X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda: a novel SEDL mutation in a Jewish Ashkenazi family and clinical intervention considerations.

X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT; MIM 313400) is a late onset progressive skeletal disorder, which manifests in childhood and is characterized by disproportionate short stature with a short trunk, barrel chest and absence of systemic complications. We found a single-nucleotide deletion in position 613 of the SEDL gene in two brothers of Jewish-Ashkenazi ancestry afflicted with the disease. This is the first description of SEDL mutations in a Jewish family. Following this finding, an eight-month old second cousin of the brothers, who had yet no clinical or radiological signs of the disease, was found to carry the deletion. Another relative, 24-years old, carrying the same mutation was 1.61 m tall and had only minimal signs of the disease. These findings raise the dilemma of pre-natal counseling in SEDL and the need for exploring means of early intervention in pre-symptomatic cases. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.