Pregnancy following preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Crouzon syndrome

Crouzon syndrome is a dominantly inherited craniosynostosis syndrome which is caused by mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene (FGFR2). However, a specific point mutation in the FGFR3 gene has also been shown to result in Crouzon syndrome associated with acanthosis nigricans. We report here the first method for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of Crouzon syndrome based on multiplex PCR amplification followed by the direct detection of the causative mutation by single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. A highly, polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) locus was simultaneously analysed as a control against some forms of contamination. The mutation, carried by the female partner, was a de-novo substitution at codon 338 of the FGFR2 gene. The couple were found to be informative at the D21S11 STR locus. Two clinical PGD cycles were performed, resulting in the biopsy of 36 blastomeres, 25 of which showed amplification at the FGFR2 locus. All of the cells showed expected genotypes at the D21S11 locus with only, one incidence of allele drop-out. A total of five embryos were transferred, two in the first cycle and three in the second, resulting in a singleton pregnancy.