OBJECTIVE:
Molecular diagnosis is a useful diagnostic tool in calcium metabolism disorders. The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is known to play a central role in the regulation of extracellular calcium homeostasis. We performed clinical, biochemical and genetic characterization of sequence anomalies in this receptor in a cohort of 130 individuals from 82 families with suspected alterations in the CASR gene, one of the largest series described.
METHODS:
The CASR gene was screened for mutations by polymerase chain reaction followed by direct Sanger sequencing.
RESULTS:
Presumed CaSR-inactivating mutations were found in 65 patients from 26 families. These patients had hypercalcemia (median 11.3 mg/dL) but normal or abnormally high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (median 52 pg/mL). On the other hand, presumed CaSR-activating mutations were detected in 17 patients from 8 families. These patients had a median serum calcium level of 7.4 mg/dL and hypoparathyroidism (median PTH 13 pg/mL). Further, common polymorphisms previously associated with high blood ionized calcium levels were found in 27 patients (median calcium 10.6 mg/dL; median PTH 65 pg/mL) with no other alterations in CASR. Overall, we found 30 different mutations, of which, 14 have not been previously reported (p.Ala26Ser, p.Cys60Arg, p.Lys119Ile, p.Leu123Met, p.Glu133Val, p.Gly222Glu, p.Phe351Ile, p.Cys542Tyr, p.Cys546Gly, p.Cys677Tyr, p.Ile816Val, p.Ala887Asp, p.Glu934*, p.Pro935_Gln945dup).
CONCLUSIONS:
Patients with CASR mutations may not fit the classic clinical pictures of hypercalcemia with hypocalciuria or hypocalcemia with hypercalciuria. Molecular studies are important for confirming the diagnosis and distinguishing it from other entities. Our genetic analysis confirmed CaSR disorders in 82 patients in the study cohort.
