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Background@#and Purpose The onset of Huntington’s disease (HD) usually occurs before the age of 50 years, and the median survival time from onset is 15 years. We investigated survival in patients with late-onset HD (LoHD) (age at onset ≥60 years) and the associations of the number of mutant CAG repeats and age at onset (AAO) with survival in patients with HD. @*Methods@#Patients with genetically confirmed HD at six referral centers in South Korea between 2000 and 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Baseline demographic, clinical, and genetic characteristics and the survival status as at December 2020 were collected. @*Results@#Eighty-seven patients were included, comprising 26 with LoHD (AAO=68.77±5.91 years, mean±standard deviation; 40.54±1.53 mutant CAG repeats) and 61 with common-onset HD (CoHD) (AAO=44.12±8.61 years, 44.72±4.27 mutant CAG repeats). The ages at death were 77.78±7.46 and 53.72±10.86 years in patients with LoHD and CoHD, respectively (p< 0.001). The estimated survival time was 15.21±2.49 years for all HD patients, and 10.74±1.95 and 16.15±2.82 years in patients with LoHD and CoHD, respectively. More mutant CAG repeats and higher AAO were associated with shorter survival (hazard ratio [HR]=1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01–1.09, p=0.019; and HR=1.17, 95% CI=1.03–1.31, p=0.013; respectively) for all HD patients. The LoHD group showed no significant factors associated with survival after disease onset, whereas the number of mutant CAG repeats had a significant effect (HR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01–1.23, pp=0.034) in the CoHD group. @*Conclusions@#Survival after disease onset was shorter in patients with LoHD than in those with CoHD. More mutant CAG repeats and higher AAO were associated with shorter survival in patients with HD.
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Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomally recessive disorders that result from impaired synthesis of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid. Most cases (~95%) are caused by mutations in the CYP21A2 gene, which encodes steroid 21-hydroxylase. CAH patients manifest a wide phenotypic spectrum according to their degree of residual enzyme activity. CYP21A2 and its pseudogene (CYP21A1P) are located 30 kb apart in the 6q21.3 region and share approximately 98% of their sequences in the coding region. Both genes are aligned in tandem with the C4, SKT19, and TNX genes, forming 2 segments of the RCCX modules that are arranged as STK19-C4A-CYP21A1P-TNXA-STK19B-C4B-CYP21A2-TNXB. The high sequence homology between the active gene and pseudogene leads to frequent microconversions and large rearrangements through intergenic recombination. The TNXB gene encodes an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, tenascin-X (TNX), and defects in TNXB cause Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Deletions affecting both CYP21A2 and TNXB result in a contiguous gene deletion syndrome known as CAH-X syndrome. Because of the high homology between CYP21A2 and CYP21A1P, genetic testing for CAH should include an evaluation of copy number variations, as well as Sanger sequencing. Although it poses challenges for genetic testing, a large number of mutations and their associated phenotypes have been identified, which has helped to establish genotype-phenotype correlations. The genotype is helpful for guiding early treatment, predicting the clinical phenotype and prognosis, and providing genetic counseling. In particular, it can help ensure proper management of the potential complications of CAH-X syndrome, such as musculoskeletal and cardiac defects. This review focuses on the molecular pathophysiology and genetic diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficiency and highlights genetic testing strategies for CAH-X syndrome.
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Purpose@#Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder caused by unresponsiveness to androgens because of mutations in the AR gene. Here, we investigated the clinical outcomes and molecular spectrum of AR variants in patients with AIS attending a single academic center. @*Methods@#This study included 19 patients with AIS who were confirmed by molecular analysis of AR. Clinical features and endocrinological findings were retrospectively collected, including presenting features, external genitalia, sex of rearing, timing of gonadectomy, pubertal outcomes, and sex hormone levels. Molecular analysis of AR was performed using Sanger, targeted gene panel, or whole-exome sequencing. @*Results@#Among all 19 patients, 14 (74%) were classified as having complete AIS (CAIS), whereas 5 (26%) had partial AIS (PAIS). All patients with CAIS, and 3 patients with PAIS were reared as female. One patient with CAIS manifested a mixed germ cell tumor at the age of 30 years. Molecular analysis of AR identified 19 sequence variants; 12 (63%) were previously reported, and the remaining 7 (37%) were novel. Missense mutations were the most common type (12 of 19, 63%), followed by small deletions, nonsense mutations, an insertion, and a splice site mutation. @*Conclusion@#Here, we describe the clinical outcomes and molecular characteristics of 19 Korean patients with AIS. Patients with PAIS manifested various degrees of masculinization of the external genitalia. Nonsense and frameshift mutations were frequent in patients with CAIS, whereas patients with PAIS harbored exclusively missense mutations.
