Childhood-onset chylomicronaemia with reduced plasma lipoprotein lipase activity and mass: identification of a novel GPIHBP1 mutation

Abstract

Objectives: Deficiency in the catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins is the main cause of childhood-onset chylomicronaemia syndrome. Missense mutations in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) or in proteins influencing LPL activity or stability have been shown to be critical determinants of chylomicronaemia syndrome. The main objective of this study was to assess the primary deficiency in five cases of childhood-onset chylomicronaemia syndrome.

Setting: Lipid clinic at a university hospital,

Subjects: Subjects presenting with severe hypertriglyceridaemia and chylomicronaemia syndrome in which reduced LPL activity and mass were observed.

Interventions: Analysis of LPL and GPIHBP1 genes.

Results: Amongst the five patients, one novel homozygous missense mutation (p.C68Y) in exon 3 of GPIHBP1 was identified. The other four patients were homozygous for the common LPL mutation p.G188E.

Conclusion: These findings provide further evidence that GPIHBP1 is involved in the catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and plays a role in childhood-onset chylomicronaemia.