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. 2013 Oct 14;8(10):e78517. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078517

Table 1. The 100 most frequently cited systematic review and meta-analysis articles.

Articles Year Total no. of citations
Average citations per year
No Rank No Rank
Dersimonian R, Laird N: Metaanalysis in Clinical-Trials. Controlled Clinical Trials 1986, 7: 177-188. 1986 7308 1 281.1 7
Egger M, Smith GD, Schneider M, Minder C: Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. British Medical Journal 1997, 315: 629-634. 1997 5197 2 346.5 2
Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJM, Gavaghan DJ et al.: Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary? Controlled Clinical Trials 1996, 17: 1-12. 1996 4535 3 283.4 6
Higgins JPT, Thompson SG, Deeks JJ, Altman DG: Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. British Medical Journal 2003, 327: 557-560. 2003 4111 4 456.8 1
Schulz KF, Chalmers I, Hayes RJ, Altman DG: Empirical-Evidence of Bias - Dimensions of Methodological Quality Associated with Estimates of Treatment Effects in Controlled Trials. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1995, 273: 408-412. 1995 2884 5 169.6 17
Sackett DL, Rosenberg WMC, Gray JAM, Haynes RB, Richardson WS: Evidence based medicine: What it is and what it isn't - It's about integrating individual clinical expertise and the best external evidence. British Medical Journal 1996, 312: 71-72. 1996 2881 6 180.1 14
Higgins JPT, Thompson SG: Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Statistics in Medicine 2002, 21: 1539-1558. 2002 2755 7 275.5 8
Baigent C, Keech A, Kearney PM, Blackwell L, Buck G, Pollicino C et al.: Efficacy and safety of cholesterol-lowering treatment: prospective meta-analysis of data from 90,056 participants in 14 randomised trials of statins. Lancet 2005, 366: 1267-1278. 2002 2640 8 264 9
Boushey CJ, Beresford SAA, Omenn GS, Motulsky AG: A Quantitative Assessment of Plasma Homocysteine As A Risk Factor for Vascular-Disease - Probable Benefits of Increasing Folic-Acid Intakes. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1995, 274: 1049-1057. 1995 2532 9 148.9 19
Abe O, Abe R, Enomoto K, Kikuchi K, Koyama H, Masuda H et al.: Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet 2005, 365: 1687-1717. 2005 2356 10 336.6 3
Moher D, Pham B, Jones A, Cook DJ, Jadad AR, Moher M et al.: Does quality of reports of randomised trials affect estimates of intervention efficacy reported in meta-analyses? Lancet 1998, 352: 609-613. 1999 2335 11 179.6 15
Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, Olkin I, Williamson GD, Rennie D et al.: Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology - A proposal for reporting. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 2000, 283: 2008-2012. 2000 2335 12 194.6 12
Lewington S, Clarke R, Qizilbash N, Peto R, Collins R: Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to vascular mortality: a meta-analysis of individual data for one million adults in 61 prospective studies. Lancet 2002, 360: 1903-1913. 2002 2328 13 232.8 10
Alberti W, Anderson G, Bartolucci A, Bell D, Villalba JB, Brodin O et al.: Chemotherapy in Non-Small-Cell Lung-Cancer - A Metaanalysis Using Updated Data on Individual Patients from 52 Randomized Clinical-Trials. British Medical Journal 1995, 311: 899-909. 1995 2087 14 122.8 24
Baigent C, Sudlow C, Collins R, Peto R: Collaborative meta-analysis of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy for prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients. British Medical Journal 2002, 324: 71-86. 2005 2040 15 291.4 5
Block G, Patterson B, Subar A: Fruit, Vegetables, and Cancer Prevention - A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence. Nutrition and Cancer-an International Journal 1992, 18: 1-29. 1992 1826 16 91.3 35
Begg CB, Mazumdar M: Operating Characteristics of A Bank Correlation Test for Publication Bias. Biometrics 1994, 50: 1088-1101. 1994 1756 17 97.6 31
Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN: Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients - A meta-analysis of prospective studies. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1998, 279: 1200-1205. 1998 1707 18 121.9 25
Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, Jensen MD, Pories W, Fahrbach K et al.: Bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 2004, 292: 1724-1737. 2004 1706 19 213.3 11
Grady D, Rubin SM, Petitti DB, Fox CS, Black D, Ettinger B et al.: Hormone-Therapy to Prevent Disease and Prolong Life in Postmenopausal Women. Annals of Internal Medicine 1992, 117: 1016-1037. 1992 1702 20 85.1 41
Marshall D, Johnell O, Wedel H: Meta-analysis of how well measures of bone mineral density predict occurrence of osteoporotic fractures. British Medical Journal 1996, 312: 1254-1259. 1996 1583 21 98.9 30
Barrick MR, Mount MK: The Big 5 Personality Dimensions and Job-Performance - A Metaanalysis. Personnel Psychology 1991, 44: 1-26. 1991 1582 22 75.3 51
Davis DA, Thomson MA, Oxman AD, Haynes RB: Changing Physician Performance - A Systematic Review of the Effect of Continuing Medical-Education Strategies. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1995, 274: 700-705. 1995 1577 23 92.8 34
Appleby P, Baigent C, Collins R, Flather M, Parish S, Peto R et al.: Indications for Fibrinolytic Therapy in Suspected Acute Myocardial-Infarction - Collaborative Overview of Early Mortality and Major Morbidity Results from All Randomized Trials of More Than 1000 Patients. Lancet 1994, 343: 311-322. 1994 1519 24 84.4 43
Nissen SE, Wolski K: Effect of rosiglitazone on the risk of myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes. New England Journal of Medicine 2007, 356: 2457-2471. 2007 1507 25 301.4 4
Grimshaw JM, Russell IT: Effect of Clinical Guidelines on Medical-Practice - A Systematic Review of Rigorous Evaluations. Lancet 1993, 342: 1317-1322. 1993 1377 26 72.5 55
Abe O, Abe R, Enomoto K, Kikuchi K, Koyama H, Masuda H et al.: Effects of radiotherapy and of differences in the extent of surgery for early breast cancer on local recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet 2005, 366: 2087-2106. 2005 1324 27 189.1 13
Danesh J, Whincup P, Walker M, Lennon L, Thomson A, Appleby P et al.: Low grade inflammation and coronary heart disease: prospective study and updated meta-analyses. British Medical Journal 2000, 321: 199-204. 2004 1277 28 159.6 18
Farrer LA, Cupples LA, Haines JL, Hyman B, Kukull WA, Mayeux R et al.: Effects of age, sex, and ethnicity on the association between apolipoprotein E genotype and Alzheimer disease - A meta-analysis. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1997, 278: 1349-1356. 1997 1265 29 84.3 44
Moher D, Cook DJ, Eastwood S, Olkin I, Rennie D, Stroup DF: Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials: the QUOROM statement. Lancet 1999, 354: 1896-1900. 1998 1262 30 90.1 37
Armitage CJ, Conner M: Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology 2001, 40: 471-499. 2001 1234 31 112.2 28
Dellinger RP, Carlet JM, Masur H, Gerlach H, Calandra T, Cohen J et al.: Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Critical Care Medicine 2004, 32: 858-873. 2004 1172 32 146.5 20
Pignon JP, Bourhis J, Domenge C, Designe L: Chemotherapy added to locoregional treatment for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma: three meta-analyses of updated individual data. Lancet 2000, 355: 949-955. 2000 1155 33 96.3 32
Guyatt G: Evidence-Based Medicine - A New Approach to Teaching the Practice of Medicine. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1992, 268: 2420-2425. 1992 1145 34 57.3 66
Phan KL, Wager T, Taylor SF, Liberzon I: Functional neuroanatomy of emotion: A meta-analysis of emotion activation studies in PET and fMRI. Neuroimage 2002, 16: 331-348. 2002 1136 35 113.6 27
Kramer MS: Determinants of Low Birth-Weight - Methodological Assessment and Meta-Analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 1987, 65: 663-737. 2003 1130 36 125.6 23
Lohmueller KE, Pearce CL, Pike M, Lander ES, Hirschhorn JN: Meta-analysis of genetic association studies supports a contribution of common variants to susceptibility to common disease. Nature Genetics 2003, 33: 177-182. 1987 1130 37 45.2 81
Easterbrook PJ, Berlin JA, Gopalan R, Matthews DR: Publication Bias in Clinical Research. Lancet 1991, 337: 867-872. 1991 1119 38 53.3 73
Anderson JW, Johnstone BM, Cooknewell ME: Metaanalysis of the Effects of Soy Protein-Intake on Serum-Lipids. New England Journal of Medicine 1995, 333: 276-282. 1995 1113 39 65.5 60