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Lesch–Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (HPRT1) gene. This syndrome is characterized by excessive production of uric acid, mental retardation, self-mutilation, choreoathetosis, and spasticity. The most distinctive symptom is compulsive self-mutilation. For patients with LNS, different methods have been tried to reduce self-biting behaviors including restraints, behavioral treatment, medications, deep brain stimulation, tooth extraction and botulinum toxin A injection. In this report, we present a case of LNS undergoing cheiloplasty due to self-mutilation and tooth extraction of the left deciduous maxillary canine.
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Purpose@#Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare bone fragility disorder caused by defects in type 1 collagen biosynthesis. This study investigated the genotype-phenotype correlations and the efficacy of pamidronate therapy in patients with OI in a single academic center. @*Methods@#This study included 24 patients with OI. A clinical scoring system was used to evaluate disorder severity. COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes were analyzed in 13 patients using Sanger sequencing. Genotype-phenotype correlations and the efficacy of pamidronate therapy were analyzed through a retrospective medical chart review. @*Results@#Of the 24 patients, 18 (75%) were classified as type I (12 with type Ia and 6 with type Ib), 2 as type III (8.4%), and 4 as type IV (16.7%). Type Ia patients showed relatively higher lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) standard deviation scores (SDS) and lower clinical scores than those with other types. Seven patients with qualitative mutations had lower lumbar BMD-SDS (P=0.015) and higher clinical scores (P=0.008) than 6 patients with quantitative mutations. The annual fracture frequency and lumbar BMD-SDS improved in patients with qualitative mutations after pamidronate treatment. @*Conclusion@#This study demonstrated that OI patients with qualitative mutations in COL1A1/2 had a more severe phenotype than those with quantitative mutations. Patients with qualitative mutations showed a significant reduction in fracture frequency and an increase in lumbar BMD-SDS after pamidronate treatment. Clinical score and genotype might be helpful for predicting phenotype and response to pamidronate therapy in OI patients.
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Purpose@#Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the POR gene encoding an electron donor for all microsomal P450 enzymes. It is characterized by adrenal insufficiency, ambiguous genitalia, maternal virilization during pregnancy, and skeletal dysplasia. In this study, we investigated the clinical, hormonal, and molecular characteristics of patients with POR deficiency in Korea. @*Methods@#This study included four patients with POR deficiency confirmed by biochemical and molecular analysis of POR. Clinical and biochemical findings were reviewed retrospectively. Mutation analysis of POR was performed by Sanger sequencing after polymerase chain reaction amplification of all coding exons and the exon-intron boundaries. @*Results@#All patients presented with adrenal insufficiency and ambiguous genitalia regardless of their genetic sex. Two patients harbored homozygous p.R457H mutations in POR and presented with adrenal insufficiency and genital ambiguity without skeletal phenotypes. The other two patients with compound heterozygous mutations of c.[1329_1330insC];[1370G>A] (p.[I444Hfs*6];[R457H]) manifested skeletal abnormalities, such as craniosynostosis and radiohumeral synostosis, suggesting Antley-Bixler syndrome. They also had multiple congenital anomalies involving heart, kidney, and hearing ability. All patients were treated with physiologic doses of oral hydrocortisone. @*Conclusion@#We report the cases of 4 patients with POR deficiency identified by mutation analysis of POR. Although the study involved a small number of patients, the POR p.R457H mutation was the most common, suggesting founder effect in Korea. POR deficiency is rare and can be misdiagnosed as 21-hydroxylase or 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency. Therefore, molecular analysis is critical for confirmatory diagnosis.
