Diagnostic journey for individuals with fibrous dysplasia / McCune albright syndrome (FD/MAS).

BACKGROUND: Reducing delayed diagnosis is a significant healthcare priority for individuals with rare diseases. Fibrous Dysplasia/ McCune Albright Syndrome (FD/MAS) is a rare bone disease caused by somatic activation mutations of NASA. FD/MAS has a broad clinical phenotype reflecting variable involvement of bone, endocrine and other tissues, distribution and severity. The variable phenotype is likely to prolong the diagnostic journey for patients further. AIM: To describe the time from symptom onset to final diagnosis in individuals living with FDMAS. METHODS: We used the UK-based RUDY research database ( www.rudystudy.org ), where patients self-report their diagnosis of FD/MAS. Participants are invited to complete the diagnostic journey based on the EPIRARE criteria. RESULTS: 51 individuals diagnosed with FD/MAS were included in this analysis. Among them, 70% were female, and the median age was 51.0 years (IQR 34.5-57.5]. 12 (35%) individuals reported McCune Albright Syndrome, 11 (21.6%) craniofacial and 11(21.6%) for each of poly- and mono-ostotic FD and 6 (11.8%) did not know their type of FD/MAS. Pain was the commonest first symptom (58.8%), and 47.1% received another diagnosis before the diagnosis of FD/MAS. The median time to final diagnosis from the first symptom was two years with a wide IQR (1,18) and range (0-59 years). Only 12 (23.5%) of individuals were diagnosed within 12 months of their first symptoms. The type of FD/MAS was not associated with the reported time to diagnosis. Significant independent predictors of longer time to final diagnosis included older current age, younger age at first symptom and diagnosis after 2010. CONCLUSION: Individuals with FDMAS have a variable time to diagnosis that can span decades. This study highlights the need for further research on how to improve diagnostic pathways within Orthopaedic and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)/Maxillofacial services. Our data provides a baseline to assess the impact of novel NHS diagnostic networks on reducing the diagnostic odyssey.

Rare musculoskeletal diseases in adults: a research priority setting partnership with the James Lind Alliance.

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta, fibrous dysplasia/McCune-Albright syndrome and X-linked hypophosphatemia are three rare musculoskeletal diseases characterised by bone deformities, frequent fractures and pain. Little high-quality research exists on appropriate treatment and long-term management of these conditions in adults. This is further worsened by limited research funding in rare diseases and a general mismatch between the existing research priorities and those of the patients. This partnership adopted the James Lind Alliance approach to identify the top 10 research priorities for rare musculoskeletal diseases in adults through joint patient, carer and healthcare professional collaboration. RESULTS: The initial survey for question collection recruited 198 respondents, submitting a total of 988 questions. 77% of the respondents were patients with a rare musculoskeletal disease. Following out-of-scope question exclusion, repeating query grouping and scientific literature check for answers, 39 questions on treatment and long-term management remained. In the second public survey, 220 respondents, of whom 85% were patients with a rare musculoskeletal disease, their carers, relatives or friends, prioritised these uncertainties, which allowed selection of the top 25. In the last stage, patients, carers and healthcare professionals gathered for a priority setting workshop to reach a consensus on the final top 10 research priorities. These focus on the uncertainties surrounding appropriate treatment and holistic long-term disease management, highlighting several aspects indirect to abnormal bone metabolism, such as extra-skeletal symptoms, psychological care of both patients and their families and disease course through ageing. CONCLUSIONS: This James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership is the first to investigate rare bone diseases. The priorities identified here were developed jointly by patients, carers and healthcare professionals. We encourage researchers, funding bodies and other stakeholders to use these priorities in guiding future research for those affected by rare musculoskeletal disorders.

Development of Pulmonary Hypertension During Treatment with Diazoxide: A Case Series and Literature Review.

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in infancy. The mainstay of medical management for CHI is diazoxide. Diazoxide inhibits insulin release from the pancreas, but also causes smooth muscle relaxation and fluid retention so it is typically given with chlorothiazide. In July 2015, the FDA issued a drug safety communication warning that pulmonary hypertension (PH) had been reported in 11 infants being treated with diazoxide and that the PH resolved with withdrawal of diazoxide. All three of the cases in our hospital were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for hypoglycemia. All patients received thorough radiologic and laboratory evaluations related to their diagnosis of CHI. All initially improved when diazoxide was initiated. Case 1 and case 3 were discharged from the NICU on diazoxide and chlorothiazide. Case 2 developed pulmonary hypertension while still in the NICU days after an increase in diazoxide dosing. Case 1 presented to the emergency room in respiratory distress shortly after discharge from the NICU with evidence of PH and heart failure. Case 3 presented to the emergency room after 2 weeks at home due to a home blood glucose reading that was low and developed PH and heart failure while an inpatient. Discontinuation of diazoxide led to resolution of all three patients' PH within approximately one week. The experience of our hospital indicates that pulmonary hypertension may be more common than previously thought in infants taking diazoxide. It is unclear if these symptoms develop slowly over time or if there is some other, as yet undescribed, trigger for the pulmonary hypertension. Our hospital's experience adds to the body of evidence and suggests these infants may benefit from more surveillance with echocardiography.

Germline p53 mutation in a Micronesian child with adrenocortical carcinoma and subsequent osteosarcoma.

In 1990, an 18-month-old Micronesian girl was initially diagnosed with a right adrenocortical carcinoma. More than a decade later (2003), she was diagnosed with metastatic osteosarcoma with the primary in her right proximal fibula. Given this child's remarkable history of malignancy, she underwent testing for a genetic mutation that is associated with increased cancer formation. One such cancer syndrome is called Li-Fraumeni syndrome where approximately 70% of patients carry a genetic mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Patients with LFS are at risk for developing cancers of the breast, soft tissues, brain, bone, adrenal gland, and blood cells. Mutational analysis of our patient did reveal the presence of a germline mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. She was found to have a base pair change (A-->C) at nucleotide 394 resulting in a lysine to glutamine amino acid change at codon 132 (K132Q), which remarkably has never been described in association with either adrenocortical carcinoma or osteosarcoma.