title: Molecular characterization of familial hypercholesterolemia in Spain.
abstract: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), characterized by isolated elevation of plasmatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and premature coronary heart disease (CHD), is associated with mutations in three major genes: LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9). We have analyzed 5430 Spanish index cases and 2223 relatives since 2004 with LIPOchip(®) genetic diagnostic platform, a microarray for the detection of Spanish common mutations in these three genes, including copy number variation (CNV) in LDLR, followed by sequencing analysis of the coding regions of LDLR and exon 26 of APOB, when the result is negative. Samples were received from hospitals of all around Spain. The preferred clinical criterion to diagnose FH was Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) score. Our results show that there is a broad spectrum of mutations in the LDLR gene in Spain since about 400 different mutations were detected, distributed along almost the whole LDLR gene. Mutations in APOB (mainly p.Arg3527Gln) covered 6.5% of positive cases and only one PCSK9 mutation was detected. We found correlation between more severe mutations and the clinical diagnosis but also that 28% of FH patients harboring mutations do not have a definite clinical diagnosis. This study analyzes the mutation spectrum in Spain, remarks the importance of genetic diagnosis of FH patients, as well as the cascade screening, and shows how it is being carried out in Spain.
authors.affiliation: Progenika Biopharma SA, 48160 Derio, Spain. lpalacios@progenika.com
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grandoso
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: Estíbaliz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olano-Martín
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stef
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000235:genetics*; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D005091:Exons; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases / Q000235:genetics*; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D011973:Receptors, LDL; C472125:PCSK9 protein, human; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases