Trevathan E, Adams M J
Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
J Child Neurol. 1988;3 Suppl:S17-20. doi: 10.1177/0883073888003001s04.
Current data indicate that Rett syndrome is an important contributor to the total burden of idiopathic mental retardation. Studies from Sweden suggest that among girls the prevalence of Rett syndrome may be twice the prevalence of phenylketonuria. Successful epidemiologic studies of idiopathic mental retardation syndromes will require both large sample sizes and homogeneous populations. Because Rett syndrome is a relatively homogeneous and common syndrome of idiopathic mental retardation, epidemiologic methods may be more productive in the study of Rett syndrome than in other syndromes of mental retardation that are less clinically homogeneous. The approaches used in studying Rett syndrome epidemiologically may later be useful in the study of other syndromes of idiopathic mental retardation.
目前的数据表明，雷特综合征是导致特发性智力迟钝总负担的一个重要因素。瑞典的研究表明，在女孩中，雷特综合征的患病率可能是苯丙酮尿症患病率的两倍。成功开展特发性智力迟钝综合征的流行病学研究需要大样本量和同质人群。由于雷特综合征是特发性智力迟钝中相对同质且常见的综合征，与其他临床同质性较差的智力迟钝综合征相比，流行病学方法在雷特综合征的研究中可能更有成效。从流行病学角度研究雷特综合征所采用的方法，日后可能对其他特发性智力迟钝综合征的研究有用。
