ABCB4 deficiency: A family saga of early onset cholelithiasis, sclerosing cholangitis and cirrhosis and a novel mutation in the ABCB4 gene.
Gallstones are very common. However, there is a small group of patients with low phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis (LPAC) that is characterized by symptomatic cholelithiasis at a young age (<40 years), recurrence of biliary symptoms despite cholecystectomy and concrements or sludge in the intra- and extrahepatic biliary system. The LPAC syndrome is associated with mutations of the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, subfamily B, member 4 (ABCB4) gene encoding the hepatobiliary phospholipid translocator multidrug resistance protein 3 (MDR3). Impairment of MDR3 leads to a reduction of biliary phosphatidyl choline levels resulting in a lithogenic and toxic bile. This causes recurrent cholelithiasis, continuous irritations of the biliary tract with cholangitis, chronic cholestasis and even biliary cirrhosis. Here we report on a family with ABCB4 deficiency and LPAC syndrome associated with a novel mutation (c.3203T>A) in the ABCB4 gene.
Denk
Gerald U
GU
Department of Medicine II - Großhadern, University of Munich, Munich.
Bikker
Hennie
H
Lekanne Dit Deprez
Ronald H
RH
Terpstra
Valeska
V
van der Loos
Chris
C
Beuers
Ulrich
U
Rust
Christian
C
Pusl
Thomas
T