Pediatric patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency / Pacientes pediátricos con deficiencia de lipasa ácida lisosomal

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency is a rare, autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the LIPA gene, which produces cholesteryl ester and triglyceride accumulation predominantly in hepatocytes, adrenal glands, and gastrointestinal tract. We describe two new cases occurring in siblings, aged 5 and 7 years, who presented with hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and abnormal liver function. Percutaneous liver biopsy revealed portal inflammation, hypertrophic Kupffer cells with a foamy appearance and microvesicular steatosis with fibrosis. Immunostaining for lysosomal markers, cathepsin D and LAMP1 reflected the lysosomal nature of the lipid vacuoles. After enzymatic confirmation, enzyme replacement therapy was initiated for both siblings. Follow-up transaminase levels and lipid profiles showed a notable decrease in AST and ALT and a slight increase in HDL cholesterol. It is crucial to increase awareness of this rare condition among clinicians and pathologists. The expression of lysosomal markers around the lipid vacuoles might help diagnose LAL deficiency in pediatric patients.(AU)

La deficiencia de lipasa ácida lisosomal (LAL) es una enfermedad autosómica recesiva inusual, causada por mutaciones en el gen LIPA, que genera acumulación de éster de colesterol y triglicéridos predominantemente en hepatocitos, glándulas suprarrenales y tracto gastrointestinal. Describimos 2 casos adicionales que ocurrieron en 2 hermanos, de 5 y 7 años, que presentaron hepatomegalia, dislipidemia y función hepática anormal. La biopsia hepática percutánea reveló inflamación portal leve, células de Kupffer hipertróficas, con un aspecto espumoso y esteatosis microvesicular difusa con fibrosis. La inmunotinción de marcadores lisosomales, catepsina D y LAMP1, reflejó la naturaleza lisosomal de las vacuolas lipídicas. Después de la confirmación enzimática, ambos hermanos iniciaron terapia de reemplazo enzimático. Los niveles de transaminasas y los perfiles lipídicos de seguimiento mostraron una disminución notoria en AST y ALT y un ligero aumento en el colesterol HDL. Es crucial aumentar la conciencia de esta inusual condición entre médicos y patólogos. La expresión de marcadores lisosomales alrededor de las vacuolas lipídicas podría ayudar a diagnosticar la deficiencia de LAL en pacientes pediátricos.(AU)

Pediatric patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency.

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency is a rare, autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the LIPA gene, which produces cholesteryl ester and triglyceride accumulation predominantly in hepatocytes, adrenal glands, and gastrointestinal tract. We describe two new cases occurring in siblings, aged 5 and 7 years, who presented with hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and abnormal liver function. Percutaneous liver biopsy revealed portal inflammation, hypertrophic Kupffer cells with a foamy appearance and microvesicular steatosis with fibrosis. Immunostaining for lysosomal markers, cathepsin D and LAMP1 reflected the lysosomal nature of the lipid vacuoles. After enzymatic confirmation, enzyme replacement therapy was initiated for both siblings. Follow-up transaminase levels and lipid profiles showed a notable decrease in AST and ALT and a slight increase in HDL cholesterol. It is crucial to increase awareness of this rare condition among clinicians and pathologists. The expression of lysosomal markers around the lipid vacuoles might help diagnose LAL deficiency in pediatric patients.