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SAT Hospital to have genetics clinic

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 23. A genetics clinic and counselling centre will start functioning at the SAT Hospital from next month. The unit will mainly address the genetic and metabolic disorders in infants, which are emerging as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this group.

The clinic, which was formally inaugurated by the Health Minister, Kadavoor Sivadasan last Sunday, is a joint effort of the departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery at the SAT Hospital and is the first of its kind in the Government sector.

While most of the advances in the field of genetic research may take many years before its benefits can reach the common man, a large number of genetic disorders are preventable if accurate diagnosis is made at the right time and relevant information imparted to those involved, says K. E. Elizabeth, Associate Professor of Paediatrics, SAT Hospital.

Some 16,000 deliveries take place on an average every year at the SAT Hospital and the doctors here regularly encounter several cases of genetic disorders and congenital abnormalities in their routine patient-care. "Our attempt will be to register families and women with a past history of genetic illnesses or disorders to subject them for extensive tests and counselling to help the affected or at-risk individuals understand the nature of their disorder better. Proper pre-natal diagnostic tests can help in the detection and correction of genetic abnormalities," Dr. Elizabeth points out.

Identification and screening of risk groups -- pregnant women with a past history of multiple abortions, women who conceive late in life and new-borns with a family history of genetic disorders - would be the first task of the clinic. Extensive lab facilities would be required for proper pre and antenatal diagnosis for checking genetic disorders. At present, the clinic intends to establish links with other bio-medical institutions in the country for getting laboratory tests done.

Early diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities in the foetus in the womb is possible through procedures such as karyotyping, amniocentesis, cordocentesis and anomaly ultrasound scans. Such pre-natal genetic tests are required in cases of advanced maternal age, congenital abnormalities in the previous pregnancy or in the family or ultrasound scan findings indicative of possible growth retardation or abnormalities of the foetus.

At present, karyotyping or counting of chromosomes is being done at SAT, while the rest of the pre-natal genetic tests would have to be done in other medical institutions. Screening of risk groups for genetic disorders has already started as part of the weekly nutrition clinic here. One of the doctors is currently undergoing training for conducting anomaly scans and the clinic is expected to be in full swing by next month.

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