High-throughput splicing assays identify missense and silent splice-disruptive POU1F1 variants underlying pituitary hormone deficiency.

Pituitary hormone deficiency occurs in ∼1:4,000 live births. Approximately 3% of the cases are due to mutations in the alpha isoform of POU1F1, a pituitary-specific transcriptional activator. We found four separate heterozygous missense variants in unrelated individuals with hypopituitarism that were predicted to affect a minor isoform, POU1F1 beta, which can act as a transcriptional repressor. These variants retain repressor activity, but they shift splicing to favor the expression of the beta isoform, resulting in dominant-negative loss of function. Using a high-throughput splicing reporter assay, we tested 1,070 single-nucleotide variants in POU1F1. We identified 96 splice-disruptive variants, including 14 synonymous variants. In separate cohorts, we found two additional synonymous variants nominated by this screen that co-segregate with hypopituitarism. This study underlines the importance of evaluating the impact of variants on splicing and provides a catalog for interpretation of variants of unknown significance in POU1F1.

Long-term outcomes and molecular analysis of a large cohort of patients with 46,XY disorder of sex development due to partial gonadal dysgenesis.

BACKGROUND: Follow-up data on patients with 46,XY partial gonadal dysgenesis (PGD) until adulthood are scarce, making information on prognosis difficult. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the long-term outcomes of patients with 46,XY PGD regarding testosterone production, germ cell tumour risk, genotype and psychosexual adaptation. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study of 33 patients (20 assigned male and 13 patients assigned female at birth). Molecular diagnosis was performed by Sanger sequencing or by targeted massively parallel sequencing of 63 genes related to disorders of sex development (DSDs). RESULTS: Age at first and last visit ranged from 0.1 to 43 and from 17 to 53 years, respectively. Spontaneous puberty was observed in 57% of the patients. During follow-up, six of them had a gonadectomy (four due to female gender, and two because of a gonadal tumour). At last evaluation, five of six patients had adult male testosterone levels (median 16.7 nmol/L, range 15.3-21.7 nmol/L) and elevated LH and FSH levels. Germ cell tumours were found in two postpubertal patients (one with an abdominal gonad and one patient with Frasier syndrome). Molecular diagnosis was possible in 11 patients (33%). NR5A1 variants were the most prevalent molecular defects (n = 6), and four of five patients harbouring them developed spontaneous puberty. Gender change was observed in four patients, two from each sex assignment group; all patients reported satisfaction with their gender at final evaluation. Sexual intercourse was reported by 81% of both gender and 82% of them reported satisfaction with their sexual lives. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous puberty was observed in 57% of the patients with 46,XY PGD, being NR5A1 defects the most prevalent ones among all the patients and in those with spontaneous puberty. Gender change due to gender dysphoria was reported by 12% of the patients. All the patients reported satisfaction with their final gender, and most of them with their sexual life.

HESX1 mutations in patients with congenital hypopituitarism: variable phenotypes with the same genotype.

INTRODUCTION: Mutations in the transcription factor HESX1 can cause isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) with or without septo-optic dysplasia (SOD). So far there is no clear genotype-phenotype correlation. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: We report four different recessive loss-of-function mutations in three unrelated families with CPHD and no midline defects or SOD. A homozygous p.R160C mutation was found by Sanger sequencing in two siblings from a consanguineous family. These patients presented with ACTH, TSH and GH deficiencies, severe anterior pituitary hypoplasia (APH) or pituitary aplasia (PA) and normal posterior pituitary. The p.R160C mutation was previously reported in a case with SOD, CPHD and ectopic posterior pituitary (EPP). Using exome sequencing, a homozygous p.I26T mutation was found in a Brazilian patient born to consanguineous parents. This patient had evolving CPHD, normal ACTH, APH and normal posterior pituitary (NPP). A previously reported patient homozygous for p.I26T had evolving CPHD and EPP. Finally, we identified compound heterozygous mutations in HESX1, p.[R159W];[R160H], in a patient with PA and CPHD. We showed that both of these mutations abrogate the ability of HESX1 to repress PROP1-mediated transcriptional activation. A patient homozygous for p.R160H was previously reported in a patient with CPHD, EPP, APH. CONCLUSION: These three examples demonstrate that HESX1 mutations cause variable clinical features in patients, which suggests an influence of modifier genes or environmental factors on the phenotype.

