Cochlear Implantation in a Patient with a Novel POU3F4 Mutation and Incomplete Partition Type-III Malformation

This study is aimed at (1) analyzing the clinical manifestations and genetic features of a novel POU3F4 mutation in a nonsyndromic X-linked recessive hearing loss family and (2) reporting the outcomes of cochlear implantation in a patient with this mutation.

A patient who was diagnosed as the IP-III malformation underwent cochlear implantation in our hospital. The genetic analysis was conducted in his family, including the whole-exome sequencing combined with Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Clinical features, preoperative auditory and speech performances, and postoperative outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) were assessed on the proband and his family.

A novel variant c.400_401insACTC (p.Q136LfsX58) in the POU3F4 gene was detected in the family, which was cosegregated with the hearing loss. This variant was absent in 200 normal-hearing persons. The phylogenetic analysis and structure modeling of Pou3f4 protein further confirmed that the novel mutation was pathogenic. The proband underwent cochlear implantation on the right ear at four years old and gained greatly auditory and speech improvement. However, the benefits of the CI declined about three and a half years postoperation. Though the right ear had been reimplanted, the outcomes were still worse than before.

A novel frame shift variant c.400_401insACTC (p.Q136LfsX58) in the POU3F4 gene was identified in a Chinese family with X-linked inheritance hearing loss. A patient with this mutation and IP-III malformation could get good benefits from CI. However, the outcomes of the cochlear implantation might decline as the patient grows old.