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Background: Wolcott‐Rallison syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by early infancy onset diabetes mellitus and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. So far, 17 children have been described in the world literature. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding EIF2AK3 have been shown to segregate with the syndrome in three affected families. Aims: We aimed to describe the clinical characterization and mutation analysis of a further child, and full clinical and follow‐up details on our first family including the longest surviving child. Methods: Retrospective case notes review of three children presenting to the diabetic unit at our institution; mutation analysis of the EIF2AK3 gene in our most recent patient; and review of the literature on Wolcott‐Rallison syndrome. Results: Previously unreported phenotypic features in our patients included developmental regression after episodes of hepatic failure, and pachygyria on brain imaging. We have identified a novel 4‐base pair deletion (nt 3021–3024 del GAGA) in exon 13, which results in a frameshift and premature stop codon (R908 F/S +22X), causing premature truncation of the protein and abolition of the carboxy‐ segment of the catalytic domain. Conclusions: Wolcott‐Rallison syndrome causes early‐onset diabetes and acute hepatic failure, before epiphyseal dysplasia is manifest. We have identified a novel mutation in EIF2AK3, and prenatal diagnosis may now be offered to affected families.

Objective To determine whether whole genome sequencing can be used to define the molecular basis of suspected mitochondrial disease. Design Cohort study. Setting National Health Service, England, including secondary and tertiary care. Participants 345 patients with suspected mitochondrial disorders recruited to the 100 000 Genomes Project in England between 2015 and 2018. Intervention Short read whole genome sequencing was performed. Nuclear variants were prioritised on the basis of gene panels chosen according to phenotypes, ClinVar pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, and the top 10 prioritised variants from Exomiser. Mitochondrial DNA variants were called using an in-house pipeline and compared with a list of pathogenic variants. Copy number variants and short tandem repeats for 13 neurological disorders were also analysed. American College of Medical Genetics guidelines were followed for classification of variants. Main outcome measure Definite or probable genetic diagnosis. Results A definite or probable genetic diagnosis was identified in 98/319 (31%) families, with an additional 6 (2%) possible diagnoses. Fourteen of the diagnoses (4% of the 319 families) explained only part of the clinical features. A total of 95 different genes were implicated. Of 104 families given a diagnosis, 39 (38%) had a mitochondrial diagnosis and 65 (63%) had a non-mitochondrial diagnosis. Conclusion Whole genome sequencing is a useful diagnostic test in patients with suspected mitochondrial disorders, yielding a diagnosis in a further 31% after exclusion of common causes. Most diagnoses were non-mitochondrial disorders and included developmental disorders with intellectual disability, epileptic encephalopathies, other metabolic disorders, cardiomyopathies, and leukodystrophies. These would have been missed if a targeted approach was taken, and some have specific treatments.

Aim: Thiamine‐responsive megaloblastic anaemia syndrome (TRMA) is the association of diabetes mellitus, anaemia and deafness, due to mutations in SLC19A2, encoding a thiamine transporter protein. This is a unique monogenic form of vitamin‐dependent diabetes for which there is limited long‐term data. We aimed to study genotype–phenotype relationships and long‐term follow‐up in our cohort. Methods: We have studied 13 patients from seven families and have follow‐up data for a median of 9 y (2–30 y). Results: All patients originated from Kashmir or Punjab, and presented with non‐immune, insulin‐deficient diabetes mellitus, sensorineural deafness and a variable anaemia in the first 5 y of life, the anaemia progressing to megaloblastic and sideroblastic changes in the bone marrow. The anaemia and diabetes mellitus responded to oral thiamine hydrochloride 25 mg/d, but during puberty thiamine supplements became ineffective, and almost all patients require insulin therapy and regular blood transfusions in adulthood. All patients are homozygous for mutations in the SLC19A2 gene. We have identified a novel missense mutation (T158R) that was excluded in 100 control alleles. Conclusion: Diabetes in this syndrome is due to an insulin insufficiency that initially responds to thiamine supplements; however, most patients become fully insulin dependent after puberty. A mutation screening strategy is feasible and likely to identify mutations in almost all cases.

Risk of type 1 diabetes at 3 years is high for initially multiple and single Ab+ IT and multiple Ab+ NT. Genetic predisposition, age, and male sex are significant risk factors for development of Ab+ in twins.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease of childhood affecting 1:500 children aged under 15 years, with around 25% presenting with life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). While first-degree relatives have the highest risk of T1D, more than 85% of children who develop T1D do not have a family history. Despite public health awareness campaigns, DKA rates have not fallen over the last decade. T1D has a long prodrome, and it is now possible to identify children who go on to develop T1D with a high degree of certainty. The reasons for identifying children presymptomatically include prevention of DKA and related morbidities and mortality, reducing the need for hospitalisation, time to provide emotional support and education to ensure a smooth transition to insulin treatment, and opportunities for new treatments to prevent or delay progression. Research studies of population-based screening strategies include using islet autoantibodies alone or in combination with genetic risk factors, both of which can be measured from a capillary sample. If found during screening, the presence of two or more islet autoantibodies has a high positive predictive value for future T1D in childhood (under 18 years), offering an opportunity for DKA prevention. However, a single time-point test will not identify all children who go on to develop T1D, and so combining with genetic risk factors for T1D may be an alternative approach. Here we discuss the pros and cons of T1D screening in the UK, the different strategies available, the knowledge gaps and why a T1D screening strategy is needed.

Developments in the design and delivery of selfmanagement support for children and young people with diabetes: A narrative synthesis of systematic reviews. Diabetic Medicine, e15035.

Alström syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive ciliopathy (OMIM 203800), is classically diagnosed on the basis of childhood onset cone rod retinal dystrophy, sensorineural hearing loss and obesity with severe insulin resistance. In addition, in infancy acute reversible cardiomyopathy occurs in 30% of cases, and type 2 diabetes develops in most cases in young adulthood. We describe the audit of 11 cases of Alström syndrome diagnosed as adults, eight in the context of diabetes clinics who were referred to the National Specialised Commissioning Team (NSCT) adult Alström clinic at Torbay Hospital. All have severe insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and a variable degree of cardiac, renal and musculoskeletal involvement – features not associated with a unifying diagnosis until referred to their local diabetic clinics in eight of them. Obesity and young onset type 2 diabetes are increasing and it is important to be aware that some cases will have associated rare recessive conditions such as Alström syndrome, Wolfram syndrome, lipodystrophies, Bardet Biedl syndrome (LMBBS), Prader Willi syndrome or occult cystic fibrosis. Early recognition of Alström families will facilitate prompt recognition and treatment of comorbidities and genetic counselling. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons.