Background Aldosterone synthase deficiency (ASD) caused by mutations in the CYP11B2 gene is characterized by isolated mineralocorticoid deficiency. Data are scarce regarding clinical and biochemical outcomes of the disease in the follow-up. Objective Assessment of the growth and steroid profiles of patients with ASD at the time of diagnosis and after discontinuation of treatment. Design and method Children with clinical diagnosis of ASD were included in a multicenter study. Growth and treatment characteristics were recorded. Plasma adrenal steroids were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Genetic diagnosis was confirmed by CYP11B2 gene sequencing and in silico analyses. Results Sixteen patients from 12 families were included (8 females; median age at presentation: 3.1 months, range: 0.4 to 8.1). The most common symptom was poor weight gain (56.3%). Median age of onset of fludrocortisone treatment was 3.6 months (range: 0.9 to 8.3). Catch-up growth was achieved at median 2 months (range: 0.5 to 14.5) after treatment. Fludrocortisone could be stopped in 5 patients at a median age of 6.0 years (range: 2.2 to 7.6). Plasma steroid profiles revealed reduced aldosterone synthase activity both at diagnosis and after discontinuation of treatment compared to age-matched controls. We identified 6 novel (p.Y195H, c.1200 + 1G > A, p.F130L, p.E198del, c.1122-18G > A, p.I339_E343del) and 4 previously described CYP11B2 variants. The most common variant (40%) was p.T185I. Conclusions Fludrocortisone treatment is associated with a rapid catch-up growth and control of electrolyte imbalances in ASD. Decreased mineralocorticoid requirement over time can be explained by the development of physiological adaptation mechanisms rather than improved aldosterone synthase activity. As complete biochemical remission cannot be achieved, a long-term surveillance of these patients is required.
Background There is a significant challenge of attributing specific diagnoses to patients with primary adrenal insufficiency of unknown etiology other than congenital adrenal hyperplasia (non-CAH PAI). Specific diagnoses per se may guide personalized treatment or may illuminate pathophysiology. Objective Investigation of the efficacy of steroid hormone profiles and high-throughput sequencing methods in establishing the etiology in non-CAH PAI of unknown origin. Design Paediatric patients with non-CAH PAI whose etiology could not be established by clinical and biochemical characteristics were enrolled. Genetic analysis was performed using targetedgene panel sequencing (TPS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES). Plasma adrenal steroids were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared to that of controls. Setting Eighteen pediatric endocrinology clinics. Patients Forty-one patients (17 females, median age: 3 months, range: 0-8 years) with non-CAH PAI of unknown etiology. Results A genetic diagnosis was obtained in 29 (70.7%) patients by TPS. Further molecular diagnosis could not be achieved by WES. Compared to healthy control group, patients showed lower steroid concentrations, most significantly in cortisone, cortisol, and corticosterone (p<0.0001, area under the ROC curve: 0.96, 0.88, 0.87, respectively). Plasma cortisol<4 ng/mL, cortisone<11 ng/mL, and corticosterone<0.11 ng/mL had >95% specificity to ensure the diagnosis of non-CAH PAI of unknown etiology. Conclusion Steroid hormone profiles are highly sensitive for the diagnosis of non-CAH PAI of unknown etiology, while they are unlikely to point out a specific molecular diagnosis. TPS is an optimal approach in the molecular diagnosis of these patients with high efficacy, while little additional benefit is expected from WES.
Objectives Central precocious puberty (CPP) develops as a result of early stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The loss-of-function mutations in the Makorin-ring-finger3 (MKRN3) gene appear to be the most common molecular cause of familial CPP. We aimed to identify MKRN3 gene mutations in our CPP cohort and to investigate the frequency of MKRN3 mutations. Methods 102 patients with CPP included. 53 of them had family history of CPP in the first and/or second-degree relatives. MKRN3 gene was analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Results Possible pathogenic variants were found in 2/53 patients with family history of CPP (3.8%) and 1/49 patient without family history (2%). A novel heterozygous c.1A>G (p.Met1Val) mutation, a novel heterozygous c.683_684delCA (p.Ser228*) and a previously reported c.482dupC (Ala162Glyfs*) frameshift variations were detected. The two novel variants are predicted to be pathogenic in silico analyses. Conclusions In our cohort, possible pathogenic variants in MKRN3 gene were detected in 2.9% of the total cohort, 3.8% of the familial and 2% of the nonfamilial cases, slightly lower than that reported in the literature. Two novel variants detected contribute to the molecular repertoire of MKRN3 defects in CPP. Classical pattern of paternal inheritance has been demonstrated in all three cases. However, the father of the patient 3 did not have history of CPP suggesting that the father inherited this variant from his mother and had phenotype skipping. Therefore, we emphasize that the absence of history of CPP in the father does not exclude the possibility of a MKRN3 mutation.
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