Prenatal diagnosis of disorders of energy metabolism

Prenatal diagnosis for disorders of energy metabolism is problematic becaus e of the lack of information about the efficacy of the procedures currently employed. Difficulties arise due to uncertainty as to the nuclear or mitoc hondrial DNA origin of respiratory chain abnormalities, and also as to the tissue specificity of defective gene expression. Here, we look at the curre nt experience with prenatal diagnosis of these disorders and examine possib le future directions.