A novel mutation of RPGR in a Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.

AIM: To identify potential mutations and elucidate the clinical findings of male patients and female carriers of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) in a Chinese family.

METHODS

A four generation pedigree was collected that consisted of 20 individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and then the target fragments were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly. In addition, all affected patients and female carriers underwent comprehensively ophthalmic evaluation.

RESULTS

A novel mutation c.2865G>A p.W955X in RPGR gene was identified of this family, including four affected individuals and eight carriers. All male patients, aging from 7 to 31y, tended to have more various, even potentially deleterious clinical features of RP. At the same time, individuals with heterozygous mutations (carriers) manifested a wide spectrum of clinical features. Herein, only two male patients and three female carriers manifested pathological myopia (PM). Among the female carriers, half of subjects who harbor poor visual acuity suffered esotropia or exotropia. Additionally, 16.7% and 66.7% of carriers had abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) and fundus, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a novel mutation of the RPGR gene is identified, which broadens the spectrum of RPGR mutations, and elaborates the relationship between genotype and phenotype.