Diagnosis of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency using high-resolution melting analysis and a clinical scoring system.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the diagnosis of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD) by using high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis and a clinical scoring system.

STUDY DESIGN:

Genetic variations in the 18 coding exons were prescreened using HRM analysis and then confirmed by direct sequencing. To establish a scoring system, clinical features of 20 patients with NICCD diagnosed in Taiwan between the years 2000 and 2008 were compared with those of 47 patients with biliary atresia and 35 with infantile cholestasis.

RESULTS:

Eight types of mutations/polymorphisms were identified in patients with NICCD, including 5 mutations in the coding region or splice site (c.851del4, c.1638ins23, R553Q, IVS6+5G > A, IVS11+1G > A), and 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (IVS11+17C > G, IVS4+6A > G/rs6957975, and c.1194A > G/rs2301629). The 3 hotspot mutations (c.851del4, c.1638ins23, and IVS6+5G > A) comprised 33/35 (94.3%) mutated alleles. The patients with NICCD had a higher frequency of the rs6957975 polymorphism compared with 103 healthy controls (P < .0001). A 6-point scoring system was proposed according to clinical parameters. The patients with NICCD tended to score ≥ 4 points, whereas biliary atresia and other infantile cholestasis tended to score <4 points (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

HRM analysis was efficient and effective in detecting mutations. Three common mutations comprised the majority of mutations found in our patients. The IVS4+6A > G polymorphism was associated with NICCD. A scoring system may help to differentiate patients with NICCD from those with biliary atresia.

• Authors: Szu-Ta Chen, Yi-Ning Su, Yen-Hsuan Ni, Wuh-Liang Hwu, Ni-Chung Lee, Yin-Hsiu Chien, Cheng-Chi Chang, Huey-Ling Chen, Mei-Hwei Chang
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 161 Issue 4 Pg. 626-31.e2 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1097-6833 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22575253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
• SLC25A13 protein, human

Topics

• Citrullinemia (diagnosis, genetics)
• Gene Frequency
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins (genetics)
• Mutation
• Mutation, Missense
• Nucleic Acid Denaturation
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide