencies in some cases. At age 15 to 35 years, 50% of the final degree of deterioration had developed, and by age 30 to 50 years, 90% of the final degree of deterioration had developed.



View larger version (53K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Figure 5. Plots combining individual longitudinal data (with connection lines) and separate cross-sectional data from our subjects (open circles) for binaural mean air-conduction threshold and phoneme recognition scores against age. Black triangles and squares indicate cross-sectional and longitudinal data, respectively, from the American family described by Elfenbein et al.13 HL indicates hearing level.


Appreciable deterioration of speech recognition (score <90%) began between ages 15 and 40 years and showed large intersubject variations (Figure 5, bottom panel). At age 20 to 45 years, recognition scores deteriorated maximally (range, 5%-20% per year). With few exceptions, speech recognition became problematic (maximum phoneme score <50%) from about age 25 to 45 years and onward. Between ages 30 and 60 years, speech recognition was almost completely lost except in 1 patient.

In relation to the corresponding threshold level (ie, PTA1-4 kHz), the phoneme recognition score was relatively good compared with that previously obtained at our clinic in patients with presbyacusis,14 DFNA2,8 DFNA5,9 and DFNA9.8 The slope at which the phoneme recognition score decayed with increasing PTA level appeared to be steeper than in the aforementioned different groups of patients (Figure 6).8-9,14 The recognition score in DFNA20/26 subjects was better than in DFNA9 subjects at any PTA. Compared with DFNA2 and DFNA5 subjects, DFNA20/26 subjects scored better in speech recognition at PTAs lower than 85 dB HL (hearing level), but worse at PTAs higher than 90 dB. Compared with presbyacusis subjects, those with DFNA20/26 scored better in speech recognition at PTAs lower than 100 dB and worse at PTAs higher than 100 dB.



View larger version (21K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
Figure 6. Plot showing relationship between phoneme recognition score (percentage of correct responses) and binaural mean pure-tone average of the thresholds at 1, 2, and 4 kHz (PTA1-4 kHz). The PTA1-4 kHz is shown schematically by lines drawn for DFNA2, DFNA5, and DFNA9 families and the Dutch DFNA20/26 family. Presbyacusis (presby) is represented by a dotted line. HL indicates hearing level.


VESTIBULOOCULAR EXAMINATION AND IMAGING RESULTS

While caloric testing revealed no abnormalities, patient IV:7 exhibited vestibular hyporeflexia and asymmetrical responses to rotatory tests. Severe vestibular hyporeflexia and an enhanced cervicoocular reflex were noted in family member IV:22. Vestibular testing in 6 other participants (IV:11, IV:22, V:5, V:6, V:15, and VI:4) revealed no abnormalities. The middle and inner ear structures of family member IV:22 had a normal appearance on computed tomographic scans.


COMMENT
 Jump to Section
 •Top
 •Introduction
 •Methods
 •Results
 •Comment
 •Author information
 •References

The Dutch family in the present study shows postlingual, nonsyndromic, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss with probably no or very limited vestibular involvement. This is the fourth DFNA family found to have hearing loss linked to chromosome 17q25. The critical region, originally described by Morell et al,19 is located between markers D17S1806 and D17S668 and occupies an interval of about 12 cM (Figure 2). Yang and Smith21 described 2 unrelated American families with progressive autosomal dominant hearing loss with linkage to a region overlapping the DFNA20 interval.6 The locus for these 2 families was designated DFNA26.6 Flanking markers for the DFNA26 locus have not been reported so far. Extensive clinical comparison with these DFNA26 families is prohibited by the present lack of reported audiometric data.

The originally reported type of hearing impairment associated with DFNA20 showed progressive sensorineural hearing impairment with a relatively late onset (age 20 years) that predominantly affected the high frequencies. The pattern of hearing loss was suggested to resemble presbyacusis but having an onset that is 30 years earlier than normal.19 Recently, audiometric data were reported for 4 affected family members by Elfenbein et al,13 who described downsloping sensorineural hearing loss first evident at 6 kHz and later at 8 kHz. This pattern could be demonstrated in some patients in their early teenage years but was clearly evident only by age 24 to 29 years. By the end of the third and fifth decades, clear differences were found at some frequencies between affected and unaffected persons. With increasing age, hearing loss increased at all frequencies, ultimately manifesting as a "corner audiogram" configuration.

The hearing loss of the present Dutch DFNA20/26 family shows some similarities with that of the American family reported by Elfenbein et al,13 but the audiometric data also revealed apparent differences. We demonstrated that hearing loss was profound by age 15 to 20 and 25 to 40 years at 8 and 1 to 4 kHz, respectively. Loss at the lower frequencies (ie, 0.25-0.5 kHz) showed more gradual progression at an average increase of about 1.5 to 2 dB/y. Affected individuals have only residual hearing from an age of about 40 years onward. Thus, hearing impairment in the Dutch DFNA20/26 family has a more severe appearance than that in the American family (Figure 4). Higher threshold levels were attained at an earlier age at any given frequency. Obviously, comparing purely longitudinal data of both families would be more appropriate, but Figure 4 may give some indication of the difference in severity.