Quality of life of patients with 46,XX and 46,XY disorders of sex development.

Disorders of sex development (DSD) result from abnormalities in the complex process of sex determination and differentiation. An important consideration to guide the assignment of social sex in newborns with ambiguous genitalia is the quality of life (QoL) of these patients in adulthood. The rarity of most DSD conditions makes it difficult to conduct a long-term follow-up of affected patients through adulthood. This review of papers on the QoL of DSD patients evaluated in developing and developed countries by qualitative and quantitative instruments revealed a large spectrum of QoL, ranging from very poor to similar to, or even better than, the normal population. A more adequate QoL was found in patients from tertiary centres, indicating that the medical care of DSD patients should be multidisciplinary and carried out by specialized teams.

Quality of life in a large cohort of adult Brazilian patients with 46,XX and 46,XY disorders of sex development from a single tertiary centre.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have focused on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). Our aim was to evaluate QoL in DSD patients with defined diagnoses followed until adulthood in a single tertiary centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult patients with DSD (56 patients with 46,XX DSD - 49 with female social sex and 7 with male social sex as well as 88 patients with 46,XY DSD - 54 with female social sex and 34 with male social sex). MEASUREMENTS: QoL using WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. RESULTS: Both patients with 46,XX DSD and patients with 46,XY DSD had similar QoL scores on the WHOQOL-Bref, comparable to the scores of the Brazilian general population. The chronological age at the start of treatment was negatively and significantly associated with general QoL score. Patients with male social sex DSD had better scores on the psychological domain than patients with female social sex DSD, as found in the Brazilian general population. In addition, among the 46,XY DSD group, the male social sex patients had better QoL compared with the female social sex patients. There was a positive and significant correlation between sexual performance and general QoL, although it explained only 4% of the variability of the general QoL score. The most influencing variables were general health, positive feelings and spirituality, religion and personal beliefs, each of them contributing with 18% of the variability of the general QoL score. CONCLUSION: Our large cohort of adult patients with DSD, which was followed by a multidisciplinary team in a single tertiary centre, had good QoL in adulthood; in addition, late treatment compromised the QoL of patients with DSD, whereas sexual performance has little influence on QoL.

Frequent development of combined pituitary hormone deficiency in patients initially diagnosed as isolated growth hormone deficiency: a long term follow-up of patients from a single center.

BACKGROUND: Children initially diagnosed with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) have a variable rate to progress to combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) during follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the development of CPHD in a group of childhood-onset IGHD followed at a single tertiary center over a long period of time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 83 patients initially diagnosed as IGHD with a mean follow-up of 15.2 years. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the temporal progression and to identify risk factors to development of CPHD over time. RESULTS: From 83 patients initially with IGHD, 37 (45%) developed CPHD after a median time of follow up of 5.4 years (range from 1.2 to 21 years). LH and FSH deficiencies were the most common pituitary hormone (38%) deficiencies developed followed by TSH (31%), ACTH (12%) and ADH deficiency (5%). ADH deficiency (3.1 ± 1 years from GHD diagnosis) presented earlier and ACTH deficiency (9.3 ± 3.5 years) presented later during follow up compared to LH/FSH (8.3 ± 4 years) and TSH (7.5 ± 5.6 years) deficiencies. In a Cox regression model, pituitary stalk abnormalities was the strongest risk factor for the development of CPHD (hazard ratio of 3.28; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated a high frequency of development of CPHD in patients initially diagnosed as IGHD at childhood. Half of our patients with IGHD developed the second hormone deficiency after 5 years of diagnosis, reinforcing the need for lifelong monitoring of pituitary function in these patients.

