title: Novel mutations in BMPR2, ACVRL1 and KCNA5 genes and hemodynamic parameters in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and progressive vascular disorder characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and right heart failure. The aim of this study was to analyze the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 2 (BMPR2), Activin A type II receptor like kinase 1 (ALK1/ACVRL1) and potassium voltage-gated channel, shakerrelated subfamily, member 5 (KCNA5) genes in patients with idiopathic and associated PAH. Correlation among pathogenic mutations and clinical and functional parameters was further analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty one patients and fifty controls were included in this study. Analysis of BMPR2, ACVRL1 and KCNA5 genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. Fifty one nucleotide changes were detected in these genes in 40 of the 41 patients; only 22 of these changes, which were classified as pathogenic, have been detected in 21 patients (51.2%). Ten patients (62.5%) with idiopathic PAH and 10 (40%) with associated PAH showed pathogenic mutations in some of the three genes. Several clinical and hemodynamics parameters showed significant differences between carriers and non-carriers of mutations, being more severe in carriers: mean pulmonary artery pressure (p = 0.043), pulmonary vascular resistence (p = 0.043), cardiac index (p = 0.04) and 6 minute walking test (p = 0.02). This differences remained unchanged after adjusting for PAH type (idiopathic vs non idiopathic).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pathogenic mutations in BMPR2 gene are frequent in patients with idiopathic and associated PAH group I. Mutations in ACVRL1 and KCNA5 are less frequent. The presence of these mutations seems to increase the severity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pousada
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Division, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baloira
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Division, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vilariño
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Division, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cifrian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valverde
mesh_terms: D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: C496981:KCNA5 protein, human; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel; C425364:ACVRL1 protein, human; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II; C498218:BMPR2 protein, human; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II