The aim of this study is to report our 3years experience with the screening of congenital disorders of glycosylation. A common isoelectric focusing method with immunofixation was used for analysis of serum transferrin and α1-antitrypsin, apart from several other procedures. A group of about 1000 individuals, both healthy controls and patients, mostly with signs of a metabolic disease were examined. Here we present an overview of 1) hypoglycosylation findings, 2) distribution of protein variants, 3) misguiding rare Tf variants found in our set, and 4) association of some phenotypes with various diseases.

Human transferrin (Tf) shows genetic polymorphisms, which may interfere in the screening of congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). Isoelectric focusing followed by direct immunofixation was used for Tf analysis in controls and several groups of patients. Equivocal results in one case have been recognized as a rare Tf CD variant. A higher incidence of some genetic variants has been reported in connection with certain diseases; of the seven Tf phenotypes detected in our set of samples, an apparently higher frequency of Tf C1C2 variant found in some groups of patients was not significant.

Association of Tf C2 allele with various malfunctions has been noticed before, but is so far unresolved. This is the a report on increased frequency of Tf C1C2 genotype found in cystic fibrosis. Analysis of larger samples and independent confirmation of our results are needed.

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