Purpose: To report a novel mutation of the ABCC6 gene in a Japanese family that had a case of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) another with PXE and retinitis pigmentosa.
Methods: Ophthalmologic examinations were performed, and the ABCC6 gene was analysed by direct genomic sequencing.
Results: Fundus examinations of the 48-year-old proband disclosed angioid streaks and a peud'orange appearance of the retina of the both eyes, whereas both of his 25- and 20-year-old daughters had pigmentary degeneration and angioid streaks. In the sibilings, the mixed cone-rod ERG was almost nondetectable, whereas that of the proband was well-preserved. Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the proband has a homozygous nonsense mutation at the 595 bp in the ABCC6, and the siblings were heterozygous for the same mutation. This mutation was not detected in Japanese subjects in the JSNP database (http://snp.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/).
Conclusions: Our results demonstrated an association between a novel mutation in the ABCC6 gene and PXE in a Japanese family.