Moderate hearing loss and pseudodominant inheritance due to L90P/35delG mutations in the GJB2 (connexin 26) gene

Genet Couns. 2003;14(4):379-86.

Abstract

Mutations in the GJB2 (connexin 26-Cx26) gene are responsible for 20-50% of cases with prelingual non-syndromic deafness in a large part of the world including Turkey. Although most of the cases with Cx26 deafness have a recessive mode of inheritance, a small group of families demonstrated dominant or pseudodominant inheritance. In this report we present a Turkish family in which the proband had congenital profound deafness and was found to be homozygous for the 35delG mutation, whereas the father and a paternal uncle who had milder, late-onset sensorineural hearing loss had compound heterozygous 35delG and L90P mutations. This family and previous reports with the L90P mutation demonstrate that the hearing loss associated with the L90P/35delG genotype is consistently milder than that of 35delG homozygotes. GJB2 gene screening should be considered in families with seemingly dominant inheritance and late-onset moderate hearing loss.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child, Preschool
  • Connexin 26
  • Connexins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Inheritance Patterns
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Pedigree
  • Turkey

Substances

  • Connexins
  • GJB2 protein, human
  • Connexin 26