Familial hypercholesterolaemia in Portugal.

Atherosclerosis

Unid. Investigação Cardiovascular, Inst. Nacional de Saúde, Lisbon, Portugal.

Published: February 2008

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is characterised clinically by an increased level of circulating LDL cholesterol that leads to lipid accumulation in tendons and arteries, premature atherosclerosis and increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Although Portugal should have about 20,000 cases, this disease is severely under-diagnosed in our country, this being the first presentation of Portuguese data on FH. A total of 602 blood samples were collected from 184 index patients and 418 relatives from several centres throughout Portugal. Fifty-three different mutations were found in 83 index patients, 79 heterozygous and 4 with two defective LDLR alleles. Additionally, 4 putative alterations were found in 8 patients but were not considered mutations causing disease, mainly because they did not co-segregate with hypercholesterolaemia in the families. Three unrelated patients were found to be heterozygous for the APOB(3500) mutation and two unrelated patients were found to be heterozygous for a novel mutation in PCSK9, predicted to cause a single amino acid substitution, D374H. Cascade screening increased the number of FH patients identified genetically to 204. The newly identified FH patients are now receiving counselling and treatment based on the genetic diagnosis. The early identification of FH patients can increase their life expectancy and quality of life by preventing the development of premature CHD if patients receive appropriate pharmacological treatment.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.07.019DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

patients heterozygous
12
patients
9
familial hypercholesterolaemia
8
unrelated patients
8
hypercholesterolaemia portugal
4
portugal familial
4
hypercholesterolaemia characterised
4
characterised clinically
4
clinically increased
4
increased level
4

Similar Publications

Background: Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome is a monogenic type 1 interferonopathy with infantile onset, characterized by a variable degree of neurological damage. Approximately 7% of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome cases are caused by pathogenic variants in the ADAR gene and are classified as Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome type 6. Here, we present a new homozygous pathogenic variant in the ADAR gene.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Loss-of-function SLC25A20 mutation causes carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency by reducing SLC25A20 protein stability.

Gene

December 2024

Department of Medical Genetics/Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China. Electronic address:

Background/aim: Autosomal-recessive carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency (CACTD) is a rare disorder of long-chain fatty acid oxidation caused by variants in the SLC25A20 gene. Under fasting conditions, most newborns with severe CACTD experience sudden cardiac arrest and hypotonia, often leading to premature death due to rapid disease progression. Understanding of genetic factors and pathogenic mechanisms in CACTD is essential for its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A fifth world case of autosomal recessive Siddiqi syndrome (SIDDIS) related to ene is presented. In a consanguineous Lezgin (a Dagestan ethnicity) family, there were two affected brothers aged 28 yrs (proband, personally examined) and 32 yrs. Whole-exome sequencing followed by familial Sanger sequencing detected a novel missence variant c.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: δβ-thalassemia/HPFH is an uncommon hemoglobinopathy characterized by decreased or the total absence of production of δ- and β-globin and increased HbF levels. Both these disorders have variable genotype and phenotype, but significant overlap in the clinical and laboratory findings. Given the lack of literature in this regard, the study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the disease and evaluate its clinical, hematological, and molecular profile in India.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Heterozygous pathogenic variants in SPAST are known to cause Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia 4 (SPG4), the most common form of HSP, characterized by progressive bilateral lower limbs spasticity with frequent sphincter disorders. However, there are very few descriptions in the literature of patients carrying biallelic variants in SPAST.

Methods: Targeted Sanger sequencing, panel sequencing and exome sequencing were used to identify the genetic causes in 9 patients from 6 unrelated families with symptoms of HSP or infantile neurodegenerative disorder.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!