Diagnostics and therapeutics for early-onset menopause

Abstract

A method of predicting whether a subject is predisposed to developing early-onset menopause is provided. The method involves genotyping a patient at the IL-1 gene loci.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for treating or slowing the onset of menopause in a subject of Northern European ancestry, comprising:
 a) detecting in said subject IL-1RN (+2018) allele 2, wherein detection of an IL-1RN (+2018) allele 2 in a said subject is predictive of a predispositon to early-onset menopause;   b) and selecting an appropriate therapeutic regimen that will treat, prophylactically treat, or slow the onset of menopausal symptoms.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the menopausal symptom is loss of estrogen. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the menopausal symptom is loss of overall bone mineral content. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the therapeutic regimen comprises estrogen replacement therapy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the therapeutic regimen comprises hormone replacement therapy. 
     
     
         15 . A method for selecting an appropriate therapeutic regimen for a subject predisposed to early-onset menopause comprising
 a) providing a subject of Northern European ancestry having IL-1RN (+2018) allele 2;   b) and selecting an appropriate therapeutic regimen that will treat or prophylactically treat menopausal symptoms.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the menopausal symptom is loss of estrogen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the menopausal symptom is loss of overall bone mineral content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic regimen comprises estrogen replacement therapy. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic regimen comprises hormone replacement therapy.