ATTITUDES REGARDING MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS IN MEXICAN FAMILIES AT RISK OF INHERITING HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE

Fifty-eight, at-risk subjects were studied .81% of the group wished to know whether they had inherited Huntington's disease, even though onl y 79% would undergo testing. The subjects reported a favorable attitud e toward a probable positive result in 81% of cases. Nevertheless, 52% reported they would become depressed, and a small group referred suic idal ideation as response to a probable positive result. Regarding gen etic counseling, 59% reported that an at-risk person should not have c hildren, although this increased to 82% if the person knew with certai nty that they would develop the disease. Prenatal testing was favored in 74%, and less than half would be willing to have an abortion. Genet ic counseling must be insisted upon, the selection of at-risk subjects must be carefully made, and the characteristics of the Mexican popula tion must be taken into account.