RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an effective testing system for gene diagnosis, carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six patients with SMA were directly tested with PCR-RFLP for exon 7 deletion in the SMN1 gene. Carrier detection was carried out with multi-PCR-DHPLC. Amniotic fluid was taken at the middle stage of gestation from pregnant women who had given birth to affected children.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-five out of 26 patients were diagnosed as having SMN1 gene deletion. Fifty-two of their parents were found to be carriers of exon 7 deletion. Eight of 20 fetuses were diagnosed as having SMN1 gene deletion by PCR-RFLP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PCR-RFLP and multi-PCR-DHPLC techniques can provide rapid diagnosis for exon 7 deletion detection and carrier detection. PCR-RFLP may also be adapted for prenatal gene diagnosis of exon 7 deletion in SMN1 gene.</p>