‘Mama and I’ Genetic Lab helps expectant parents and their children
Genetics plays a vital role in the field of paediatrics, providing valuable insights into the origins and development of many childhood diseases. A series of analyses conducted over the years at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital (Ohio, USA) have shown that in nearly one-third of young patients, chronic and frequent hospitalizations were associated with a subsequently identified genetic condition. Although no official statistics are kept in Bulgaria, paediatricians at the Maternal and Child Health Clinic ‘Mama and I’ have similar observations. They say that their immediate collaboration with the specialists from the genetics laboratory at ‘Heart and Brain’ is an invaluable asset for their clinical practice. Working together allows them to diagnose faster, more accurately and provide personalized treatment approaches for their young patients.
When should we seek a consultation with a medical geneticist?
Consultation with a physician geneticist is advisable even before planning a pregnancy, as the primary goal of genetics is to prevent or predict potential genetic diseases and conditions through the information we obtain from a family tree or genetic analyses performed.
Every person carries genetic variations associated with some disease. Usually people do not know they are carriers of an inherited genetic disease because they have no symptoms and are healthy. They only find out after they produce offspring in which one or more children develop signs of some disease. Rarely, this happens when the second parent also carries the same (or similar) genetic variations. Genetic analyses can be performed before, during and after pregnancy, with earlier diagnosis providing more opportunities for targeted action.
With a mission to provide high quality genetic analyses and to support expectant parents with innovative solutions, the genetics laboratory of ‘Mаma and I’ is a leader in the field of molecular genetics and medicine in Bulgaria. The highly qualified team of specialists, advanced technology and ethical approach can benefit all expectant parents and families.
