Primary pulmonary hypertension may be a heterogeneous disease with a second locus on chromosome 2q31.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to identify genetic causes of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), to estimate the proportion of families with mutations in the BMPR2 (bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2) gene, and to examine whether genetic heterogeneity might play a role.


BACKGROUND
The BMPR2 mutations have been identified in a substantial portion of patients with familial or sporadic PPH. However, the genetic cause of PPH remains unclear in at least 45% of families.


METHODS
We investigated 130 members of 10 families with at least 1 PPH patient, recruited without selection for familial disease. Manifest PPH was documented in 21 individuals. An increase in pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) above 40 mm Hg during supine bicycle exercise was found in 46 healthy individuals. Their PASP increased from 21.0 +/- 4.6 mm Hg at rest to 54.0 +/- 9.8 mm Hg during exercise. In 51 relatives, PASP values were normal at rest and during exercise, and 12 members were classified as status unknown.


RESULTS
Two families showed a mutation in the BMPR2 gene. Three families with no BMBR2 mutation showed evidence for linkage to a more proximal location on chromosome 2q31 (odds ratio [OR] for linkage 1.1.10(6):1). This locus, designated PPH2, maps in-between the markers D2S335 and D2S2314. We obtained significant support for heterogeneity in PPH with an OR of 2.8.10(11).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that PPH may be a genetically heterogeneous disorder with at least two-and possibly more-causative genes.
Rindermann
Matthias
M
Institute of Human Genetics, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Grünig
Ekkehard
E
von Hippel
Albrecht
A
Koehler
Rolf
R
Miltenberger-Miltenyi
Gabriel
G
Mereles
Derliz
D
Arnold
Karlin
K
Pauciulo
Michael
M
Nichols
William
W
Olschewski
Horst
H
Hoeper
Marius M
MM
Winkler
Jörg
J
Katus
Hugo A
HA
Kübler
Wolfgang
W
Bartram
Claus R
CR
Janssen
Bart
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II; D002648:Child; D002889:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019901:Locus Control Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology
D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C498218:BMPR2 protein, human; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II