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We report a case of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Jacobsen syndrome (JBS) due to 11pter trisomy and 11qter monosomy caused by paternal inv(11)(p15.1q24.2). The patient was born premature and had a variety of clinical features including characteristic facial dysmorphism, cardiac abnormalities, and thrombocytopenia. The karyotype was described as 46,XX,rec(11)dup(11p)inv(11)(p15.1q24.2)pat and methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis showed duplication of the 11p15.5 region and hypermethylation of imprinting center 1. Chromosomal microarray analysis demonstrated 23.8 Mb duplication on 11pter-p14.3 and 13.8 Mb deletion on 11q23.3-qter. These results were consistent with BWS and JBS, respectively. Because uniparental disomy inherited from paternal pericentric inversion results in simultaneous 11p15.5 duplication and 11q23.3 deletion, appropriate genetic tests are necessary for accurate genetic diagnosis of patients.
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BACKGROUND: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive liver diseases that present as neonatal cholestasis. Little is known of this disease in Korea. METHODS: The records of five patients histologically diagnosed with PFIC, one with PFIC1 and four with PFIC2, by liver biopsy or transplant were reviewed, and ATP8B1 and ABCB11 mutation status was analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. Clinicopathological characteristics were correlated with genetic mutations. RESULTS: The first symptom in all patients was jaundice. Histologically, lobular cholestasis with bile plugs was the main finding in all patients, whereas diffuse or periportal cholestasis was identified only in patients with PFIC2. Giant cells and ballooning of hepatocytes were observed in three and three patients with PFIC2, respectively, but not in the patient with PFIC1. Immunostaining showed total loss of bile salt export pump in two patients with PFIC2 and focal loss in two. Lobular and portal based fibrosis were more advanced in PFIC2 than in PFIC1. ATP8B1 and ABCB11 mutations were identified in one PFIC1 and two PFIC2 patients, respectively. One PFIC1 and three PFIC2 patients underwent liver transplantation (LT). At age 7 months, one PFIC2 patient was diagnosed with concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and infantile hemangioma in an explanted liver. The patient with PFIC1 developed steatohepatitis after LT. One patient showed recurrence of PFIC2 after 10 years and underwent LT. CONCLUSIONS: PFIC is not rare in patients with neonatal cholestasis of unknown origin. Proper clinicopathologic correlation and genetic testing can enable early detection and management.
Subject(s)
Humans , Bile , Biopsy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Cholestasis , Cholestasis, Intrahepatic , Fatty Liver , Fibrosis , Genetic Testing , Giant Cells , Hemangioma , Hepatocytes , Jaundice , Korea , Liver , Liver Diseases , Liver Transplantation , Recurrence , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) VIII is an autosomal dominant inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by intractable periodontal inflammation, absence of gingiva, pretibial plaques, skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and tissue fragility with onset in the childhood or adolescence. In a recent report, heterozygous variants of the C1R or C1S related to the classical complement pathway were identified in families with history of EDS VIII. The current report describes a Korean 34-year-old female carrying a novel missense variant of C1R c.925T>G (p.Cys309Gly) and exhibiting early severe periodontitis, skin fragility, and joint hypermobility. The patient also had frontal, parietal, and temporal white matter brain lesions without definite vascular abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging, which have not been surveyed meticulously in EDS VIII. Considering the genetic alteration of classic complement pathways in this condition, it is necessary to carefully observe multisystemic inflammation processes such as changes in brain white matter.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Brain , Complement C1r , Complement Pathway, Classical , Complement System Proteins , Connective Tissue , Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome , Gingiva , Inflammation , Joint Instability , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Periodontitis , Rabeprazole , Skin , White MatterABSTRACT
Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder. HHH is caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial ornithine transporter protein, which is encoded by the solute carrier family 25, member 15 (SLC25A15) gene. Recently, government supported Korean newborn screening has been expanded to include a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurement of ornithine level. We report a case of a neonate with HHH syndrome showing a normal MS/MS measurement of ornithine level. A female newborn was admitted to neonatal intensive unit due to familial history of HHH syndrome. Her parents were consanguineous Parkistani couple. The subject's older sister was diagnosed with HHH syndrome at age of 30 months based on altered mental status and liver dysfunction. Even though the subject displayed normal ammonia and ornithine levels based on MS/MS analysis, a molecular test confirmed the diagnosis of HHH syndrome. At 1 month of age, amino acid analysis of blood and urine showed high levels of ornithine and homocitrulline. After 11 months of follow up, she showed normal growth and development, whereas affected sister showed progressive cognitive impairment despite no further hyperammonemia after protein restriction and standard therapy. Our report is in agreement with a previous Canadian study, which showed that neonatal samples from HHH syndrome patients demonstrate normal ornithine levels despite having known mutations. Considering the delayed rise of ornithine in affected patients, genetic testing, and repetitive metabolic testing is needed to prevent patient loss in high risk patients.
