Many clinicians are uncomfortable with disorders that are genetic in etiology. This is certainly not surprising, given both the recent genetic advances and the relative inattention to the discipline in the typical medical curriculum. In view of the above, it is surprising that no single book heretofore could be recommended as an initial source for inquiry into the genetic status of a given disorder. By contrast, innumerable books about genetic principles exist, and there is no shortage of clinical works limited to particular subsets of clinical genetics (eg, chromosome disorders).
Edited by two eminent medical geneticists, Clinical Genetics fills the void. Following a succinct review of genetic principles, various contributors first consider multisystem genetic disorders—cytogenetic, neoplastic, immunologic, and metabolic. Thereafter, disorders are considered by organ system—cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, hematological, muscular, neurologic, ophthalmologic, auditory, renal, respiratory, skeletal, dermatologic, and even dental. A few brief comments on genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis