Familial splenomegaly: Macrophage hypercatabolism of lipoproteins associated with apolipoprotein E mutation [Apolipoprotein E (δ149 Leu)]

Tu T. Nguyen, Kent E. Kruckeberg, John F. O'Brien, Zhong Sheng Ji, Pamela S. Karnes, Thomas B. Crotty, Ian D. Hay, Robert W. Mahley, Timothy O'Brien

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Splenomegaly with sea-blue histiocytes is not associated with dyslipidemia, except in severe cases of hypertriglyceridemia, Tangier disease, or lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency. We describe two kindreds in which the sea-blue histiocyte syndrome was associated with an apoE variant in the absence of severe dyslipidemia. Both patients presented with mild hypertriglyceridemia and splenomegaly. After splenectomy both patients developed severe hypertriglyceridemia. Pathological evaluation of the spleen revealed the presence of sea-blue histiocytes. A mutation of apoE was demonstrated, with a 3-bp deletion resulting in the loss of a leucine at position 149 in the receptor-binding region of the apoE molecule [apoE (δ149 Leu)]. Although both probands were unrelated, they were of French Canadian ancestry, suggesting the possibility of a founder effect. In summary, we describe two unrelated probands with primary sea-blue histiocytosis who had normal or mildly elevated serum triglyceride concentrations that markedly increased after splenectomy. In addition, we provide evidence linking the syndrome to an inherited dominant mutation in the apoE gene, a 3-bp deletion on the background of an apoE 3 allele that causes a derangement in lipid metabolism and leads to splenomegaly in the absence of severe hypertriglyceridemia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4354-4358
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume85
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry, medical

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