Frequent Mutation in the FTL Gene Causing Hyperferritinemia Cataract Syndrome in Turkish Population Is c.-160A>G

Hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome (HFCS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease characterized by increased serum ferritin levels and bilateral cataract formation in the early period of life. Heterozygote mutations in the 5’ untranslated region of the L-ferritin gene (FTL) have been reported to cause this disease. In this study, our purpose was to research the FTL gene mutations that cause HFCS in Central Anatolia and the clinical effects of these mutations.

Seventeen patients from 6 families with high ferritin levels in performed serum measurements, those who were found to have cataracts in eye examinations, and families with vertical inheritance, since the disease is autosomal dominant, were included in the study. Exons, exon-intron boundaries, and 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions of FTL (NM_000146) were sequenced using the Sanger sequencing method.

The female/male ratio of the patients was 7/10. All of the patients were found to have c.-160A>G heterozygous mutation in the FTL gene.

In the Turkish population, the prevalence of HFCS is about 1/100,000 and the commonly observed mutation is c.-160A>G mutation.