Implications of the FMR1 gene in menopause: study of 147 Spanish women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between the FMR1 premutation and premature ovarian failure (POF) in the Spanish population and the possible incorporation of this test in gynecological procedures for women with POF or early menopause (EM).


METHODS
Clinical and molecular genetic study. Ninety-eight premutated and six full-mutated carriers of fragile X syndrome and 43 women with POF were studied by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis for the CGG repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene.


RESULTS
Among premutated carriers, 12.2% (12 of 98) presented with POF, and 15.3% (15 of 98) presented with EM. Neither POF nor EM was observed in any of the six full-mutated women. Two women of 43 from the POF population (4.65%) were carriers for the CGG premutation in the FMR1 gene. No correlation between CGG expansion size and age at menopause was found. A biased paternal origin of the premutation and a high twinning incidence was found in all premutated women, whether they had POF or not.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the hypothesis that the FMR1 gene is one of the genes associated with POF and EM. Analysis of the CGG expansion in the FMR1 gene may be justified in women with POF and EM until the real role of the FMR1 premutation is determined.
Servei de Genètica, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Mallolas
M
M
Duran
A
A
Sánchez
D
D
Jiménez
S
S
Castellví-Bel
M
M
Rifé
M
M
Milà
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005260:Female; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008594:Menopause, Premature / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013030:Spain; D014427:Twins
D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C497683:FMR1 protein, human