Compound heterozygous mutations in the LTBP2 gene associated with microspherophakia in a Chinese patient: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Microspherophakia (MSP, OMIM 251,750) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive eye disorder characterized by small spherically shaped lens. Several studies have indicated that the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) binding proteins(LTBP2) gene mutation is the predominant cause of MSP. In our study, novel compound heterozygous mutations in the LTBP2 gene associated with MSP were reported, which was different from previous reported homozygous mutations. CASE PRESENTATION: The proband was an 18‐year‐old male in Western China with bilateral MSP, accompanied by ectopia lentis, secondary glaucoma and blindness in both eyes. In our hospital, he received bilateral lens resection and trabeculectomy combined with peripheral iridotomy. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based gene panel tests, we identified pathogenic mutations in the peripheral blood DNA sample from the proband: c.3614_3618dupCTGGC (exon24, NM_000428) and c.2819G > A (exon18, NM_000428). The presence of the novel compound heterozygous mutations in the LTBP2 gene was linked with the development of MSP. Sanger sequencing confirmed the existence of one of the two variants in each parent respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated a rare case of MSP phenotype associated with novel compound heterozygous mutations in the LTBP2 gene using NGS technology.