Pathogenic mutations in GLI2 cause a specific phenotype that is distinct from holoprosencephaly.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in GLI2 have been associated with holoprosencephaly (HPE), a neuroanatomic anomaly resulting from incomplete cleavage of the developing forebrain, and an HPE-like phenotype involving pituitary anomalies and polydactyly. OBJECTIVE: To characterise the genotypic and phenotypic findings in individuals with GLI2 variants and clarify clinical findings in individuals with loss-of-function mutations. METHODS: Through the National Institutes of Health and collaborating centres, ∼400 individuals with HPE spectrum disorders, endocrine disorders or craniofacial anomalies were screened for GLI2 mutations. Results were combined with all published cases. We compared the clinical and molecular features of individuals with truncating mutations to individuals with variants of unknown significance (defined as not resulting in protein truncation, reported in normal controls and/or deemed unlikely to be pathogenic by functional prediction software). RESULTS: 112 individuals with variants in GLI2 were identified, with 43 having truncating mutations. Individuals with truncating mutations were more likely to have both pituitary anomalies and polydactyly versus those with variants of unknown significance (p<0.0001 by Fisher's exact test); only 1 of 43 had frank HPE. These individuals were more likely to have recognised penetrance (polydactyly or pituitary anomalies or both) than those without truncating mutations (p=0.0036 by Fisher's exact test). A common facial phenotype was seen in individuals (with midface hypoplasia, cleft lip/palate and hypotelorism) with truncating mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with truncating mutations in GLI2 typically present with pituitary anomalies, polydactyly and subtle facial features rather than HPE. This will be helpful in screening populations for GLI2 mutations and for counselling affected patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 98-HG-0249/04-HG-0093.

The E180splice mutation in the GHR gene causing Laron syndrome: witness of a Sephardic Jewish exodus from the Iberian Peninsula to the New World?

Laron syndrome (LS) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene. The most frequent GHR mutation is E180splice (rs121909360), which was initially found in an inbred population of Spanish descent in Ecuador and subsequently in Israel, Brazil, Chile, and the United States. The aim of the present study is to determine if the E180splice mutation arose from a common origin. We studied 22 patients with LS from Ecuador, Israel (of Moroccan origin), Brazil, Chile, and the United States (of Mexican origin) who were homozygous for the E180splice mutation and compared them to control individuals for markers surrounding the GHR, intragenic polymorphisms, and Y-chromosome STR. An identical haplotype was found in all but one of the subjects carrying the E180splice mutation: D5S665: 150/150; D5S2082: 192/192; D5S2087: 246/246; rs6179 G/G; and rs6180 C/C. One patient differed from the others only at D5S2082 (168/192). This haplotype is rare (~1%) in control individuals and confirmed that the E180splice-associated haplotype was not derived from independent origins but represented recombination from a common ancestor. The analysis of paternal lineage markers showed that 50% belong to haplogroup R1b (found in Portugal and Spain) and 40% to haplogroups J and E (typical in the Middle East and in Eastern European Jews). The germline E180Splice mutation appears to have originated from a single common ancestor. The presence of Y-chromosome markers associated with Sephardic populations in persons harboring the E180splice mutation provides genetic evidence in support of the historical tracking of the exodus of this specific population.

Relatively high frequency of non-synonymous GLI2 variants in patients with congenital hypopituitarism without holoprosencephaly.

OBJECTIVE: GLI2 is a downstream transcription factor in Sonic Hedgehog signalling, acting early in ventral forebrain and pituitary development. Heterozygous nonsense GLI2 mutations have been reported in patients with isolated or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD), with or without holoprosencephaly. The aim of this study was to screen for GLI2 mutations in a large cohort of patients with congenital GH deficiency. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The GLI2 coding region of 41 patients with severe isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) and 136 patients with CPHD was amplified by PCR using intronic primers and sequenced. The frequency of GLI2 variants was verified in up to 155 Brazilian controls and in the 1000 Genomes database. The consequences of allelic variants were analysed by the Polyphen, SIFT, Mutationtaster and SNAP prediction sites. RESULTS: Eighteen different heterozygous non-synonymous GLI2 variants were identified in 24 patients. Twenty-three patients had CPHD and one had IGHD. Two patients had additional diabetes insipidus, indicating deficiencies of anterior and posterior pituitary lobes. The posterior pituitary lobe on MRI was ectopic in 16, not visible in 4, normally placed in 2 and imaging was not available in two patients, but there were no signs of holoprosencephaly. Sixteen GLI2 variants were considered deleterious in at least one of the prediction sites. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively high frequency of non-synonymous GLI2 variants was identified in patients with congenital GH deficiency without other brain defects, and most of these patients presented with CPHD and an ectopic posterior pituitary lobe. In vitro functional assays may contribute to ascertain the deleterious consequences of these variants.

