The prevalence of the gout-associated polymorphism rs2231142 G>T in ABCG2 in a pregnant female Filipino cohort

Gout is a metabolic disorder and one of the most common arthritic conditions. Hyperuricemia is the hallmark of developing gout and mostly caused by uric acid underexcretion. Gout disproportionately affects people of specific races and ethnicities. Filipinos are the second-largest Asian population in the USA and reported to have a higher prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia than non-Filipino counterparts and Filipinos residing in the Philippines. The genetic polymorphism rs2231142 G>T in the ABCG2 has been strongly associated with hyperuricemia and gout across multiple populations. However, the prevalence of this variant in Filipinos is unknown. Therefore, assessing the prevalence of this variant may provide insights on the high prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout in Filipinos. A total of 190 DNA samples from pregnant females who self-identified as a Filipino from the Hawaii Biorepository Bank were genotyped for rs2231142 G>T in the ABCG2. The prevalence of the gout risk allele (T) (46%) was significantly higher in Filipinos than in samples of Caucasians (12%, p < 0.001), Han Chinese (29%, p = 0.014), and African Americans (3%, p < 0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of the gout-risk genotype (TT) (21%) was significantly higher in Filipinos than in samples of Caucasians (1%, p < 0.001), Han Chinese (9%, p = 0.002), and African Americans (0.1%, p < 0.001). Though there were no gout cases in this cohort, these findings are suggestive of a genetic basis to the high prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout in Filipinos. This might also explain the reported reduced urinary uric acid excretion in Filipinos compared with Caucasians. Key Points The Filipinos have the highest prevalence of the gout-associated risk allele (T) of the rs2231142 G>T in ABCG2. The high prevalence of the risk allele (T) of the rs2231142 G>T in ABCG2 may partly explain the reduced urinary urate excretion and early-onset gout in Filipinos. The high prevalence of the risk allele (T) of the rs2231142 G > T in ABCG2 may predispose Filipinos to hyperuricemia and gout when acculturated to high-purine diet.