The DFNA20/26 patients in the present family showed better maximum speech recognition scores in relation to the level of pure-tone hearing impairment at levels below 80 to 90 dB HL than was found in patients with DFNA2, DFNA5, DFNA9, or presbyacusis. However, owing to a steeper slope of the trend line pertaining to DFNA20/26, these patients showed lower scores at levels above 90 dB than the DFNA2 and DFNA5 patients and scores similar to presbyacusis subjects at about 100 dB (Figure 6). Elfenbein et al13 mentioned the proband's poor speech recognition scores but did not provide details; they included data on acoustic emissions but no detailed data on speech recognition scores. We did not evaluate otoacoustic emissions.

A survey of the critical region for candidate genes for DFNA20/26 suggested that the P4HB gene, encoding the beta subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase, was the most promising. The P4HB protein catalyzes the formation of 4-hydroxyproline in collagens and thereby is important for the structure and function of collagen. In addition, the protein functions as protein disulfide isomerase and as a cellular thyroid hormone binding protein. However, a disease-causing mutation in this gene could not be demonstrated in the DFNA2019 family or in the present family.

The difference in phenotype between the previously described American DFNA20 family,19 based on data of only 4 family members,13 and the present family does not exclude the involvement of the same causative gene. Different types of mutations might lead to different phenotypes. However, it can also be hypothesized that different genes are causing different traits linked to the DFNA20/26 interval. An example is the recent localization of a gene for Usher syndrome type 1G (USH1G) to 17q24-q2520 overlapping with the DFNA20 interval as it was described by Morell et al.19 Since the critical region for USH1G is flanked by D17S1830 on the telomeric side, this locus does not overlap with the critical region determined for the Dutch family (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Therefore, we conclude that the distal part of chromosome 17q harbors at least 2 causative genes for hearing loss.

The mouse mutation jackson-shaker (js) associated with deafness and vestibular impairment is located in the region of mouse chromosome 11, homologous to human chromosome 17q25.22 Given the vestibular impairment, it seems more likely that the mutated gene in the js mouse is the orthologue of the USH1G gene than that of the gene for nonsyndromic hearing loss in the present family. Already 3 genes have been found to be involved in both Usher syndrome and in nonsyndromic hearing loss.7, 12, 17, 23-29 Therefore, the identification of the disease-causing mutations is needed to elucidate whether DFNA20 and DFNA26 are caused by mutations in the same gene. This will also show whether the USH1G gene is involved.

The present research was successful in mapping the causative gene for hearing loss in a Dutch family to the DFNA20/26 interval and in refining its critical region. The present report is the second to provide detailed tone and speech audiometric data for this locus. The publication of additional data available from other DFNA20/26 families is needed to improve phenotypic comparison. Clinical features of the 2 available families show some audiometric similarity. However, members of the Dutch family appear to be more severely affected at an earlier age. As yet, no gene or disease-causing mutations have been identified for DFNA20/26. It has been previously suggested that DFNA20 might represent a suitable model of presbyacusis.13 The present data, however, do not demonstrate any striking similarity between the phenotype of DFNA20/26 and presbyacusis.


AUTHOR INFORMATION
 Jump to Section
 •Top
 •Introduction
 •Methods
 •Results
 •Comment
 •Author information
 •References

Corresponding author and reprints: Martijn H. Kemperman, MD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands (e-mail: M.Kemperman{at}kno.umcn.nl).

Submitted for publication October 30, 2002; final revision received June 17, 2003; accepted August 12, 2003.

This study was financially supported by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (project No. 920-03-100), the Hague; and the Heinsius Houbolt Foundation and the Nijmegen Otorhinolaryngology Foundation, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

We acknowledge the contributions of Wendy H. M. de Jong and Janneke J. C. van Lith-Verhoeven to the genetic analysis and of Marion H. F. B. Bohnen to the clinical part of this study.

From the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology (Drs Kemperman, Leenheer, Huygen, Kremer, and C. Cremers and Mr van Wijk) and Human Genetics (Drs Kemperman and F. Cremers and Mr Duijnhoven), University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.


REFERENCES
 Jump to Section
 •Top
 •Introduction
 •Methods
 •Results
 •Comment
 •Author information
 •References