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PURPOSE@#Potocki–Lupski syndrome (PTLS), is a recently identified, rare genomic disorder. The patients are affected by infantile hypotonia, poor growth and developmental delay. Facial dysmorphism may not be obvious in some patients. PTLS is associated with microduplication at chromosome 17p11.2. In the current study, three Korean patients are reported with their clinical and genetic features.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#The clinical findings of each patient were reviewed. Karyotyping and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analyses were done for genetic diagnoses.@*RESULTS@#All the patients did not have the characteristic dysmorphic features, such as broad forehead, triangular face, asymmetric smile and palpebral fissures. On the other hand, all three patients were affected by variable degree of developmental delay, poor oral intake, failure to thrive, and language development disorders. Chromosome 17p11.2 duplication was identified by conventional karyotyping analysis only in one patient, whereas the other confirmed by MLPA analyses.@*CONCLUSION@#Delayed development was mostly commonly observed in our patients without distinct dysmorphic facial features. In this respect, genomic screening in patients with developmental delay would identify more cases with PTLS to understand their long-term clinical courses with the development of adequate psychological and rehabilitation education program.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS@#Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that is characterized by skin fibrofolliculomas, pulmonary cysts, and renal tumors. The objective of this study was to describe the features of Korean patients with BHD syndrome.@*METHODS@#Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed in 12 patients (10 confirmed by direct sequencing of the folliculin (FLCN) gene and two confirmed by clinical diagnosis) diagnosed from 2004 to 2016 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. Criteria proposed by the European BHD consortium were used for diagnosis.@*RESULTS@#The median follow-up was 52 months. The mean age was 41.3 years and 66.7% were female. Eight patients (66.7%) had a history of pneumothorax, which was recurrent in 75%. Skin lesions were detected in 25.0% and renal cancer in 25.0%. Among mutations of the FLCN gene, the duplication of cytosine in the C8 tract of exon 11 (c.1285dupC) was the most common (40%); however, a novel heterozygous sequence variant of c.31T>C (p.C11R) in exon 4 was detected in one patient. All patients had multiple and bilateral pulmonary cysts, distributed in predominantly lower, peripheral and subpleural regions of the lungs. Most patients showed preserved lung function that remained unchanged during follow-up, and two (16.7%) developed cancers (renal cancer in one and breast cancer in one).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our data suggest that Korean patients with BHD syndrome may have a higher risk of pneumothorax, less frequent skin lesions, and a novel FLCN mutation compared to previous reports. Multiple bilateral and basal-predominant cysts were the most common radiologic features.
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WAGR (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation) syndrome is a rare contiguous gene deletion syndrome caused by deleting genes including WT1 and PAX6 genes in 11p13 region, which is characterized by Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary abnormalities, and intellectual disability. We report the clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of one Korean patient with WAGR syndrome. The patient shows bilateral sporadic aniridia and genital anomalies at 2 months of age. A heterozygous 14.5 Mb interstitial deletion of 11p14.3p12 region was detected by array comparative genomic hybridization. At 2 years and 10 months of age, Wilms tumor is found through regularly abdominal ultrasonography and treated by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.
