Gene analysis in patients with premature ovarian failure or gonadal dysgenesis: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of mutations in the coding region of the QM gene and fragile X in patients with premature ovarian failure and gonadal dysgenesis. METHODS After approval by the local Ethics Committee, blood samples, in EDTA, of 100 normally ovulating women, 23 with premature ovarian failure (POF) and 14 with gonadal dysgenesis 46XX, aged less than 40 years, were screened for mutation in the QM gene coding region. All patients with POF have 46, XX karyotype and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) over 30 mIU/mL. In addition, all samples from patients with premature ovarian failure underwent analysis for fragile X. RESULTS The QM gene located at a hotspot region (Xq28) showed five points of mutations in a patient with premature ovarian failure. Four of them were able to change the amino acid sequence of the protein. None of our patients were diagnosed as having pre or mutant X fragile syndrome. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that Xq28 (QM gene) may be involved in ovary failure. However, further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.