Clinic Heterogeneity and Management of Pediatric Patients With Germline RET Proto-oncogene Mutation: Single-center Experience.

Inherited forms of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) can cause serious problems in diagnosis and follow-up. Family screening is performed, and prophylactic thyroidectomy at an appropriate age can be life-saving. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic, clinical, laboratory characteristics, and treatment methods of cases with rearranged during transfection ( RET) mutation in the childhood age group. Patients diagnosed with hereditary MTC and patients who were evaluated by detecting MTC and/or RET mutations in their families were included in this study. Nine cases from 6 families were included in the study. Seven patients were evaluated as a result of screening, whereas 2 patients, one of whom was MEN2B, were symptomatic. Prophylactic thyroidectomy was performed in 7 cases. Medullary microcarcinoma was found in all, and additional papillary thyroid carcinoma in one. An inoperable tumor was detected in one patient, and sorafenib treatment was applied. A very heterogeneous clinical presentation can be seen in a group of pediatric patients with RET mutation. In rare RET mutations, the genotype-phenotype relationship is still unclear, and different clinical pictures can be seen. Although prophylactic thyroidectomy is life-saving, it can cause iatrogenic hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Concomitant papillary microcarcinomas may occur in very young children with germline RET mutation.

Does Metformin Treatment in Pediatric Population Cause Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

BACKGROUND/AIM: There have been no studies to date examining the effect of metformin treatment on vitamin B12 status in children and adolescents. In this prospective study, the effects of metformin on blood vitamin B12, serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine and holo-transcobalamin-II (holo-TC-II) levels were assessed in pediatric age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at the Pediatric Endocrinology and Adolescent Department between January 2017 and March 2019. Metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosed patients with insulin resistance and/or impaired glucose tolerance, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) treated with metformin were enrolled in study. Blood vitamin B12, MMA, homocysteine, holo-TC-II levels and hemogram values were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were enrolled in study. Among these, 15 (62.5%) were female. The mean age of patients was 13.7±2.3 (10-19) years. Sixteen patients were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and 8 patients were type 2 DM. At 6-month follow-up of all patients, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of vitamin B12, homocysteine, MMA and holo-TC-II levels. A 0.6% decline in vitamin B12 levels were revealed. At 12-month follow-up of 11 patients (45.8%) (6 Type 2 DM, 5 metabolic syndrome), no statistically significant difference was determined in vitamin B12, homocysteine, MMA and holo-TC-II levels. There were 6% decline in vitamin B12 levels and 10.9% increase in homocysteine levels, 5.4% decrease was detected in holo-TC-II level. CONCLUSION: Although no significant changes in the serum vitamin B12, homocysteine, MMA or holo-TC-II levels with metformin therapy were detected, long-term prospective studies with high-dose metformin treatment in pediatric population are needed to confirm our results.

Expanding the Phenotype of TRMT10A Mutations: Case Report and a Review of the Existing Cases

The tRNA methyltransferase 10 homologue A (TRMT10A) gene encodes tRNA methyl transferase, and biallelic loss of function mutations cause a recessive syndrome of intellectual disability, microcephaly, short stature and diabetes. A case with intellectual disability and distinctive features including microcephaly was admitted. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at 2.5 years old. At 3.6 years of age, severe short stature related to growth hormone (GH) deficiency was detected. She had an incidental diagnosis of diabetes at age 11.4 years which was negative for diabetes antibodies with persistent C-peptide level and she was treated with metformin. Spontaneous puberty did not begin until 15.7 years of age and she was found to have primary ovarian failure. A homozygous p.Arg127* mutation in TRMT10A was detected. In addition to the typical clinical features which characterize TRMT10A syndrome, we observed an unusual form of impaired glucose metabolism which presented in early childhood with hypoglycemia followed by diabetes in late childhood. GH deficiency and primary ovarian failure may also be additional findings of this syndrome. Patients with slow onset diabetes who are negative for auto-antibodies and have extra-pancreatic features should be tested for all known subtypes of monogenic diabetes.

Long-term follow-up of transient neonatal diabetes mellitus due to a novel homozygous c.7734C>T (p.R228C) mutation in ZFP57 gene: relapse at prepubertal age.

OBJECTIVES: Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a rare form of monogenic diabetes present within the first six months of life. NDM can be transient (TNdM) or permanent (PNDM). About 70% of TNDM cases have abnormalities in the imprinted region of chromosome 6q24. In TNDM, diabetes remits at infancy whilst may relapse later in life. Chromosome 6q24 related TNDM usually relapses at the pubertal period, while in some cases, relapse occurs earlier. It has been reported that these cases can respond to sulfonylurea treatment, while more evidence and experience are needed. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we reported relapse of diabetes at prepubertal age and its response to sulphonylurea therapy in a case with TNDM due to a homozygous c.7734C>T (p.R228C) variant in the ZFP57 gene. CONCLUSIONS: A response to the sulphonylurea monotherapy seems not optimal for relapsed TNDM due to chromosome 6q24 abnormalities.

