Genetic counseling

Abstract

The number of genes known to be involved in pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies is increasing rapidly. At the same time more and more, mostly exceedingly rare, disease entities and their genetic causes are discovered. Genetic conditions are different from other medical diagnoses as they might imply risks to other family members as well as to unborn children. In addition, a genetic diagnosis is permanent and currently often untreatable or incurable. In order to meet the specific needs and demands of patients and their relatives, a close collaboration between neurologists, clinical geneticists and molecular diagnostic laboratories is necessary. This chapter on genetic counseling was written based on the experience of the author in clinical genetics at university hospitals in Germany and therefore mainly reflects the situation in Germany.