Rapid mass screening method and counseling for the 1555A-->G mitochondrial mutation.

The 1555A-->G point mutation is associated with a susceptibility to aminoglycoside antibiotics, and is of particular interest, as it may cause hearing loss even without aminoglycoside exposure. There may be a considerably large high-risk population in Japan, and to avoid possible side effects in this group, a rapid mass screening system and careful counseling are recommended. We are currently using the mutant allele specific amplification (MASA) method to detect the 1555A-->G mitochondrial mutation and we distribute a warning card to subjects found to bear this mutation.