Danesh J, Collins R, Appleby P, Peto R: Association of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, albumin, or leukocyte count with coronary heart disease - Meta-analyses of prospective studies. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1998, 279: 1477-1482. 1998 1102 40 78.7 48
Juni P, Witschi A, Bloch R, Egger M: The hazards of scoring the quality of clinical trials for meta-analysis. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1999, 282: 1054-1060. 2001 1058 41 96.2 33
Atkins D, Best D, Briss PA, Eccles M, Falck-Ytter Y, Flottorp S et al.: Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. British Medical Journal 2004, 328: 1490-1494. 2004 1012 42 126.5 22
Smith ML, Glass GV: Meta-Analysis of Psychotherapy Outcome Studies. American Psychologist 1977, 32: 752-760. 1977 979 43 28 99
Brewin CR, Andrews B, Valentine JD: Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000, 68: 748-766. 2000 972 44 81 46
Bero LA, Grilli R, Grimshaw JM, Harvey E, Oxman AD, Thomson MA: Getting research findings into practice - Closing the gap between research and practice: an overview of systematic reviews of interventions to promote the implementation of research findings. British Medical Journal 1998, 317: 465-468. 1998 964 45 68.9 57
Dickersin K, Scherer R, Lefebvre C: Systematic Reviews - Identifying Relevant Studies for Systematic Reviews. British Medical Journal 1994, 309: 1286-1291. 1994 952 46 52.9 74
Anderson RJ, Freedland KE, Clouse RE, Lustman PJ: The prevalence of comorbid depression in adults with diabetes - A meta-analysis. Diabetes Care 2001, 24: 1069-1078. 2001 933 47 84.8 42
Oxman AD, Thomson MA, Davis DA, Haynes RB: No Magic Bullets - A Systematic Review of 102 Trials of Interventions to Improve Professional Practice. Canadian Medical Association Journal 1995, 153: 1423-1431. 1995 928 48 54.6 72
Ohara MW, Swain AM: Rates and risk of postpartum depression - A meta-analysis. International Review of Psychiatry 1996, 8: 37-54. 1996 913 49 57.1 67
Clarke R, Collins R, Lewington S, Donald A, Alfthan G, Tuomilehto J et al.: Homocysteine and risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke - A meta-analysis. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 2002, 288: 2015-2022. 2002 910 50 91 36
DiMatteo MR, Lepper HS, Croghan TW: Depression is a risk factor for noncompliance with medical treatment - Meta-analysis of the effects of anxiety and depression on patient adherence. Archives of Internal Medicine 2000, 160: 2101-2107. 2000 900 51 75 52
Colditz GA, Brewer TF, Berkey CS, Wilson ME, Burdick E, Fineberg HV et al.: Efficacy of Bcg Vaccine in the Prevention of Tuberculosis - Metaanalysis of the Published Literature. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1994, 271: 698-702. 1994 890 52 49.4 79
Wald DS, Law M, Morris JK: Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease: evidence on causality from a meta-analysis. British Medical Journal 2002, 325: 1202-1206K. 2002 872 53 87.2 39
Danesh J, Wheeler JG, Hirschfield GM, Eda S, Eiriksdottir G, Rumley A et al.: C-reactive protein and other circulating markers of inflammation in the prediction of coronary heart disease. New England Journal of Medicine 2004, 350: 1387-1397. 2000 860 54 71.7 56
Gabriel SE, Jaakkimainen L, Bombardier C: Risk for Serious Gastrointestinal Complications Related to Use of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs - A Metaanalysis. Annals of Internal Medicine 1991, 115: 787-796. 1991 854 55 40.7 88
Harris EC, Barraclough B: Suicide as an outcome for mental disorders - A meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry 1997, 170: 205-228. 1997 850 56 56.7 69
Linn MC, Petersen AC: Emergence and Characterization of Sex-Differences in Spatial Ability - A Meta-Analysis. Child Development 1985, 56: 1479-1498. 1985 850 57 31.5 98
Bongartz T, Sutton AJ, Sweeting MJ, Buchan I, Matteson EL, Montori V: Anti-TNF antibody therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of serious infections and malignancies - Systematic review and meta-analysis of rare harmful effects in randomized controlled trials. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 2006, 295: 2275-2285. 2006 846 58 141 21
