Prolidase deficiency among an Israeli population: prenatal diagnosis in a genetic disorder with uncertain prognosis.

Prolidase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by considerable inter- and intrafamilial variability in its clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to severe and fatal illness. We report here, for the first time, prenatal diagnosis of prolidase deficiency in a family whose first child was severely affected since birth and died at an early age. However, unexpectedly, the parents decided to continue the second pregnancy, which produced a full-term, healthy-appearing baby. The diagnosis of severe prolidase deficiency was confirmed in the baby's leukocytes. At age 4 months the baby is asymptomatic. Since the clinical severity of the disorder cannot be predicted, genetic counselling remains problematic despite the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.