Analysis of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor gene in children born small for gestational age: in vitro characterization of a novel mutation (p.Arg511Trp).

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor 1 insensitivity caused by IGF1R mutations has been previously identified as one of the causes of growth impairment in children born small for gestational age (SGA). OBJECTIVE: To analyse the IGF1R in children born SGA. SUBJECTS: From an initial cohort of 54 sequential children born SGA, without catch-up growth, 25 children were selected for this IGF1R study due to the presence of serum IGF-1 values above the mean for their age and sex. METHODS: The proximal IGF1R promoter region, the entire coding region and the exon-intron boundaries were directly sequenced, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis was performed. Fibroblast cultures were developed from one patient with a mutation for the in vitro characterization of IGF-1 insensitivity. RESULTS: The copy number variation analysis did not identify deletions involving the IGF1R gene. We identified two children carrying heterozygous nucleotide substitutions in IGF1R: c.16G>A/p.Gly6Arg and c.1531C>T/p.Arg511Trp. The first variant (p.Gly6Arg) was identified in control subjects (0·3%) and in a relative with normal growth; thus, it was considered to be a rare benign allelic variation. The second variant (p.Arg511Trp) was not found in 306 alleles from control subjects, and it segregated with the growth impairment phenotype in the patient's family. Fibroblasts obtained from this patient had a significantly reduced proliferative response and AKT phosphorylation after IGF-1 stimulation compared with control fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: The identification of an inactivating IGF1R mutation in the present cohort should encourage further studies of larger series to establish the precise frequency of this molecular defect in children with growth impairment of a prenatal onset.

Identification of a second genetic alteration in patients with SHOX deficiency individuals: a potential explanation for phenotype variability.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to assess the impact of genetic modifiers on the significant variation in phenotype that is observed in individuals with SHOX deficiency, which is the most prevalent monogenic cause of short stature. DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a genetic analysis in 98 individuals from 48 families with SHOX deficiency with a target panel designed to capture the entire SHOX genomic region and 114 other genes that modulate growth and/or SHOX action. We prioritized rare potentially deleterious variants. RESULTS: We did not identify potential deleterious variants in the promoter or intronic regions of the SHOX genomic locus. In contrast, we found eight heterozygous variants in 11 individuals from nine families in genes with a potential role as genetic modifiers. In addition to a previously described likely pathogenic (LP) variant in CYP26C1 observed in two families, we identified LP variants in PTHLH and ACAN, and variants of uncertain significance in NPR2, RUNX2, and TP53 in more affected individuals from families with SHOX deficiency. Families with a SHOX alteration restricted to the regulatory region had a higher prevalence of a second likely pathogenic variant (27%) than families with an alteration compromising the SHOX coding region (2.9%, P = .04). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, variants in genes related to the growth plate have a potential role as genetic modifiers of the phenotype in individuals with SHOX deficiency. In individuals with SHOX alterations restricted to the regulatory region, a second alteration could be critical to determine the penetrance and expression of the phenotype.

Homozygous CDH2 variant may be associated with hypopituitarism without neurological disorders.

