Clinical and Genetic Survey for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Based on the Findings in Turkey, a Country with a High Rate of Consanguineous Marriages

Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders of the peripheral nervous system. The most common type of IPN is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, which constitutes an interesting research focus for neurologists and human geneticists alike. Most cases with CMT manifest with a slowly progressive symmetric distal weakness in the lower limbs that usually begin in the first to the third decade that causes atrophy and foot drop. Deep tendon reflexes are usually absent or reduced. A proven and efficient CMT therapy is yet available and may require different molecules and approaches due to its high clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Several ongoing clinical trials are promising and are mostly focused on the most frequent form, namely CMT Type 1A (CMT1A). Approximately, 60% of patients with CMT can be genetically diagnosed using the most advanced mutation screening techniques that cover approximately 100 IPN genes. Turkey has a 25% consanguineous marriage rate, and nearly 60% genetic diagnosis rate can still be reached when SH3 Domain and Tetratricopeptide Repeat Domain 2, Ganglioside-induced Differentiation-Associated Protein 1, and Histidine Triad Nucleotide Binding Protein 1 genes are also screened along with Myelin Protein Zero and Gap Junction Protein Beta-1 after exclusion of CMT1A duplication in families with probable recessive inheritance. The genetic diagnosis rates in different regions worldwide implicate that the most recent sequencing techniques should be more commonly used for both diagnosis and identification of further CMT genes. Herein, presented our 30 years of experience on genetic diagnosis and management strategies in CMT neuropathy in Turkey and review clinical and genetic features of this group of disorders.