Genetic epidemiological studies of Eastern Adriatic island isolates, Croatia: Objectives and strategies

In this paper, the authors discuss why isolate island populations represent a particularly helpful model for genetic epidemiological studies. A thorou gh previous anthropological research carried out in Eastern Adriatic island isolates, Croatia, in terms of ethnohistory, geography and current demogra phy is reviewed. The major results of the studies of population genetic str ucture of those populations, including model-bound and model-free approache s, the analyses of serogenetic polymorphisms and most recent studies using HLA class II, VNTR and STR DNA polymorphisms, are briefly presented. The or ganization of health care on the islands is analyzed and some relevant deta ils of specific medical problems and some autochtonous diseases in these is land populations is noted. The authors present in outline four illustrative examples of research opportunities which are afforded by the unique circum stances found in these isolate communities. These relate to hereditary dwar fism on Krk island, Mal de Meleda on Mljet island, extreme inbreeding on. S usak island and population genetics of cancer on the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis and Lastovo. Finally, the authors develop objectives and stra tegies for a long-term genetic epidemiological research of these population s and suggest that such a programme of investigation would further our unde rstanding of the causes of (rare) diseases which are uniquely important to these communities but also of common diseases which are important contribut ors to the burden of disease both in these islands and throughout the world .