Abstract
Gitelman syndrome is an autosomal recessive renal tubular disorder characterized by renal salt wasting with secondary hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism, chronic hypokalemia with renal K wasting and metabolic alkalosis, and hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria. GS was found to be caused by mutations in SLC12A3 encoding the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter (NCCT) on the apical membrane of distal convoluted tubule. The prevalence worldwide is estimated at approximately 1:40,000, making it one of the most frequent inherited renal tubular disorders. To date, over 400 mutations scattered throughout SLC12A3 have been identified in GS patients. The majority of patients are compound heterozygous for SLC12A3 mutations, but a significant number of GS patients are found to carry only a single SLC12A3 mutation. The type of the SLC12A3 mutation may be a determinant factor in the severity of GS. The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical characteristics and gene mutation in four cases of GS.
Methods: Four patients with closely resembling Gitelman syndrome was selected.
Results: Six SLCl2A3 gene mutations were found in these four patients. There were one SLCl2A3 homozygous mutation in case 1 and case 3, and two SLCl2A3 heterozygous mutations in case 2 and case 4, respectively. This six gene mutations include missense mutations, frameshift mutations, and nonsense mutations. Four patients were diagnosed with Gitelman syndrome. Case 4 is the most severe with severe hypokalemia, accompanied by ventricular arrhythmias, which may be related to the presence of two SLC12A3 gene mutations in the patient.
Conclusions: Four patients in this study were diagnosed with Gitelman syndrome based on their clinical characteristics and genetic testing results. For patients with hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism, chronic hypokalemia with renal K wasting and metabolic alkalosis, and hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria need to exclude Gitelman syndrome.
Key words: Gitelmen Syndrome, Mutations, SlC12A3 gene
RAS gene mutations linked to autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis
