GENE-THERAPY FOR CYSTIC-FIBROSIS - WILL IT AFFECT THE UPTAKE OF PRENATAL CARRIER SCREENING

We report a study which examined whether the decision of 135 couples t o accept prenatal cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier screening would be infl uenced by the advent of gene therapy. A majority (91 couples; 67 per c ent) felt that gene therapy for CF would not influence their decision to be screened. Twenty-two couples (16 per cent) stated that they woul d decline to be screened and an equal number felt ambivalent. Even if the life expectancy of a CF sufferer were increased by gene therapy to normal, 78 per cent of couples would still wish to avail themselves o f prenatal carrier screening. A majority of women who decline screenin g do so because they are opposed to termination of pregnancy. The avai lability of gene therapy could increase the proportion of couples who accept screening.