Who else in my family should I test for retinitis pigmentosa?

Once an individual in a family has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, relatives may be concerned about whether they too will develop this condition and therefore may desire testing for retinitis pigmentosa. The risk for relatives of an affected individual to develop retinitis pigmentosa depends on the specific genetic cause of retinitis pigmentosa in the family. This may be determined through evaluation of the family history by a genetic counselor or other medical genetic specialist, or by abnormal genetic test results in an affected individual. Because there are many ways in which retinitis pigmentosa can be inherited, and because in many cases the cause is unknown, it can be difficult to determine which relatives, if any, are also at risk. For this reason, consultation with a genetic counselor can help answer these questions. To find a genetic counselor in your area, go to the search page on the National Society of Genetic Counselors website.

Other Questions About Retinitis pigmentosa

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