Mcgeer PL, Schulzer M, Mcgeer EG: Arthritis and anti-inflammatory agents as possible protective factors for Alzheimer's disease: A review of 17 epidemiologic studies. Neurology 1996, 47: 425-432. 1996 826 59 51.6 77
Mensink RP, Katan MB: Effect of Dietary Fatty-Acids on Serum-Lipids and Lipoproteins - A Metaanalysis of 27 Trials. Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis 1992, 12: 911-919. 1992 822 60 41.1 87
Sheppard BH, Hartwick J, Warshaw PR: The Theory of Reasoned Action - A Meta-Analysis of Past Research with Recommendations for Modifications and Future-Research. Journal of Consumer Research 1988, 15: 325-343. 1988 822 61 34.3 95
Strong WB, Malina RM, Blimkie CJR, Daniels SR, Dishman RK, Gutin B et al.: Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. Journal of Pediatrics 2005, 146: 732-737. 2005 815 62 116.4 26
Colquitt JA, Conlon DE, Wesson MJ, Porter COLH, Ng KY: Justice at the millennium: A meta-analytic review of 25 years of organizational justice research. Journal of Applied Psychology 2001, 86: 425-445. 2001 811 63 73.7 54
Sacks HS, Berrier J, Reitman D, Anconaberk VA, Chalmers TC: Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials. New England Journal of Medicine 1987, 316: 450-455. 1987 810 64 32.4 97
Llovet JM, Bruix J: Systematic review of randomized trials for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Chemoembolization improves survival. Hepatology 2003, 37: 429-442. 2003 804 65 89.3 38
Peyron R, Laurent B, Garcia-Larrea L: Functional imaging of brain responses to pain. A review and meta-analysis (2000). Neurophysiologie Clinique-Clinical Neurophysiology 2000, 30: 263-288. 2000 801 66 66.8 58
Lipsey MW, Wilson DB: The Efficacy of Psychological, Educational, and Behavioral Treatment - Confirmation from Metaanalysis. American Psychologist 1993, 48: 1181-1209. 1993 797 67 41.9 85
Dahlof B, Pennert K, Hansson L: Reversal of Left-Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertensive Patients - A Metaanalysis of 109 Treatment Studies. American Journal of Hypertension 1992, 5: 95-110. 1992 796 68 39.8 89
Ernst E, Resch KL: Fibrinogen As A Cardiovascular Risk Factor - A Metaanalysis and Review of the Literature. Annals of Internal Medicine 1993, 118: 956-963. 1993 794 69 41.8 86
Antman EM, Lau J, Kupelnick B, Mosteller F, Chalmers TC: A Comparison of Results of Metaanalyses of Randomized Control Trials and Recommendations of Clinical Experts - Treatments for Myocardial-Infarction. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1992, 268: 240-248. 1992 782 70 39.1 91
Patrick DL, Cheadle A, Thompson DC, Diehr P, Koepsell T, Kinne S: The Validity of Self-Reported Smoking - A Review and Metaanalysis. American Journal of Public Health 1994, 84: 1086-1093. 1994 777 71 43.2 83
Maron BJ: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - A systematic review. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 2002, 287: 1308-1320. 2002 773 72 77.3 49
Miller ER, Pastor-Barriuso R, Dalal D, Riemersma RA, Appel LJ, Guallar E: Meta-analysis: High-dosage vitamin E supplementation may increase all-cause mortality. Annals of Internal Medicine 2005, 142: 37-46. 2005 764 73 109.1 29
Wright IC, Rabe-Hesketh S, Woodruff PWR, David AS, Murray RM, Bullmore ET: Meta-analysis of regional brain volumes in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000, 157: 16-25. 2000 763 74 63.6 62
Horvath AO, Symonds BD: Relation Between Working Alliance and Outcome in Psychotherapy - A Metaanalysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology 1991, 38: 139-149. 1991 761 75 36.2 94
Voyer D, Voyer S, Bryden MP: Magnitude of Sex-Differences in Spatial Abilities - A Metaanalysis and Consideration of Critical Variables. Psychological Bulletin 1995, 117: 250-270. 1995 756 76 44.5 82
Wong DKH, Cheung AM, Orourke K, Naylor CD, Detsky AS, Heathcote J: Effect of Alpha-Interferon Treatment in Patients with Hepatitis-B E-Antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis-B - A Metaanalysis. Annals of Internal Medicine 1993, 119: 312-323. 1993 752 77 39.6 90
Capes SE, Hunt D, Malmberg K, Gerstein HC: Stress hyperglycaemia and increased risk of death after myocardial infarction in patients with and without diabetes: a systematic overview. Lancet 2000, 355: 773-778. 2000 746 78 62.2 64
