SIUT Symposium
KARACHI: A day long international symposium organized by Paediatric Nephrology Department of SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation) held recently highlighted the medical hazards and issues of genetical disorders due to inter family marriages.
The symposium was attended by some well-known national and international medical experts who discussed the high rates of consanguineous (cousins) marriages in the world and declared that Pakistan unfortunately falls in the category where the problem is wide spread and 60 per cent of all marriages has resulted in compromised gene pool with little option for any effective treatment.
Discussing the problem the experts representing various fields of medical sciences pointed out that Thalassemia is a known example where effected children rely on regular monthly blood transfusion for survival. Similarly kidney diseases are also prevalent in the region particularly among children underlying the genetic defects causing among young patients.
Speakers urged doctors to raise awareness about the role of genetics in the increasing burden of kidney diseases and manage cases where limited treatment options are available. They underscored the importance of avoiding inter-family marriages and proper counselling.
The speakers underlined the great importance of family counselling when a child is diagnosed with genetic kidney disorder aiming to prevent recurrence in future. They also called for early referral to specialists and timely intervention.
Prominent experts who took part in the deliberation included Dr. Fredrick Hilderbrant (USA) Dr. Moin Salem (UK), Dr. Salman Kermani Pediatric Endocrenologist (AKH), Dr. Seema Hashmi and Dr. Ali Lanewala from SIUT. (PR)
