Molecular analysis of 53 Chinese families with Wilson's disease: Six novel mutations identified

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder that is induced by defects of the ATP7B gene and characterized by damage to the liver and nervous system caused by aberrant copper metabolism. The identification of pathogenic mutations on two homologous chromosomes has become the gold standard for the diagnosis of WD.

Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) were combined to establish a genetic diagnosis for patients from 53 unrelated Chinese WD families.

Biallelic mutations were detected by Sanger sequencing in 50 of the probands, while single heterozygous mutations were detected in the remaining three probands. A total of 45 diverse pathogenic mutations were detected, and 6 previously unreported mutations were involved. Five asymptomatic patients were screened from 85 family members of 38 probands participating in the study.

This study contributes to the enlargement of the mutational spectrum of the ATP7B gene among the population of China and highlights the significance of genetic testing for asymptomatic patients.