Wilson disease is an infrequent autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene (13q14.3) producing pathologic phenotypes due to copper accumulation in critical tissues. The aim of the research was to probe Wilson disease genetic epidemiology in Venezuela, through the identification in diagnosed index cases, of ATP7B locus mutations, their geographic distribution, frequency, in-phase haplotypes and probable ethnic ancestry. During the last three decades 33 independent Wilson disease families from the country at large were ascertained and diagnosed through severely reduced ceruloplasmin activity, higher urinary copper excretion, and specific clinical signs. Molecular studies of the ATP7B gene were accomplished in 26 of the families. Disease prevalence was estimated as 1:94,000 families between 1985 and 2013, showing geographic aggregation in the state of Zulia with 1:27,000 families in it. DNA analysis in 26 families revealed 13 different mutations. The c.3402delC was the most frequent one (26.9%), presenting two independent in-phase haplotypes, both of likely European descent; which is followed by the not previously reported p.G691V (9.6%) and by the frequent European H1069Q (7.7%). Known mutations c.51 + 4A > T, c.1285 + 5G > T, M645R, T788I, V845SfsX28, T977M, L1088X, T1220M, R1319X and a novel P767L showed frequencies between 5.8 and 1.9%. Despite the ample mutation heterogeneity for Wilson disease in the country, the findings provide a diagnostic algorithm to ease mutation assessment in new patients; the predominant c.3402delC displayed wide geographic distribution and two genetic origins.
Keywords: ATP7B mutations; Genetic epidemiology; Haplotype analysis; Wilson disease.
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