Prevalence of a Genetic Variant of Luteinizing Hormone in theCzech Republic

Overview

Background.
The relatively common genetic variant of LHb-subunit, resulting in changes of the pituitary-gonadalaxis, displays different prevalence in various ethnic populations.Methods and Results. Frequency of occurrence of the variant allele in our country has been determined by analysisof LH in a randomly selected population group from the Cheb region, comprising of 257 subjects (82 men and 175women) in the age from 14 to 72 years. The LH variant was determined by a novel immunofluorescence method,based on two assays, of which the first detected the wild type of the hormone and its variant, while the second wasspecific for the wild type of LH only. The frequency of carriers of the variant allele for LH-b-subunit amounted to17.5 %, i.e. 12.2 % in males and 20.6 % in females.Conclusions. The prevalence of the variant allele for LH-b-subunit in the investigated region of West Bohemiawas close to that of other Antral European and North European populations.

Key words:
LH variant, prevalence, LH mutations, LHb-subunit.