Lactose intolerance 2

Question

Dear Dr. Posselt,
I thank you very much for your extended answer. Now I can probably better understand why my test results have been negative. Of course I have to take many drugs against an organ-rejection. Also the intake of antibiotics, especially Ciprofloxacin, is frequent, in case an infection is up-coming.
The intake of lactose-free milk products or in combination with lactase tablets with lactose-containing food does not cause any problems in contrast to the intake without lactase-tablets.
I had the blood-test performed at the clinic for dermatology and allergology at the medical school of Hannover, Germany.
The laboratory finding PCR says: "there is a heterozygous mutation in the regulatrory region of the lactase-gen, therefore a clinically relevant lactose intolerance is unlikely."
I would be very pleased if you could explain this statement a bit to me.
Best regards,

Answer

Hello,
the indication of the existance of a heterozygous mutation on the regulatory region of the lactase gene means, that you are carrier for the clinical picture of the lactose intolerance, that you are not affected yourself, however, as only one gene of the gene pair is affected. This situation can therefore be compared to the one with your parents, who are heterozygous gene-carriers for CF. Only in case a gene-mutation is there homozygously (that means both genes of a gene-pair have to be affected), the individuum gets ill. This is for you the case for CF. You have inherited one CF-gene with the mutation from both parents.
I whish you all the best for the future,
Yours sincerely,
Dr. H.-G. Posselt

21.09.2010