Central Precocious Puberty in an Infant with Sotos Syndrome and Response to Treatment

Sotos syndrome (SS) is characterized by overgrowth, distinctive facial appearance, and learning disability. It is caused by heterozygous mutations, including deletions of NSD1 located at chromosome 5q35. While advanced bone age can occur in some cases, precocious puberty (PP) has only been reported in three cases previously. Here, we reported a case of SS diagnosed in the infancy period with central PP. The discovery of potential factors that trigger puberty is one of the central mysteries of pubertal biology. Depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs constitute the first-line therapy in central PP (CPP), which has proven to be both effective and safe. In our cases, leuprolide acetate at maximum dose was not successful in controlling pubertal progression, and cyproterone acetate (CPA) was added to therapy, with successful control of pubertal progression. In some specific syndromes with PP, such as SS, treatment can be challenging. CPA may be an asset for effective treatment.

Hyperprolactinemia in children and adolescents and longterm follow-up results of prolactinoma cases: a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Hyperprolactinaemia refers to increased circulating prolactin and is divided into functional and pathological hyperprolactinaemia. Prolactinoma is the most common cause of severe hyperprolactinaemia. Prolactinomas are rare in children. Treatment outcomes and long-term follow-up data in children are insufficient. Dopamine agonists are the first step in the treatment of prolactinomas. There are no recommendations supported by a high level of evidence regarding the dose and duration of cabergoline treatment. METHODS: Patients with hyperprolactinaemia were evaluated for etiological, clinical, and follow-up characteristics. The case files of patients with high prolactin levels who were followed up in our clinic between 2001 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: 27 cases (20 female, 7 male) with hyperprolactinemia were detected. The median age of the cases was 15 years (0.3-17.4). Prolactinoma was detected in 40.7% of the cases (n=11). Among these cases, six were macroadenomas. The median prolactin level was 118 ng/mL (34-4340) in those with prolactinoma and 60 ng/mL (22-200) in the hyperprolactinaemia group (p=0.007). In the prolactinoma group, the median age at presentation in macroadenoma cases (13.8 years) was lower than in microadenoma cases (17 years) (p=0.06). There was a negative correlation between prolactin level and height SDS (r=-0.770, p=0.06). In all cases, the median initial cabergoline dose was 0.5 mg/week, and prolactin levels returned to normal within an average of 2.6±2.4 months. Cabergoline treatment achieved a 50% reduction in adenoma size in the first year of treatment without high doses. CONCLUSIONS: Prolactinoma consists of an important group among hyperplolactinemia in children. In our study, prolactinoma was detected in 40.7% of children with hyperplolactinemia, and children with prolonged use (over 4 years) tolerated cabergoline well and prolactin levels normalized without high doses. Follow-up is required for relapse after discontinuing the treatment.

Transient benign hyperphosphatasemia due to COVID-19: the first case report.

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide in a few months and was declared as a worldwide pandemic by WHO in March 2020. Transient benign hyperphosphatasemia (THI) is a benign condition associated with marked elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) without any other kidney, bone, and liver pathologies. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a previously healthy 16-month-old female patient who developed a secondary transient benign hyperphosphatasemia associated with SARS-CoV-2. Patient whole family's SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were positive. Since THI is a diagnosis of exclusion, other reasons that may cause ALP elevation should be ruled out. ALP activity decreased and turned to normal ranges within the following month. THI has been reported to be in association with various conditions. Its relationship with many viruses has been reported previously. CONCLUSIONS: If ALP elevation is detected in patients with COVID 19 due to the increasing number of infections, THI should be considered if there is no other accompanying pathology.

Corneal biomechanical properties in children with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose. To compare the biomechanical properties of corneas in eyes of children with diabetes mellitus and in eyes of children without diabetes mellitus.
Methods. In this prospective, comparative, and cross-sectional study, 46 patients with diabetes mellitus (study group) and 50 healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled. The corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were measured in children with and without diabetes using the Ocular Response Analyzer. Differences in the corneal biomechanical properties were determined using an independent-samples t test. Correlations between ocular and diabetic parameters were also evaluated.
Results. Mean CH was 12.3±1.3 (SD) mmHg and 12.5±1.5 mmHg and the mean CRF was 12.4±1.7 mmHg and 11.9±1.5 mmHg in the diabetic and control groups, respectively (p>0.05). Corneal hysteresis and CRF were not correlated with fasting glucose level, HbA1c, age, or duration of diabetes.
Conclusions. The findings indicate that diabetes mellitus does not affect corneal biomechanical parameters such as CH and CRF in children. In addition, CH and CRF are not affected by fasting glucose level, HbA1c, age, or duration of diabetes.