The G2019S LRRK2 Mutation is Rare in Korean Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Multiple System Atrophy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The LRRK2 (PARK8; OMIM607060) substitution was recently identified as a causative mutation for Parkinson's disease (PD). The pathologic heterogeneity of LRRK2-positive patients suggests that mutation of the LRRK2 gene is associated with the pathogenesis of PD and Parkinson-plus disorders, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA). We previously reported that the G2019S LRRK2 mutation-which is the most common LRRK2 mutation-was not found in a sample of 453 Korean PD patients. In the present study, we extended the screening for the G2019S mutation to a larger group of PD and MSA patients. METHODS We performed a genetic analysis of the G2019S mutation in 877 patients with PD and 199 patients with MSA using a standard PCR and restriction digestion method. RESULTS None of the subjects carried the G2019S mutation. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study support that the G2019S mutation is extremely rare in PD and is unlikely to be associated with MSA in the Korean population.