Hereditary diseases are a large group of human diseases caused by pathological changes in the genetic apparatus. Currently, more than 6 thousand syndromes with a hereditary transmission mechanism are known, and their total frequency in the population ranges from 0.2 to 4%. Some genetic diseases have a certain ethnic and geographical prevalence, while others occur with the same frequency all over the world. The study of hereditary diseases is mainly in the competence of medical genetics, but almost any medical specialists can face such a pathology: pediatricians, neurologists, endocrinologists, hematologists, therapists, etc.

Hereditary diseases should be distinguished from congenital and familial pathology. Congenital diseases can be caused not only by genetic, but also by unfavorable exogenous factors affecting the developing fetus (chemical and medicinal compounds, ionizing radiation, intrauterine infections, etc.). However, not all hereditary diseases manifest themselves immediately after birth: for example, signs of Huntington’s chorea usually first manifest themselves at the age of over 40 years. The difference between hereditary and familial pathology is that the latter may be associated not with genetic, but with social or professional determinants.

The occurrence of hereditary diseases is caused by mutations – sudden changes in the genetic properties of an individual, leading to the appearance of new, non-normal signs. If mutations affect individual chromosomes, changing their structure (due to loss, acquisition, variation in the position of individual sites) or their number, such diseases are referred to as chromosomal. The most common chromosomal abnormalities are Down syndrome (trisomy on chromosome 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy on chromosome 18), Klinefelter syndrome (polysomy on the X chromosome in men), Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome, cat cry syndrome, etc.

Hereditary diseases caused by mutations at the gene level belong to gene diseases. They can be monogenic (caused by mutation or absence of individual genes) or polygenic (caused by changes in many genes). Among monogenic diseases, there are pathologies with an autosomal dominant type of inheritance (Marfan syndrome, Recklinghausen’s disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, Albright’s disease, etc.), autosomal recessive transmission (phenylketonuria, galactosemia, ichthyosis, progeria) and hereditary diseases linked to gender (hemophilia, phosphate diabetes, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Hunter syndrome, Fabry’s disease).

Polygenic diseases are multifactorial in nature, i.e. a combination of genetic and environmental factors is important in their occurrence. These diseases are often treated as diseases with a hereditary predisposition. This group includes atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, allergic pathology.

Hereditary diseases can manifest themselves both immediately after the birth of a child, and at different stages of life. Some of them have an unfavorable prognosis and lead to early death, while others do not significantly affect the duration and even quality of life. The most severe forms of hereditary fetal pathology cause spontaneous termination of pregnancy or are accompanied by stillbirth.

Thanks to the success of the development of medicine, about a thousand hereditary diseases today can be detected even before the birth of a child using prenatal diagnostic methods. The latter include ultrasound and biochemical screening of the I (10-14 weeks) and II (16-20 weeks) trimesters, which are carried out to all pregnant women without exception. In addition, if there are additional indications, it may be recommended to undergo invasive procedures: chorionic villus biopsies, amniocentesis, cordocentesis. If the fact of severe hereditary pathology is reliably established, a woman is offered an artificial termination of pregnancy for medical reasons.

All newborns in the first days of their life are also subject to examination for hereditary and congenital metabolic diseases (phenylketonuria, adrenogenital syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, galactosemia, cystic fibrosis). Other hereditary diseases that are not recognized before or immediately after the birth of a child can be detected using cytogenetic, molecular genetic, biochemical research methods.

Unfortunately, a complete cure of hereditary diseases is currently not possible. Meanwhile, with some forms of genetic pathology, a significant prolongation of life and ensuring its acceptable quality can be achieved. Pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy is used in the treatment of hereditary diseases. The pathogenetic approach to treatment involves substitution therapy (for example, blood clotting factors in hemophilia), limiting the use of certain substrates in phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup disease, filling in the deficiency of a missing enzyme or hormone, etc. Symptomatic therapy includes the use of a wide range of medications, physiotherapy, rehabilitation courses (massage, exercise therapy). Many patients with genetic pathology from early childhood need correctional and developmental classes with a speech pathologist and speech therapist.

