Clinical evaluation and molecular screening of a large consecutive series of albino patients

J Hum Genet. 2017 Feb;62(2):277-290. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2016.123. Epub 2016 Oct 13.

Abstract

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is characterized by hypopigmentation of the skin, hair and eye, and by ophthalmologic abnormalities caused by a deficiency in melanin biosynthesis. In this study we recruited 321 albino patients and screened them for the genes known to cause oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1-4 and OCA6) and ocular albinism (OA1). Our purpose was to detect mutations and genetic frequencies of the main causative genes, offering to albino patients an exhaustive diagnostic assessment within a multidisciplinary approach including ophthalmological, dermatological, audiological and genetic evaluations. We report 70 novel mutations and the frequencies of the major causative OCA genes that are as follows: TYR (44%), OCA2 (17%), TYRP1 (1%), SLC45A2 (7%) and SLC24A5 (<0.5%). An additional 5% of patients had GPR143 mutations. In 19% of cases, a second reliable mutation was not detected, whereas 7% of our patients remain still molecularly undiagnosed. This comprehensive study of a consecutive series of OCA/OA1 patients allowed us to perform a clinical evaluation of the different OCA forms.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Albinism, Oculocutaneous / diagnosis*
  • Albinism, Oculocutaneous / genetics*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Antiporters / genetics*
  • Eye Proteins / genetics*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melanins / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antiporters
  • Eye Proteins
  • GPR143 protein, human
  • Melanins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • OCA2 protein, human
  • SLC24A5 protein, human
  • SLC45A2 protein, human
  • Oxidoreductases
  • TYRP1 protein, human