To detect mutation of adenosine deaminase acting on RNA1 (ADAR1) gene in a pedigree affected with dyschromatosis symmetrical hereditaria (DSH).Clinical data and peripheral blood samples of the patients from the pedigree were collected. Potential mutations of the ADAR1 gene were screened among 2 patients, 2 unaffected individual from the pedigree as well as 50 unrelated healthy controls by PCR amplification and direct sequencing.A c.3463C>T (p.R1155W) missense mutation of the ADAR gene was identified in the 2 patients, which was absent in the 2 healthy relatives and 50 unrelated controls. The mutation has been previously identified among 5 Chinese families and was the most common mutation site.The c.3463C>T missense mutation of the ADAR gene probably underlies the disease in this pedigree.