The possibilities of surgical treatment of hereditary diseases are mainly reduced to the elimination of severe malformations that interfere with the normal functioning of the body (for example, correction of congenital heart defects, non-infection of the upper lip and palate, hypospadias, etc.). Gene therapy of hereditary diseases is still rather experimental in nature and is still far from being widely used in practical medicine.

The main direction of prevention of hereditary diseases is medical and genetic counseling. Experienced geneticists will consult a married couple, predict the risk of offspring with hereditary pathology, and provide professional assistance in making a decision about childbirth.

Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia is a large group of genetically heterogeneous skeletal dysplasias, which are united by a violation of the formation of the enchondral spongiose bone in the area of the metaphyses and epiphyses of bones, as well as (in some cases) vertebral bodies. The symptoms of this condition vary depending on the type of…

Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a genetic disease from the group of connective tissue dysplasia, in which mineral dystrophy of elastic fibers occurs. Pathology is manifested by multiple yellow plaques on the skin, loss of elasticity of the skin, damage to the eyes and cardiovascular system. The diagnosis requires data from histological analysis of the dermis, molecular…

Citrullinemia

Citrullinemia is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by a violation of the urea cycle. Occurs with defects in the ASS1 or SLC25A13 genes. In infants, pathology is manifested by neurological disorders (drowsiness, convulsions, depression of consciousness), delayed psychomotor development, adults are also concerned about headaches, psychoemotional disorders. For diagnosis, biochemical blood tests, genetic…

Cystinosis

Cystinosis is a hereditary disease belonging to the group of lysosomal accumulation diseases and characterized by impaired metabolism of the amino acid cystine, which leads to the formation of its crystals in the cells of various organs. The severity of the symptoms of this disease depends on the form of pathology, the main manifestations are…

Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Chronic granulomatous disease is a rare form of primary immunodeficiency, in which the bactericidal function of phagocytes is disrupted. It is a hereditary disease, mainly transmitted by the X-linked recessive type. Pathology is manifested by recurrent infections of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, skin and other organs. Flow cytometry, genetic testing, and microbiological studies are used…

Chondrodysplasia

Chondrodysplasia is a common name for a group of hereditary diseases caused by a violation of the formation or ossification of cartilage tissue. They arise as a result of gene mutations, are inherited both by autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive type. Pathologies are manifested by stunting, various shortening and deformities of the limbs, joint damage.…

Hereditary Fructose Intolerance

Hereditary fructose intolerance is a hereditary fermentopathy, which is based on a violation of the metabolism of fructose and the accumulation of its metabolic products, which are toxic to many organs and systems. This pathology begins to manifest itself from the very first years of life when eating products containing fructose. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal…

Phosphate Diabetes

Phosphate diabetes is a genetically determined violation of mineral metabolism, in which the absorption and assimilation of phosphorus compounds in the body suffers, which leads to pathology of the bone system. According to the latest data, it is a whole group of hereditary diseases. It is manifested by hypotension of muscles, rickety changes in the…

Triple X syndrome

Triple X syndrome is a common variant of aneuploidy in women, in which an additional female sex chromosome is present in the karyotype. The condition may be manifested by the early onset of menarche, delayed neuropsychiatric development, emotional lability. At the same time, in most women, the syndrome is asymptomatic, often the pathology is not diagnosed…

Tyrosinemia

Tyrosinemia is a rare hereditary disease from the group of amino acid metabolism disorders that occurs due to the lack of enzymes necessary for the biochemical transformations of tyrosine. Pathology is manifested by severe liver damage, blood clotting disorders, neurological complications and developmental delay. Diagnostics includes specific biochemical analyses, genetic tests, instrumental imaging (ultrasound of…