Primary hypercholesterolemia includes both monogenic disorders and
polygenic conditions. Two well defined monogenic disorders are familial
hypercholesterolemia (FH) and familial defective apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 (FDB).
Both disorders convey high risk of premature coronary artery disease. FH and FDB
are caused by mutations in LDL receptor and apo B-100 genes, respectively. In the
present study, mutations in both genes in Thai subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia
were screened. For apo B-100 gene, a common mutation R3500Q
was screened. This mutation was not observed in the patients (n = 45). For LDL
receptor gene, mutations in the exons encoding the ligand - binding domain were
screened. By PCR-CFLP analysis, 18 abnormal CFLP patterns in exon 4, the hot spot
for mutations, were found in patients (n=45). One of the DNA samples with abnormal
CFLP patterns was previously identified and reported as a possible disease-causing
mutation, namely D151Y. For the other exons, the screening technique was PCRSSCP.
Abnormal SSCP patterns in DNA samples from patients (n=20) were found as
follows, two in exon 3, one in exon 5 and another one in exon 6. Further
characterization by DNA sequencing and family studies for these abnormal patterns
are underway.