Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is caused by mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene and the gene encoding apolipoprotein B-100, affecting one in 500 individuals.
Methods: One hundred and eighty-three Greek FH patients were screened for mutations on the LDLR and ApoB genes.
Results: We identified mutations in 67 probands and 11 relatives. Sixteen mutations located in eight different exons and the promoter of the LDLR were discovered. Among them 10 were missense mutations (C6W, S265R, A370T, Q363P, D365E, V408M, A410T, A517T, G528D, G571E), two were nonsense mutations (Q363X and C660X), three were splice defects (2140 + 5G-->A and 2140 + 9C-->T, 1706 - 10G-->A), and one was a nucleotide substitution (- 45delT) on the promoter. None of the subjects carried any apoB mutation. The detection rate of mutations in this study was 43%. From the above mutations, A410T, A519T and the splice site defects 2140 + 9C-->T were detected for the first time in the Greek population. Among them V408M, G528D, C6W and S265R account for 73% of heterozygous FH probands. V408M mutation is more common in Central West, while C6W is more common in Central East. Separating the patients into two groups (receptor defective and receptor negative) we found that the receptor negative group had higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher prevalence of tendon xanthomas compared with the receptor-defective group.
Discussion: The homogenous molecular basis of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Greece facilitates the application of a DNA diagnostic strategy based on the origin of the patient. The early mutation analysis would add valuable information on the severity of the disease.