Fibrinogen gamma375 arg-->trp mutation (fibrinogen aguadilla) causes hereditary hypofibrinogenemia, hepatic endoplasmic reticulum storage disease and cirrhosis

Am J Surg Pathol. 2006 Jul;30(7):906-11. doi: 10.1097/01.pas.0000209848.59670.2c.

Abstract

Hypofibrinogenemia is a rare inherited disorder characterized by low levels of circulating fibrinogen, caused by mutations within 1 of the 3 fibrinogen genes. We report here the case of a 61-year-old man with chronic liver function test alterations. Liver biopsy examination revealed chronic hepatitis complicated by cirrhosis and weakly eosinophilic globular cytoplasmic inclusions within the hepatocytes, faintly stained with PAS-diastase. On immunohistochemistry, the inclusions reacted strongly with human antifibrinogen antibodies. Coagulation investigations of the propositus and his 2 sons showed low functional and antigenic fibrinogen concentrations that were indicative of hypofibrinogenemia. A liver biopsy performed on the 28-year-old son demonstrated the same globular cytoplasmic inclusions, albeit without associated chronic liver disease. PCR amplification followed by sequencing showed that all 3 were heterozygous for a CGG>TGG mutation at codon 375 of the fibrinogen gamma-chain gene (FGG), corresponding to an Arg>Trp substitution. This is the first in an adult male and the second published case with a discernible hepatic fibrinogen endoplasmic reticulum storage disease due to an FGG Arg375Trp (fibrinogen Aguadilla) mutation. Our results suggest that familial hypofibrinogenemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a progressive liver disease associated to hepatocellular intracytoplasmic globular inclusions.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Afibrinogenemia / genetics*
  • Afibrinogenemia / metabolism
  • Afibrinogenemia / pathology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Arginine / genetics
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Family Health
  • Fibrinogen / genetics*
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
  • Inclusion Bodies / pathology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Point Mutation*
  • Tryptophan / genetics
  • Tryptophan / metabolism

Substances

  • Tryptophan
  • Fibrinogen
  • Arginine