Context: Congenital hypopituitarism is a genetically heterogeneous condition. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a promising approach for molecular diagnosis of patients with this condition. Objectives: The aim of this study is to conduct WES in a patient with congenital hypopituitarism born to consanguineous parents, CDH2 screening in a cohort of patients with congenital hypopituitarism, and functional testing of a novel CDH2 variant. Design: Genomic DNA from a proband and her consanguineous parents was analyzed by WES. Copy number variants were evaluated. The genetic variants were filtered for population frequency (ExAC, 1000 genomes, gnomAD, and ABraOM), in silico prediction of pathogenicity, and gene expression in the pituitary and/or hypothalamus. Genomic DNA from 145 patients was screened for CDH2 by Sanger sequencing. Results: One female patient with deficiencies in growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone and ectopic posterior pituitary gland contained a rare homozygous c.865G>A (p.Val289Ile) variant in CDH2. To determine whether the p.Val289Ile variant in CDH2 affects cell adhesion properties, we stably transfected L1 fibroblast lines, labeled the cells with lipophilic dyes, and quantified aggregation. Large aggregates formed in cells expressing wildtype CDH2, but aggregation was impaired in cells transfected with variant CDH2 or non-transfected. Conclusion: A homozygous CDH2 allelic variant was found in one hypopituitarism patient, and the variant impaired cell aggregation function in vitro. No disease-causing variants were found in 145 other patients screened for CDH2 variants. Thus, CDH2 is a candidate gene for hypopituitarism that needs to be tested in different populations. Significance statement: A female patient with hypopituitarism was born from consanguineous parents and had a homozygous, likely pathogenic, CDH2 variant that impairs cell aggregation in vitro. No other likely pathogenic variants in CDH2 were identified in 145 hypopituitarism patients.

Growth standards of patients with Noonan and Noonan-like syndromes with mutations in the RAS/MAPK pathway.

Noonan syndrome (NS) and Noonan-like syndromes (NLS) are autosomal dominant disorders caused by heterozygous mutations in genes of the RAS/MAPK pathway. The aim of the study was to construct specific growth charts for patients with NS and NLS. Anthropometric measurements (mean of 4.3 measurements per patient) were obtained in a mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal mode from 127 NS and 10 NLS patients with mutations identified in PTPN11 (n = 90), SOS1 (n = 14), RAF1 (n = 10), KRAS (n = 8), BRAF (n = 11), and SHOC2 (n = 4) genes. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) references were constructed using the lambda, mu, sigma (LMS) method. Patients had birth weight and length within normal ranges for gestational age although a higher preterm frequency (16%) was observed. Mean final heights were 157.4 cm [-2.4 standard deviation score (SDS)] and 148.4 cm (-2.2 SDS) for adult males and females, respectively. BMI SDS was lower when compared to Brazilian standards (BMI SDS of -0.9 and -0.5 SDS for males and females, respectively). Patients harboring mutations in RAF1 and SHOC2 gene were shorter than other genotypes, whereas patients with SOS1 and BRAF mutations had more preserved postnatal growth. In addition, patients with RAF1 and BRAF had the highest BMI whereas patients with SHOC2 and KRAS mutations had the lowest BMI. The present study established the first height, weight, and BMI reference curves for NS and NLS patients, based only on patients with a proven molecular cause. These charts can be useful for the clinical follow-up of patients with NS and NLS.

Adult Height of Patients with SHOX Haploinsufficiency with or without GH Therapy: A Real-World Single-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: Isolated SHOX haploinsufficiency is a common monogenic cause of short stature. Few studies compare untreated and rhGH-treated patients up to adult height (AH). Our study highlights a growth pattern from childhood to AH in patients with SHOX haploinsufficiency and analyzes the real-world effectiveness of rhGH alone or plus GnRH analog (GnRHa). METHODS: Forty-seven patients (18 untreated and 29 rhGH-treated) with SHOX haploinsufficiency were included in a longitudinal retrospective study. Adult height was attained in 13 untreated and 18 rhGH-treated (rhGH alone [n = 8] or plus GnRHa [n = 10]) patients. RESULTS: The untreated group decreased height SDS from baseline to AH (-0.8 [-1.1; -0.4]), with an increase in the prevalence of short stature from 31% to 77%. Conversely, the rhGH-treated group had an improvement in height SDS from baseline to AH (0.6 [0.2; 0.6]; p < 0.001), with a reduction in the prevalence of short stature (from 61% to 28%). AH in the rhGH-treated patients was 1 SD (6.3 cm) taller than in untreated ones. Regarding the use of GnRHa, the subgroups (rhGH alone or plus GnRHa) attained similar AH, despite the higher prevalence of pubertal patients and worse AH prediction at the start of rhGH treatment in patients who used combined therapy. CONCLUSION: The use of rhGH treatment improves AH in patients with SHOX haploinsufficiency, preventing the loss of height potential during puberty. In peripubertal patients, the addition of GnRHa to rhGH allows AH attainment similar to the AH of patients who start rhGH alone in the prepubertal age.

