Heterozygous MEFV Mutation Leading to Renal Failure: A Case Study.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder, particularly common in the Mediterranean area. Mutations in the MEVF gene cause it. AA Amyloidosis is the most severe complication of FMF leading to chronic renal failure. We describe a rare pediatric case of a phenotype I familial Mediterranean fever with V726A heterozygous mutation. The diagnosis was made at chronic kidney disease. We discuss through this case the importance of the early diagnosis of FMF heterozygous children which is not usually evident in some phenotypes. It will surely avoid fatal complications, inappropriate therapeutic approaches and higher healthcare costs.

AGXT Gene Mutations and Prevalence of Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 in Moroccan Population.

INTRODUCTION: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of alanine glyoxylate aminotransferase, due to a defect in the AGXT gene. Several mutations in this gene have been reported and some of them have been observed in multiple populations. The aim of our study was to analyze the mutations causing PH1 in the Moroccan population and to estimate its prevalence in Morocco. METHODS: Molecular studies of 29 unrelated Moroccan patients with PH were performed by direct sequencing of all exons of the AGXT gene. In addition, to estimate the prevalence of PH1, we screened for the recurrent p.Ile244Thr mutation in 250 unrelated Moroccan newborns using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Four pathogenic mutations were detected in 25 unrelated patients. The c.731T>C (p.Ile244Thr) was the most frequent mutation with a frequency of 84%. The other three mutations were c.33delC, c.976delG, and c.331C>T. The prevalence of the PH1 mutation among Moroccans was then estimated to range from 1/7267 to 1/6264. CONCLUSION: PH1 is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases in the Moroccan population and is probably underdiagnosed. Front line genetic testing for PH1 in Morocco should be initiated using an assay for the recurrent p.Ile244Thr mutation. This strategy would provide a useful tool for precocious diagnosis of presymptomatic individuals and to prevent their rapid progression to renal failure.