ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL). Method The clinical data of one child with CGL caused by BSCL2 gene mutation were analyzed retrospectively and relative literature were reviewed. Results A 2-year-9-month old girl had clinical manifestations of a lack of subcutaneous fat, acanthosis nigricans, hepatolienomegaly and mild hypophrenia. Laboratory examinations showed hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia and cardiomyopathy. The peripheral blood from the child and her parents were collected and 4 genes, AGPAT2, BSCL2, CAV1 and PTRF, were sequenced by Sanger. The results showed a heterozygous mutation of BSCL2 gene from maternal frameshift (c.567-568delGA, p.E189EfsX12) and paternal nonsense mutation (c.565G>T,p.E189X) respectively in the child, and both mutations were pathogenic ones. By a literature review, it is known that BSCL2 gene mutation is the most common cause of in Asian. In CGL with BSCL2 gene mutation, the commom clinical manifestations include disappearance of systemic adipose tissue, acathosis nigricans and hepatomegaly, and the incidence of myocardial infarction and mental retardation were 40% and 30% respectively. Conclusion The main clinical manifestations of CGL caused by BSCL2 gene mutation were loss of systemic adipose tissue and metabolic disorder at an early age. It was often accompanied by myocardial lesions and mental retardation. Gene diagnosis analysis should be made as earliest possible time for the children suspected of this disease.