RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Genetics of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy JF Neurology JO Neurology FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins SP 2369 OP 2369 DO 10.1212/WNL.43.11.2369 VO 43 IS 11 A1 R. C. Griggs A1 R. Tawil A1 D. Storvick A1 J. R. Mendell A1 M. R. Altherr YR 1993 UL http://n.neurology.org/content/43/11/2369.abstract AB A gene for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) has been linked to chromosome 4q35 in families with the disease. We have used recently characterized p13E-11/D4S809 probes that map near or within the FSHD gene to investigate eight sporadic cases of FSHD whose parents showed no signs of disease. Probe p13E-11/D4S809 detected novel DNA fragments in seven of the eight sporadic FSHD individuals and not in the parents, substantiating the clinical diagnosis. Two sisters with FSHD whose parents were clinically normal had a novel DNA fragment suggestive of germline mosaicism. Probe p13E-ll/D4S809 is potentially helpful in genetic counseling. However, because this probe may also detect a locus unlinked to chromosome 4, because of possible genetic heterogeneity in FSHD, and because of the presence of recombinants in autosomal dominantly inherited families, closer markers or gene definition will be needed for accurate genetic counseling in other situations.