Novel glucokinase mutation in a boy with maturity-onset diabetes of the young

Abstract

Introduction: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a heterogenous group of disorders characterized by an early onset of insulin-independent diabetes mellitus, an auto so mal dominant mode of inheritance and a primary defect in beta-cell. There are six subtypes of MODY. MODY2 and MODY3 are the most frequent. CASE OUTLINE We present a nine-year-old boy with intermittent hyperglycaemia. According to family history, the diagnosis of MODY2 was suspected. Molecular analysis revealed novel missense mutation R250c in exon 7 of glucokinase gene. Mutation (c.748 C>T) is the result of substitution of aminoacid cysteine by arginine (p.Arg250Cys). This is the first paediatric patient with MODY2 in Serbia whose diagnosis is established at molecular level. Conclusion: Molecular diagnosis of MODY has important consequences in terms of prognosis, therapy and family screening of the disorder. Investigation of other patients with MODY2 in our country is important to establish prevalence and nature of mutations in glucokinase gene.