Purpose: Most cystic fibrosis mutation screening methods do not detect large exon deletions or duplications in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene. We looked for such mutations in congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens patients in whom routine screening assays had identified only one or no cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene mutations.
Methods: DNA samples from 48 men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens were tested for exonic deletions and duplications in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene using a laboratory-developed semiquantitative fluorescent PCR assay.
Results: Semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR identified a large deletion in one (2%) of the 48 patients. This patient, previously characterized as carrying only the IVS8-5T mutation, was found to have a deletion of exons 22-24 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene. In a second patient with the IVS8-5T mutation, we identified a one-base pair insertion in exon 17b that disrupted the reading frame.
Conclusions: Analysis of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene for exon deletions and duplications should be included for complete study of CBAVD patients, especially those considering assisted reproduction.