1. Morton NE. Genetic epidemiology of hearing impairment. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;630:16-31. ISI | PUBMED
2. Marazita ML, Ploughman LM, Rawlings B, Remington E, Arnos KS, Nance WE. Genetic epidemiological studies of early-onset deafness in the US school-age population. Am J Med Genet. 1993;46:486-491. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
3. Martini A, Read A. Genetics and Hearing Impairment. London, England: Whurr Publishers Ltd; 1996.
4. Ensink RJH, Huygen PLM, Cremers CWRJ. The clinical spectrum of maternally transmitted hearing loss. Adv Otorhinolaryngol. 2002;61:172-183. PUBMED
5. Kalatzis V, Petit C. The fundamental and medical impacts of recent progress in research on hereditary hearing loss. Hum Mol Genet. 1998;7:1589-1597. FREE FULL TEXT
6. Van Camp G, Smith RJH. Hereditary hearing loss homepage. Available at: http://www.uia.ac.be/dnalab/hhh/. Accessed October 2002.
7. The genetics of non-syndromic hearing loss. Available at: http://linkage.rockefeller.edu/nshl/. Accessed October 2002.
8. Bom SJH, De Leenheer EMR, Lemaire FX, et al. Speech recognition scores related to age and degree of hearing impairment in DFNA2/KCNQ4 and DFNA9/COCH. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:1045-1048. FREE FULL TEXT
9. De Leenheer EMR, van Zuijlen DA, Van Laer L, et al. Further delineation of the DFNA5 phenotype: results of speech recognition tests. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002;111:639-641. ISI | PUBMED
10. Lathrop GM, Lalouel JM, Julier C, Ott J. Strategies for multilocus linkage analysis in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984;81:3443-3446. FREE FULL TEXT
11. Huygen PLM, Pennings RJE, Cremers CWRJ. Characterizing and distinguishing progressive phenotypes in nonsyndromic autosomal dominant hearing impairment. Audiol Med. 2003;1:37-46. FULL TEXT
12. Pennings RJE, Huygen PLM, Van Camp G, Cremers CWRJ. A review of progressive phenotypes in nonsyndromic autosomal dominant hearing impairment. Audiol Med. 2003;1:47-55. FULL TEXT
13. Elfenbein JL, Fisher RA, Wei S, et al. Audiologic aspects of the search for DFNA20: a gene causing late-onset, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss. Ear Hear. 2001;22:279-288.
14. De Leenheer EMR, Huygen PLM, Coucke PJ, Admiraal RJ, Van Camp G, Cremers CWRJ. Longitudinal and cross-sectional phenotype analysis in a new, large Dutch DFNA2/KCNQ4 family. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002;111:267-274. ISI | PUBMED
15. Kong A, Gudbjartsson DF, Sainz J, et al. A high-resolution recombination map of the human genome. Nat Genet. 2002;31:241-247. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
16. Miller SA, Dykes DD, Polesky HF. A simple salting out procedure for extracting DNA from human nucleated cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 1988;16:1215. FREE FULL TEXT
17. Martini A. European Concerted Action Project On Genetic Hearing Impairment: Infoletter 2. Available at: http://web.unife.it/progetti/gendeaf/hear/infoletters/Info_02.PDF. Accessed November 1, 2003.
18. Kunst HPM, Huybrechts C, Marres HAM, Huygen PLM, Van Camp G, Cremers CWRJ. The phenotype of DFNA13/COL11A2: nonsyndromic autosomal dominant mid-frequency and high-frequency sensorineural hearing impairment. Am J Otol. 2000;21:181-187. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
19. Morell RJ, Friderici KH, Wei S, Elfenbein JL, Friedman TB, Fisher RA. A new locus for late-onset, progressive, hereditary hearing loss DFNA20 maps to 17q25. Genomics. 2000;63:1-6. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
20. Mustapha M, Chouery E, Torchard-Pagnez D, et al. A novel locus for Usher syndrome type I, USH1G, maps to chromosome 17q24-25. Hum Genet. 2002;110:348-350. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
21. Yang T, Smith RJH. A novel locus DFNA26 maps to chromosome 17q25 in two unrelated families with progressive autosomal dominant hearing loss. Abstract 1655 presented at: American Society of Human Geneties (ASHG) meeting; October 3-7, 2000; Philatelphia, Pa.
22. Roderick TH. Position of jackson shaker. Mouse News Lett. 1972;47:37.
23. Liu XZ, Walsh J, Mburu P, et al. Mutations in the myosin VIIA gene cause non-syndromic recessive deafness. Nat Genet. 1997;16:188-190. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
24. Weil D, Kussel P, Blanchard S, et al. The autosomal recessive isolated deafness, DFNB2, and the Usher 1B syndrome are allelic defects of the myosin-VIIA gene. Nat Genet. 1997;16:191-193. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
25. Bitner-Glindzicz M, Lindley KJ, Rutland P, et al. A recessive contiguous gene deletion causing infantile hyperinsulinism, enteropathy and deafness identifies the Usher type 1C gene. Nat Genet. 2000;26:56-60. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
26. Bork JM, Peters LM, Riazuddin S, et al. Usher syndrome 1D and nonsyndromic autosomal recessive deafness DFNB12 are caused by allelic mutations of the novel cadherin-like gene CDH23. Am J Hum Genet. 2001;68:26-37. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
27. Bolz H, von Brederlow B, Ramirez A, et al. Mutation of CDH23, encoding a new member of the cadherin gene family, causes Usher syndrome type 1D. Nat Genet. 2001;27:108-112. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
28. Petit C, Levilliers J, Hardelin JP. Molecular genetics of hearing loss. Annu Rev Genet. 2001;35:589-646. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED
29. Ahmed ZM, Smith TN, Riazuddin S, et al. Nonsyndromic recessive deafness DFNB18 and Usher syndrome type IC are allelic mutations of USHIC. Hum Genet. 2002;110:527-531. FULL TEXT | ISI | PUBMED






HOME | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | TOPIC COLLECTIONS | CME | SUBMIT | SUBSCRIBE |