Moore FA, Feliciano DV, Andrassy RJ, Mcardle AH, Booth FVM, Morgensteinwagner TB et al.: Early Enteral Feeding, Compared with Parenteral, Reduces Postoperative Septic Complications - the Results of A Metaanalysis. Annals of Surgery 1992, 216: 172-183. 1992 740 79 37 93
Juni P, Altman DG, Egger M: Systematic reviews in health care - Assessing the quality of controlled clinical trials. British Medical Journal 2001, 323: 42-46. 1999 737 80 56.7 68
Lijmer JG, Mol BW, Heisterkamp S, Bonsel GJ, Prins MH, van der Meulen JHP et al.: Empirical evidence of design-related bias in studies of diagnostic tests. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1999, 282: 1061-1066. 1999 731 81 56.2 70
Ozer EJ, Best SR, Lipsey TL, Weiss DS: Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin 2003, 129: 52-73. 2003 730 82 81.1 45
Wellman HM, Cross D, Watson J: Meta-analysis of theory-of-mind development: The truth about false belief. Child Development 2001, 72: 655-684. 2001 728 83 66.2 59
Cosgrove SE, Sakoulas G, Perencevich EN, Schwaber MJ, Karchmer AW, Carmeli Y: Comparison of mortality associated with methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: A meta-analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2003, 36: 53-59. 2003 725 84 80.6 47
Hart RG, Benavente O, McBride R, Pearce LA: Antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine 1999, 131: 492-501 1999 717 85 55.2 71
Berlin JA, Colditz GA: A Metaanalysis of Physical-Activity in the Prevention of Coronary Heart-Disease. American Journal of Epidemiology 1990, 132: 612-628. 1990 713 86 32.4 96
Eaden JA, Abrams KR, Mayberry JF: The risk of colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis. Gut 2001, 48: 526-535. 2001 711 87 64.6 61
Neal B, MacMahon S, Chapman N, Cutler J, Fagard R, Neal B et al.: Effects of ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists, and other blood-pressure-lowering drugs: results of prospectively designed overviews of randomised trials. Lancet 2000, 356: 1955-1964. 2000 709 88 59.1 65
Stuck AE, Siu AL, Wieland GD, Adams J, Rubenstein LZ: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment - A Metaanalysis of Controlled Trials. Lancet 1993, 342: 1032-1036. 1993 709 89 37.3 92
Zeggini E, Scott LJ, Saxena R, Voight BF, Marchini JL, Hu T et al.: Meta-analysis of genome-wide association data and large-scale replication identifies additional susceptibility loci for type 2 diabetes. Nature Genetics 2008, 40: 638-645. 2008 706 90 176.5 16
Brattstrom L, Landgren F, Israelsson B, Lindgren A, Hultberg B, Andersson A et al.: Lowering blood homocysteine with folic acid based supplements: meta-analysis of randomised trials. British Medical Journal 1998, 316: 894-898. 1998 697 91 49.8 78
Labbe KA, Detsky AS, Orourke K: Metaanalysis in Clinical Research. Annals of Internal Medicine 1987, 107: 224-233. 1987 694 92 27.8 100
Hites RA: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the environment and in people: A meta-analysis of concentrations. Environmental Science & Technology 2004, 38: 945-956. 2004 692 93 86.5 40
Claxton AJ, Cramer J, Pierce C: A systematic review of the associations between dose regimens and medication compliance. Clinical Therapeutics 2001, 23: 1296-1310. 2001 691 94 62.8 63
Lexchin J, Bero LA, Djulbegovic B, Clark O: Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality: systematic review. British Medical Journal 2003, 326: 1167-1170B. 2003 689 95 76.6 50
Hunt DL, Haynes RB, Hanna SE, Smith K: Effects of computer-based clinical decision support systems on physician performance and patient outcomes - A systematic review. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1998, 280: 1339-1346. 1998 687 96 49.1 80
Deci EL, Koestner R, Ryan RM: A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychological Bulletin 1999, 125: 627-668. 1999 685 97 52.7 75
Larosa JC, He J, Vupputuri S: Effect of statins on risk of coronary disease - A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association 1999, 282: 2340-2346. 1999 680 98 52.3 76
Kluger AN, DeNisi A: The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory. Psychological Bulletin 1996, 119: 254-284. 1996 677 99 42.3 84
Lewis CM, Levinson DF, Wise LH, Delisi LE, Straub RE, Hovatta I et al.: Genome scan meta-analysis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, part II: Schizophrenia. American Journal of Human Genetics 2003, 73: 34-48. 2003 675 100 75 53