A novel nonsense mutation in the LPL gene in a Chinese neonate with hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypertriglyceridemia. The genetic defect lies in a mutation of the LPL gene.

Methods: A Chinese neonate with non-consanguineous parents was incidentally found to have hypertriglyceridemia. Mutation in her LPL gene was screened by using polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing.

Results: Homozygous missense mutations (L252V) were detected in the LPL gene of the patient. A novel nonsense mutation (C27X) was also identified.

Conclusions: Our finding supports L252V mutation in the LPL gene is a common mutation in Chinese with familial hyperchylomicronemia syndrome. DNA-based diagnosis in this syndrome is definitive. It saves the need for heparin-infusion test, which carries the risk of hemorrhage, and the measurement of LPL activity, which is tedious and is not widely available.