Two novel factor VII gene mutations in a Chinese family with factor VII deficiency

We report two novel factor VII (FVII) gene mutations in a Chinese family with FVII deficiency. The proband, a 55-year-old woman, was incidentally found to have right shoulder arthritis consistent with chronic haemophilic arthropathy. FVII studies showed a FVII activity of 0·02 iu/ml and a FVII antigen of 49%. Molecular analysis showed a double heterozygous state, with an exon 4 nonsense mutation (C6003A; Cys61Term) and an exon 8 missense mutation (T10902G; Cys329Gly) that disrupted a Cys310/Cys329 disulphide bond. The genotypes and phenotypes were correlated in the patient's daughters. Two daughters were heterozygous for the Cys61Term mutation and showed a type 1 FVII gene mutation phenotype consistent with a nonsense mutation. One daughter was heterozygous for the Csy329Gly mutation and showed a type 2 mutation phenotype consistent with a missense mutation. These are the first reported FVII gene mutations in the Chinese people.