Contribution of Clinical and Genetic Approaches for Diagnosing 209 Index Cases With 46,XY Differences of Sex Development.

CONTEXT: Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technologies have emerged as a first-tier approach for diagnosing several pediatric genetic syndromes. However, MPS has not been systematically integrated into the diagnostic workflow along with clinical/biochemical data for diagnosing 46,XY differences of sex development (DSD). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the contribution of phenotypic classification either alone or in association with genetic evaluations, mainly MPS, for diagnosing a large cohort of 46,XY DSD patients. DESIGN/PATIENTS: 209 nonsyndromic 46,XY DSD index cases from a Brazilian DSD center were included. Patients were initially classified into 3 subgroups according to clinical and biochemical data: gonadal dysgenesis (GD), disorders of androgen secretion/action, and DSD of unknown etiology. Molecular genetic studies were performed by Sanger sequencing and/or MPS. RESULTS: Clinical/biochemical classification into either GD or disorders of hormone secretion/action was obtained in 68.4% of the index cases. Among these, a molecular diagnosis was obtained in 36% and 96.5%, respectively. For the remainder 31.6% classified as DSD of clinically unknown etiology, a molecular diagnosis was achieved in 31.8%. Overall, the molecular diagnosis was achieved in 59.3% of the cohort. The combination of clinical/biochemical and molecular approaches diagnosed 78.9% of the patients. Clinical/biochemical classification matched with the genetic diagnosis in all except 1 case. DHX37 and NR5A1 variants were the most frequent genetic causes among patients with GD and DSD of clinical unknown etiology, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of clinical/biochemical with genetic approaches significantly improved the diagnosis of 46,XY DSD. MPS potentially decreases the complexity of the diagnostic workup as a first-line approach for diagnosing 46,XY DSD.

Diagnostic yield of a multigene sequencing approach in children classified as idiopathic short stature.

Objective: Most children with short stature remain without an etiologic diagnosis after extensive clinical and laboratory evaluation and are classified as idiopathic short stature (ISS). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of a multigene analysis in children classified as ISS. Design and methods: We selected 102 children with ISS and performed the genetic analysis as part of the initial investigation. We developed customized targeted panel sequencing, including all genes already implicated in the isolated short-stature phenotype. Rare and deleterious single nucleotide or copy number variants were assessed by bioinformatic tools. Results: We identified 20 heterozygous pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) genetic variants in 17 of 102 patients (diagnostic yield = 16.7%). Three patients had more than one P/LP genetic alteration. Most of the findings were in genes associated with the growth plate differentiation: IHH (n = 4), SHOX (n = 3), FGFR3 (n = 2), NPR2 (n = 2), ACAN (n = 2), and COL2A1 (n = 1) or involved in the RAS/MAPK pathway: NF1 (n = 2), PTPN11 (n = 1), CBL (n = 1), and BRAF (n = 1). None of these patients had clinical findings to guide a candidate gene approach. The diagnostic yield was higher among children with severe short stature (35% vs 12.2% for height SDS ≤ or > -3; P = 0.034). The genetic diagnosis had an impact on clinical management for four children. Conclusion: A multigene sequencing approach can determine the genetic etiology of short stature in up to one in six children with ISS, removing the term idiopathic from their clinical classification.

Adult Height in 299 Patients with Turner Syndrome with or without Growth Hormone Therapy: Results and Literature Review.

CONTEXT: Treatment with growth hormone (GH) is considered effective in improving adult height (AH) in Turner syndrome (TS). However, there are few studies comparing AH between treated patients and a concurrent untreated group. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of GH treatment in improving AH in TS and to review previous published studies with treated and untreated groups. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data and AH of a large cohort of GH-treated (n = 168) and untreated (n = 131) patients with TS. Data are shown as median and interquartile range (IQR). We assessed pretreatment variables related with AH and compared our results with 16 studies that also included an untreated group. RESULTS: The GH-treated group was 6.2 cm taller than the untreated group (AH = 149 cm [IQR 144.5-152.5 cm] vs. 142.8 cm [IQR 139-148 cm], p < 0.001) after 4.9 years of GH treatment with a dose of 0.35 mg/kg/week. AH SDS corrected for target height (TH) was 7.2 cm higher in GH-treated patients. AH SDS ≥-2 was more frequent in GH-treated patients (43%) than in untreated patients (16%, p < 0.001). AH SDS was also more frequently within the TH range in the GH-treated group (52%) than in the untreated group (15%, p < 0.001). Height SDS at start of GH therapy and TH SDS were positively correlated with AH (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.375). Considering the current result together with previous similar publications, a mean AH gain of 5.7 cm was observed in GH-treated (n = 696) versus untreated (n = 633) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study strengthens the evidence for efficacy of GH therapy in patients with TS from different populations.

