Germline variant of CTC1 gene in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Introduction: Telomeropathies are associated with a wide range of diseases and less common combinations of various pulmonary and extrapulmonary disorders. Case presentation: In proband with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, whole exome sequencing revealed a germline heterozygous variant of CTC1 gene (c.1360delG). This "frameshift" variant results in a premature stop codon and is classified as likely pathogenic/pathogenic. So far, this gene variant has been described in a heterozygous state in adult patients with hematological diseases such as idiopathic aplastic anemia or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, but also in interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Described CTC1 gene variant affects telomere length and leads to telomeropathies. Conclusions: In our case report, we describe a rare case of coincidence of pulmonary fibrosis and hematological malignancy caused by a germline gene mutation in CTC1. Lung diseases and hematologic malignancies associated with short telomeres do not respond well to standard treatment.

Case Report: CTC1 mutations in a patient with diffuse hepatic and splenic hemangiomatosis complicated by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

Diffuse hemangiomatosis of the liver and spleen is rare. Currently, few studies are available on diffuse hepatic and splenic hemangiomatosis accompanied by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS). The conserved telomere maintenance component 1 (CTC1) gene contributes to telomere maintenance and replication by forming the telomeric capping complex. Herein, we report a case of diffuse hemangiomatosis in the liver and spleen accompanied by KMS in a 59-year-old woman who carried two novel heterozygous CTC1 variants: c.435+9A>C and c.3074C>T (p.Ala1025Val). Using next-generation sequencing, we detected mutations in the CTC1 gene in our patient, who had chief complaints of fatigue and abdominal distension complicated by severe thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy. Clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and imaging findings led to the diagnosis of diffuse hepatic and splenic hemangiomatosis accompanied by KMS. The patient was treated with prednisone, thalidomide, and sirolimus, and her general condition was ameliorated at the 4-month follow-up with improved platelet count and coagulation function. A CTC1 gene mutation may be involved in the pathological process of vascular diseases. A combination treatment regimen of prednisone, thalidomide, and sirolimus may be effective for KMS.

Coats plus syndrome with new observation of drusenoid retinal pigment epithelial detachments in a teenager.

Purpose: To describe a case of Coats Plus Syndrome (CPS), a vision and life threatening disease belonging to a family of diseases known as the Telomere Biology Disorders. Observations: A 15-year-old girl with a history of small for gestational age, short stature, microcephaly, thinning/greying of scalp hair, skin hyperpigmentation, nail ridging, and multiple pathological fractures presented with bilateral Coats-like retinopathy. We discovered a new observation of multiple peripheral pinpoint retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs). Further genetic testing revealed CTC1 gene mutation and she was diagnosed with Coats plus syndrome with features of dyskeratosis congenita, a telomere biology disorder. Conclusion and importance: Patients with bilateral Coats-like retinopathy and associated systemic features suggestive of CPS should be evaluated through genetic testing to diagnose this disease and treat vision and life threatening manifestations as early as possible. In this report, we also document, for the first time, multiple pinpoint PEDs that could be related to an accelerated aging process with telomere dysfunction.

Primary Ovarian Failure in Addition to Classical Clinical Features of Coats Plus Syndrome in a Female Carrying 2 Truncating Variants of CTC1.

Coats plus syndrome is an autosomal recessive multisystemic and pleiotropic disorder affecting the eyes, brain, bone, and gastrointestinal tract, usually caused by compound heterozygous variants of the conserved telomere maintenance component 1 gene (CTC1), involved in telomere homeostasis and replication. So far, most reported patients are compound heterozygous for a truncating mutation and a missense variant. The phenotype is believed to result from telomere dysfunction, with accumulation of DNA damage, cellular senescence, and stem cell depletion. Here, we report a 23-year-old female with prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, osteopenia, recurrent fractures, intracranial calcification, leukodystrophy, parenchymal brain cysts, bicuspid aortic valve, and primary ovarian failure. She carries a previously reported maternally inherited pathogenic variant in exon 5 (c.724_727del, p.(Lys242Leufs*41)) and a novel, paternally inherited splice site variant (c.1617+5G>T; p.(Lys480Asnfs*17)) in intron 9. CTC1 transcript analysis showed that the latter resulted in skipping of exon 9. A trace of transcripts was normally spliced resulting in the presence of a low level of wild-type CTC1 transcripts. We speculate that ovarian failure is caused by telomere shortening or chromosome cohesion failure in oocytes and granulosa cells, with early decrease in follicular reserve. This is the first patient carrying 2 truncating CTC1 variants and the first presenting primary ovarian failure.

Ophthalmic findings and a novel CTC1 gene mutation in coats plus syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Coats plus syndrome is a rare multisystem disorder, and is also a telomere-related disorder caused by CTC1 gene mutation. We reported ophthalmic findings in a Chinese child with genetically confirmed Coats plus syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The comprehensive ophthalmic findings were presented, as well as treatment history and systemic manifestations. In addition, genetic testing was performed to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: Examination under anesthesia showed notable retinal vasculopathy, including vascular tortuosity and dilation, abnormal vascular anastomosis, retinal telangiectasias and mild exudation, extensive peripheral avascularity, as well as the presence of retinal neovascularization. The patient developed vitreous hemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment, and then underwent vitrectomy. Meanwhile, the patient was noted to have growth retardation and leukoencephalopathy. Gene testing identified a compound heterozygous mutation in CTC1 gene: a novel splicing site mutation (c.33 + 1 G > T) and a deletion mutation (c.2954_2956del, p.C985del), which were inherited from his mother and father, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present report expanded the genotype and phenotype spectrum of CTC1 gene associated with Coats plus syndrome.