PurposeThis study aims to analyze the Norrie disease gene (NDP) variants in patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and their clinical features.MethodsThirty-three Chinese patients (22 familial and 11 simplex) who were diagnosed as FEVR underwent detailed ocular examinations in Beijing Tongren Hospital. Peripheral venous blood was drawn from the patients and their family members for the extraction of genomic DNA. All exons of NDP gene were analyzed by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA fragments.ResultsFour novel mutations in NDP gene were identified in four X-linked FEVR families: a C -> T transversion, c. 625C -> T, in exon 3, resulting in a serine-to-proline change in codon 73 (S73P); a C -> G transition, c. 751C -> G, in exon 3, resulting in an arginine-to-glycine change in codon 115 (R115G); a T -> C transversion of nucleotide 331 at 5'UTR in exon 2 (c.331T -> C); and a C -> T transversion of the nucleotide 5 in intron 1 (IVS1+5C -> T). The mutations were not present in the control group (n=100).ConclusionsOur results extend the spectrum of NDP gene mutations. The mutations in the non-coding region of NDP may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of FEVR.