Genetic diagnosis of Alport syndrome in 16 Chinese families

Abstract Background Alport syndrome (AS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder resulting from mutations in the collagen IV genes COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5. The genetic diagnosis of AS is very important to make precise diagnosis and achieve optimal outcomes. Methods In this study, 16 Chinese families with suspected AS were recruited after pedigree analysis, and the clinical presentations were analyzed by a nephrologist. The genetic diagnosis was performed by whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and the disease‐causing variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Results The cohort of probands included seven men and nine women, with a mean age of 19.9 years. Pathological analysis showed slight‐to‐moderate mesangial proliferation, and thin basement membrane was the main findings. Pathogenic variants were revealed by WES in each family, and the co‐segregation with renal presentation was confirmed by PCR. In addition, RT‐PCR analysis showed that the intronic variant led to aberrant splicing. Conclusion Our findings expand the spectrum of AS gene variation, which will inform genetic diagnosis and add to the theoretical basis for the prevention of AS.