Subject(s)
Humans , Aniridia , Comparative Genomic Hybridization , Cytogenetics , Drug Therapy , Gene Deletion , Intellectual Disability , Ultrasonography , Urogenital Abnormalities , WAGR Syndrome , Wilms TumorABSTRACT
Langer-Giedion syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder that is caused by the deletion on chromosome 8q24.1, encompassing the TRPS1 and EXT1 genes. We describe a 5-month-old female patient who was admitted to our hospital with clinodactyly and weakness in both thumbs. The patient's karyotype was 46,XX,der(4)t(4;19)(q27;q11),der(8)t(4;8)(q27;q22.3),der(19)t(8;19)(q22.3;q11)del(8)(q23q24.1). Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis showed that the patient had a heterozygous deletion, rsa 8q24(P064)x1 and rsa 8q24(P245)x1. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis further revealed three interstitial deletions spanning a total of 13.7 Mb at 8q23.1–q24.13. Based on clinical findings and confirmation by cytogenetic, MLPA, and array CGH analyses, the patient was diagnosed with sporadic Langer-Giedion syndrome with three-way translocations. This is the first case of Langer-Giedion syndrome with complex chromosomal rearrangements in Korea.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant , Comparative Genomic Hybridization , Cytogenetics , Karyotype , Korea , Langer-Giedion Syndrome , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , ThumbABSTRACT
X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is characterized by the progressive loss of visual acuity and vitreous hemorrhage. XLRS is caused by a mutation of retinoschisin 1 (RS1) gene at Xp22.13. In the current report, a 2-year-old Korean patient with XLRS was described. The germline deletion of exon 1 was identified in the RS1 gene. Considering X-linked inheritance pattern, validation of a carrier state of a patient's mother is important for the genetic counseling of other family members and for the future reproductive plan. To confirm the carrier state of his mother, the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis was done using peripheral leukocytes and found the heterozygous deletion of exon 1 in his mother.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Humans , Carrier State , Exons , Genes, X-Linked , Genetic Counseling , Leukocytes , Mothers , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Retinoschisis , Visual Acuity , Vitreous HemorrhageABSTRACT
Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is an X-linked intellectual disability caused by monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) deficiency. AHDS manifests in global developmental delay, axial hypotonia, quadriplegia, movement disorders in male patients, and most of them show the delayed or hypomyelination on brain magnetic resonance images. Typically, Triiodothyronine (T3) levels are markedly elevated, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are normal or elevated, and free thyroxine (T4) levels are normal or decreased. In AHDS patients, early neurological manifestations are easily mistaken as cerebral palsy with unknown origin. Here, we present a novel c.826G>A mutation in a boy with severe axial hypotonia, limb dystonia and developmental delay. Thyroid function test including TSH, T3, and free T4 levels was the important clue for the diagnosis of AHDS of the patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Brain , Cerebral Palsy , Diagnosis , Dystonia , Intellectual Disability , Movement Disorders , Muscle Hypotonia , Neurologic Manifestations , Quadriplegia , Thyroid Function Tests , Thyroid Gland , Thyrotropin , Thyroxine , TriiodothyronineABSTRACT
Cystinuria is an inherited disorder characterized by defective renal reabsorption of cystine and dibasic amino acids leading to nephrolithiasis. This study was conducted to analyze the genotypes and phenotypes of pediatric patients with cystinuria. Eight children from Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center presenting with cystinuria from January 2003 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Mutational studies were performed by direct sequencing. Two of the 8 were male and 6 were female. The median ages at onset and diagnosis were 1.5 (range, 0.3–13.6) and 2.6 (range, 0.7–16.7) years, respectively. The median followed up was 7.7 (range, 3.4–14.0) years. Mutational analyses were performed in 7 patients and revealed biallelic SLC3A1 mutations (AA genotype) in 4 patients, a single heterozygous SLC3A1 mutation (A- genotype) in 1 patient, biallelic SLC7A9 mutations (BB genotype) in 1 patient, and a single heterozygous SLC7A9 mutation (B- genotype) in 1 patient. Two of the mutations were novel. No genotype-phenotype correlations were observed, except for earlier onset age in patients with non-AA genotypes than in patients with the AA genotype. All patients suffered from recurrent attacks of symptomatic nephrolithiasis, which lead to urologic interventions. At the last follow-up, 3 patients had a mild-to-moderate degree of renal dysfunction. This is the first study of genotypic and phenotypic analyses of patients with cystinuria in Korea.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Age of Onset , Amino Acids, Diamino , Cystine , Cystinuria , Diagnosis , Follow-Up Studies , Genetic Association Studies , Genotype , Korea , Nephrolithiasis , Phenotype , Renal Reabsorption , Retrospective Studies , SeoulABSTRACT
Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM) is caused by mutations in the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP) channel) subunits. Developmental delay, epilepsy, and neonatal diabetes (DEND) syndrome is the most severe form of PNDM and is characterized by various neurologic features. We report on a patient with DEND syndrome following initial misdiagnosis with type 1 DM, who was successfully switched from insulin to sulfonylurea therapy. A 50-day-old male presented with fever and seizure, complicated by persistent hyperglycemia. Insulin therapy was initiated. At 10 months of age, the patient was unable to hold his head up and make eye contact with others. At 17.9 years of age, direct sequencing of KCNJ11 identified a heterozygous mutation of c.602G>A (p.R201H). Since then, treatment with gliclazide was initiated and the insulin dose was gradually reduced. Following 3 months, insulin was discontinued with a gliclazide dose of 2.4 mg/kg. The patient continued to have excellent glycemic control with a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 5.8% after 5 months. However, the patient's psychomotor retardation did not improve. This study reports the first case of DEND syndrome in Korea caused by a KCNJ11 mutation and emphasizes the necessity to screen mutations in KATP channel genes in patients with neonatal diabetes.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Diabetes Mellitus , Diagnostic Errors , Epilepsy , Fever , Gliclazide , Head , Glycated Hemoglobin , Hyperglycemia , Insulin , Korea , Potassium Channels , SeizuresABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Congenital hypopituitarism is caused by mutations in pituitary transcription factors involved in the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Mutation frequencies of genes involved in congenital hypopituitarism are extremely low and vary substantially between ethnicities. This study was undertaken to compare the clinical, endocrinological, and radiological features of patients with an isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 27 patients with sporadic IGHD and CPHD. A mutation analysis of the POU1F1, PROP1, LHX3, LHX4, and HESX1 genes was performed using genomic DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes. RESULTS: IGHD and CPHD were observed in 4 and 23 patients, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was 8.28±7.25 years for IGHD and 13.48±10.46 years for CPHD (p=0.37). Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and peak growth hormone (GH) levels following GH stimulation tests were significantly lower in patients with CPHD than in those with IGHD (p<0.05). Sellar MRI findings revealed structural abnormalities in 3 patients with IGHD (75%) and 21 patients with CPHD (91.3%) (p=0.62). A mutation analysis identified homozygous p.R109Q mutations in HESX1 in a patient with CPHD. Patients with CPHD had more severe GHD than those with IGHD. CONCLUSION: The frequency of defects in the genes encoding pituitary transcription factors was extremely low in Korean patients with congenital hypopituitarism. Environmental factors and the impact of other causative genes may contribute to this clinical phenotype.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diagnosis , DNA , Dwarfism, Pituitary , Growth Hormone , Hypopituitarism , Korea , Leukocytes , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Mutation Rate , Phenotype , Transcription FactorsABSTRACT
Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD, respectively) are X-linked neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and severe skeletal muscle degeneration. BMD is a milder form with a later onset. Patients with BMD tend to survive much longer than those with DMD. The differentiation between DMD and BMD is important in the genetic counseling of affected patients and their families. Since muscle biopsies are invasive procedures, the differential diagnosis of BMD and DMD is often dependent on the mutation identified in the DMD gene in affected patients. However, when a novel DMD mutation is identified, the differential diagnosis should be based on muscle biopsy findings with other clinical findings. Here we describe two Korean patients with BMD confirmed by muscle biopsy and genetic testing. Two novel exonic deletions in the DMD gene were identified.