ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze NLRP7 mutation frequency in 20 Mexican patients with recurrent hydatidiform moles (RHMs). PATIENTS: Twenty patients with RHMs, 50 couples with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and 100 controls were included in the study. Molecular analysis of the NLRP7 coding region was performed in patients with RHMs. Restriction enzyme digestion analysis and direct sequencing of the identified mutations were performed in controls and patients with RPL. RESULTS: Patients displayed between two and six moles, and 10 of them presented other forms of pregnancy loss. Twelve (60%) patients were homozygous for the missense mutation c.2248C > G (p.L750V), five (25%) patients were heterozygous for the p.L750V mutation and the c.1018 G > A (p.E340K) variant, and three (15%) patients were heterozygous for the c.1018 G > A (p.E340K) variant. Five (5%) control women and four women and one man (5%) with RPL were heterozygous for the p.L750V mutation and two (2%) patients with RPL were heterozygous for the p.E340K variant. CONCLUSIONS: A total of 60% of our RHM patients presented homozygous p.L750V mutations, 25% were compound heterozygotes for p.L750V mutation and the p.E340K variant, and 15% were heterozygous for p.E340K variant. Heterozygous p.L750V mutations were frequently observed in our population. Homozygous mutations were also present in patients with RHMs. Additional studies are needed to understand the role of the p.E340K variant in RHMs and RPL.
