OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene mutations in a pedigree with inherited prothrombin (FII) deficiency.

METHODSThe activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), FII activity (FII:C) and FII antigen (FII:Ag) test were used for phenotype diagnosis. The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the propositus. All the 14 exons, intron/exon boundaries and the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) of the prothrombin gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were screened by direct sequencing and the mutations detected were further confirmed by restricted enzyme digestion. One hundred and three healthy blood donors were used as controls.

RESULTSThe phenotype of the propositus was prothrombin deficiency (type I). With reference to the prothrombin nucleotide sequence published by Degen & Dacie, three variations were found in the FII gene of the propositus. Among them, the novel mutation was a homozygous A601G subtitution in exon 2.

CONCLUSIONThe prothrombin deficiency of the propositus is caused by a homozygous Glu29 to Gly mutation in the prothrombin gene.