The phenotypic spectrum associated with OTX2 mutations in humans.

Objective: The transcription factor OTX2 is implicated in ocular, craniofacial, and pituitary development. Design: We aimed to establish the contribution of OTX2 mutations in congenital hypopituitarism patients with/without eye abnormalities, study functional consequences, and establish OTX2 expression in the human brain, with a view to investigate the mechanism of action. Methods: We screened patients from the UK (n = 103), international centres (n = 24), and Brazil (n = 282); 145 were within the septo-optic dysplasia spectrum, and 264 had no eye phenotype. Transactivation ability of OTX2 variants was analysed in murine hypothalamic GT1-7 neurons. In situ hybridization was performed on human embryonic brain sections. Genetically engineered mice were generated with a series of C-terminal OTX2 variants. Results: Two chromosomal deletions and six haploinsufficient mutations were identified in individuals with eye abnormalities; an affected relative of one patient harboured the same mutation without an ocular phenotype. OTX2 truncations led to significant transactivation reduction. A missense variant was identified in another patient without eye abnormalities; however, studies revealed it was most likely not causative. In the mouse, truncations proximal to aa219 caused anophthalmia, while distal truncations and the missense variant were tolerated. During human embryogenesis, OTX2 was expressed in the posterior pituitary, retina, ear, thalamus, choroid plexus, and partially in the hypothalamus, but not in the anterior pituitary. Conclusions: OTX2 mutations are rarely associated with hypopituitarism in isolation without eye abnormalities, and may be variably penetrant, even within the same pedigree. Our data suggest that the endocrine phenotypes in patients with OTX2 mutations are of hypothalamic origin.

Long-term surgical outcome of masculinizing genitoplasty in large cohort of patients with disorders of sex development.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the results of masculinizing genitoplasty in a large cohort of patients with disorders of sex development treated at a single public tertiary center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 52 patients with 46,XY and 7 with 46,XX disorders of sex development with proximal hypospadias and genital ambiguity reared as males who had undergone surgery between 1965 and 2008. Mean +/- SD followup was 14.1 +/- 9.2 years and median age at last examination was 22 years, with 38 patients having reached adulthood. Morphological result and urinary stream were evaluated by a physician. Urinary and sexual symptoms, and satisfaction with surgical results were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean penile length at diagnosis was compared between 46,XY patients and showed that those with 5alpha-reductase 2 deficiency had the shortest penile length (-5.4 +/- 1.2 SD). At the last clinical evaluation following surgical and hormonal treatment mean +/- SD penile length in 38 adults was 7.5 +/- 2.1 cm (range 4 to 12), corresponding to -4.3 +/- 1.3 SD (-6.5 to -1.5). All but 2 patients had penile length less than -2 SD. At that time mean penile length remained shorter in patients with 5alpha-reductase 2 deficiency (-5.4 +/- 1 SD) compared to those with testosterone production deficiency or indeterminate disorders of sex development (p <0.05). There was no statistical difference between mean penile length before and after treatment in all etiological groups (p >0.05). Morphological results were good in 43% of patients, fair in 54% and poor in 3%. The most common complications were urethral fistula (51%) and urethral stenosis (22%). Dribbling after voiding was the most frequent urinary symptom. Satisfaction with surgical results was reported by 89% of patients. Among adults 87% were sexually active, with 64% reporting normal sexual activity. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with 46,XY disorders of sex development were satisfied with long-term results of masculinizing genitoplasty, although specific complaints about small penile length, sexual activity and urinary symptoms were frequent. New surgical approaches should be developed to ensure full satisfaction in adulthood among patients with disorders of sex development.