El síndrome de Klippel-Feil en la población aborigen de Canarias

Abstract

Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is a rare disease that occurs during embryogenesis, characterized by the fusion of 2 or more cervical vertebrae. Sometimes it is accompanied by other pathological alterations, with an approximate prevalence of 1 / 50,000 births. In this work we have carried out a review of the anthropological studies of the archaeological sites of the Punta Azul cave (El Hierro), and the osteological collection of the area of Roque de Baltasar, Tejiade (La Gomera), belonging to Canarian aboriginal populations, regarding the KFS. Also, an analysis of the syndrome has been performed taking into account the results of recent genetic investigations. The results show that there are at least 3 individuals with SKF in the Canary Islands, which apparently implies a higher prevalence than the one described for the general population. Undoubtedly, genetic analyzes can help us to understand, among other things, the high prevalence of this syndrome in these archaeological populations, and its relationship with specific genetic factors.