Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a common hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. Epidemiological data for Chinese CMT patients are few. This study aimed to analyze the electrophysiological and genetic characteristics of Chinese Han patients. A total of 106 unrelated patients with the clinical diagnosis of CMT were included. Clinical examination, nerve conduction studies (NCS), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and bioinformatic analyses were performed. Genetic testing was performed for 82 patients; 27 (33%) patients carried known CMT-associated gene mutations. PMP22 duplication was detected in 10 (12%) patients and GJB1 mutations in 9 (11%) patients. The mutation rate was higher in patients with a positive family history than in the sporadic cases (50% vs. 27%, p < 0.05). Six novel CMT-associated gene mutations including BSCL2 (c.461C>T), LITAF (c.32C>G), MFN2 (c.497C>T), GARS (c.794C>T), NEFL (c.280C>T), and MPZ (c.440T>C) were discovered. All except the LITAF (c.32C>G) mutation were identified as "disease causing" via bioinformatic analyses. In this Chinese Han population, the frequency of PMP22 gene duplication in those with CMT1 was slightly (50% vs. 70%-80%) less than in Western/Caucasian populations. The novel CMT-associated gene mutations broaden the mutation diversity of CMT1. NGS should be considered for genetic analyses in CMT patients.
Keywords: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease; electrophysiology; gene mutation; next-generation sequencing.
© 2016 Peripheral Nerve Society.