Peculiar laboratory phenotype/ genotype relationship due to compound inherited protein C defects in a child with

Hamostaseologie
|March 15, 2018
PubMed

Insights

A child with severe blood clots had a complex inherited thrombophilia. This case highlights how a seemingly normal protein C level can mask serious genetic defects, impacting treatment decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Inherited thrombophilia increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
  • Protein C (PC) deficiency is a significant inherited risk factor for VTE.
  • Accurate diagnosis of PC defects is crucial for patient management.

Observation:

  • A 7-year-old child presented with unprovoked deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
  • Genetic testing revealed compound heterozygous mutations in the Protein C gene, leading to a Type I (null allele) and Type IIA defect.
  • The child also carried a heterozygous prothrombin G20210A variant.

Findings:

  • The patient exhibited a homozygous PC Type IIA phenotype despite carrying a Type I defect allele.
  • The apparently normal PC antigen level was misleading, masking the compound defect.
  • This complex thrombophilia contributed to the severe VTE event in the child.

Implications:

  • Severe VTE can occur in children with complex inherited thrombophilia.
  • Precise laboratory characterization of PC defects, considering both phenotype and genotype, is essential.
  • Correct classification of PC defects guides appropriate anticoagulant or replacement therapy.

Related Concept Videos

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
37.3K
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying...
7.6K
Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance01:39

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

In 1866, Gregor Mendel published the results of his pea plant breeding experiments, providing evidence for predictable patterns in the inheritance of physical characteristics. The significance of his findings was not immediately recognized. In fact, the existence of genes was unknown at the time. Mendel referred to hereditary units as “factors.”
60.4K
Non-nuclear Inheritance01:29

Non-nuclear Inheritance

Most DNA resides in the nucleus of a cell. However, some organelles in the cell cytoplasm⁠—such as chloroplasts and mitochondria⁠—also have their own DNA. These organelles replicate their DNA independently of the nuclear DNA of the cell in which they reside. Non-nuclear inheritance describes the inheritance of genes from structures other than the nucleus.
23.3K
Inheritance01:25

Inheritance

Gregor Mendel's pioneering work on the principles of inheritance fundamentally transformed our understanding of how traits are transmitted from generation to generation. His experiments with pea plants laid the groundwork for the discovery of genes, discrete units within organisms that control heredity.
Each gene exists in pairs, and the combination of these genes from both parents forms an individual's genotype. This genotype is a blueprint of potential traits. Examples of genotype...
1.7K
Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.3K