Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel homozygous missense mutation of LHCGR gene in primary infertile women with empty follicle syndrome

The genetic basis of empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is largely unknown, and the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic causes of EFS in primary infertile women.Four affected women diagnosed with anovulation were recruited, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was requested for the genetic diagnosis of the cases. One hundred healthy controls were verified by Sanger sequencing.A novel homozygous variant of the LHCGR gene (NM_000233:c.1847C>A) was revealed in one affected individual by WES. Trios analysis of the mutation revealed an autosomal recessive pattern. This LHCGR variant was absent in 100 healthy controls and predicted to be highly damaging to the function of LHCGR.The novel variant extends the mutational spectrum of the LHCGR gene associated with female sterility, which promotes the prognostic value of testing for LHCGR mutations in infertile women with EFS.