[Biochemical, hormonal and genetic evaluation of the families of two Brazilian patients with type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy].

Objective: To evaluate clinical, biochemical, hormonal and genetic characteristics of relatives of two patients with familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) type 2.

Materials And Methods: Fifty subjects, members of two non-related Brazilian families from two different probands with FPLD phenotype, were evaluated. A mutation in exon 8 of LMNA gene was confirmed in 18 of them, and a heterozygous substitution at codon 482 was identified, predicting a p.R482W mutation. Based on the presence or absence of the mutation, subjects were classified in affected and unaffected, and compared in terms of clinical, biochemical and hormonal parameters.

Results: Affected subjects were 2.8 times more likely to manifest diabetes and PCOS, higher HOMA-IR, insulin and triglyceride levels, and lower levels of leptin. These changes preceded the onset of diabetes, because they were observed in diabetic and non-diabetic affected patients. A phenotypic heterogeneity was found among mutation carriers.

Conclusion: A mutation in the LMNA gene is a determinant of clinical, biochemical and hormonal changes that imply in metabolic deterioration in mutation carriers.