A novel germline mutation in the von Hippel-Lindau gene in patients in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE To determine the germline mutation in an extended family in which 1 member was diagnosed clinically with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and to investigate 3 generations of the family. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism sequencing techniques were used to identify the germline mutation in the VHL gene in the patient and also to study 9 other members of the extended family over 3 generations. RESULTS The patient and 3 other members of the family were shown to have the same mutation in the splice donor site of the first intron. The mutation was identified as IVS1 + 1 G-->T. CONCLUSION The findings of this study indicate the presence of VHL mutation in a Kuwaiti family with Arab parentage. It is hoped that the study would contribute to understanding the types of mutation in VHL in the Middle East. Its early detection and diagnosis would help in genetic counseling of VHL patients.