GNPAT variant (D519G) is not associated with an elevated serum ferritin or iron removed by phlebotomy in patients referred for C282Y-linked hemochromatosis
Journal Title: Annals of Hepatology - Year 2016, Vol 15, Issue 6
Abstract
Background. Previous studies in high and low expressors has demonstrated that a variant in the GNPAT gene (D519G, Rs11558492, chromosome 1, exon 11) has been associated with severe iron overload in C282Y homozygotes for hemochromatosis. In this study, a GNPAT variant was assessed prospectively in patients referred for HFE testing over a range of serum ferritin levels. Material and methods. Consecutive patients sent for HFE testing were studied for the GNPAT variant using a TaqMan kit assay (Life Technologies, Burlington, ON). Serum ferritin and iron removed by phlebotomy was compared in C282Y homozygotes with and without the GNPAT variant. The frequency of the GNPAT variant in referred patients was compared to a control population of voluntary blood donors without HFE mutations. Results. There were 533 patients that had GNPAT analysis. The allele frequency for the GNPAT variant in C282Y homozygotes (n = 75) was 0.226 and in wild type control patients (n = 458) was 0.213 (p = .07). Forty-eight percent (of the C282Y homozygotes were heterozygous (n = 28) or homozygous (n = 8) for the GNPAT variant. The mean (log)ferritin and iron removed did not significantly differ between C282Y homozygous with GNPAT homozygotes, GNPAT heterozygotes, and without the GNPAT variant (p = 0.84). Conclusions. C282Y homozygotes referred for HFE testing commonly have a GNPAT variant. This GNPAT variant does not appear be a co-modifying gene affecting expression of HFE related hemochromatosis in this population. The GNPAT variant does not predict the severity of iron overload.
Authors and Affiliations
Alexander Levstik, Alan Stuart, Paul Adams
Current and future treatment options for HCV
Aim of antiviral therapy of patients with chronic hepatitis C is the sustained elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The standard of care (SOC) is peginterferon alfa-2a/-2b with ribavirin for 48 weeks or 24 weeks i...
The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the Americas
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an alarming public health problem. The disease is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide and is directly linked to the increased prevalence of obesity and ty...
Hepatic hemodynamics and transient elastography in alcoholic foamy degeneration: report of 2 cases
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) covers a wide spectrum of pathology ranging from fatty liver disease to acute steatohepatitis to cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Alcoholic foamy degeneration (AFD) is an uncommon,...
Congenital Shunts of the Portal Venous System: Case-series of Uncommon Shunts
Background and aims. Congenital shunts of the portal venous system are rare entities that can present in children with clinical heterogeneity. To evaluate the clinical course of children with uncommon shunts presenting t...
Rare biliary cystic tumors: a case series of biliary cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinoma
Cystic lesions of the liver are common and a major proportion is formed by parasitic cysts and simple cysts. Biliary cystic tumors(BCTs), namely biliary cystadenoma (BCA) and biliary cystadenocarcinoma (BCAC), are rare...