Insights on the phenotypic heterogenity of 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency: clinical and genetic studies in two novel families.

PURPOSE: 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency accounts for 5% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia cases. Diagnosis suspiction is classically based on the association between abnormal virilization, precocious puberty, and hypertension in 46XX or 46XY subjects. We investigated two families with siblings presenting with opposed clinical features, and provided a review of the mechanisms involved in mineralocorticoid-dependent phenotypic heterogeneity. METHODS: The coding region of the CYP11B1 gene of 4 patients was sequenced and familial segregation was confirmed. Clinical characterization and blood steroid profile were performed. RESULTS: Family 1 comprised a female and a male siblings who presented in middle childhood with genital ambiguity (Prader II) and precocious puberty, respectively, associated with hypertension. In the second decade of life, the woman had three full-term pregnancies, and then evolved normotensive with no treatment over a 5-year follow up. On the other hand, her brother had hypertensive end-organ damage at age 24. In family 2, a 2.9 year-old boy presented with precocious puberty and hypertension, whereas his 21 days-old sister had genital ambiguity (Prader III) and salt wasting. A homozygous exon 4 splice site mutation was identified (IVS4ds-1G > A; c.799 G > A) in family 1, while a nonsense mutation in exon 6 (p. Q356X; c.1066 C > T) was found in family 2. CONCLUSION: CYP11B1 mutations were associated with highly variable phenotypes, from mild to severe virilization, and early-onset hypertension or salt wasting. Further analysis of variants in other hypertension-related genes, steroid synthesis and metabolism compensatory pathways, and/or the investigation of chimeric CYP11B genes are needed to clarify the phenotypic heterogeneity in 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency.

Hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita debida a deficiencia de 17 -hidroxilasa: a propósito de una nueva mutación en el gen CYP17A1 / Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to lack of 17 -hydroxylase: A report of a new mutation in the gene CYP17A1

La enzima P450c17 cataliza 2 reacciones diferentes: 17alfa-hidroxilación de la progesterona y pregnenolona y segmentación de la unión del carbono 17-20 a partir de la 17,20 liasa para producir andrógenos suprarrenales. Esta enzima está codificada por el gen CYP17A1. Se presenta una paciente de 14 años con retraso en el desarrollo puberal y presión arterial elevada para su talla y edad. Cariotipo 46,XX. En el estudio hormonal destaca hipogonadismo hipergonadotropo, así como una insuficiencia suprarrenal y exceso mineralocorticoideo. El estudio genético mostró una mutación en homozigosis en el gen CYP17A1 (c.753+1G>A), no descrita previamente, la cual es responsable de la fisiopatología de la deficiencia de 17alfa-hidroxilasa. Esta entidad es una forma rara de hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita. Normalmente la enfermedad suele pasar desapercibida hasta la adolescencia o el inicio de la vida adulta y se debería sospechar ante individuos 46,XY con genitales ambiguos o 46,XX con retraso puberal que asocia hipertensión y/o hipopotasemia

P450c17 enzyme catalyses two different reactions: the 17Alpha-hydroxylation of progesterone and pregnenolone, and segmenting the carbon 17-20 binding from the 17,20 lyase producing adrenal androgens. This enzyme is coded by the CYP17A1 gene. The case is presented of a 14 year old patient with delayed pubertal development and a high blood pressure for height and age. 46,XX karyotype. Hormonal studies highlighted hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, adrenal insufficiency and mineralocorticoid excess. Subsequent genetic studies showed a homozygous mutation in the CYP17A1 gene (c.753+G>A), not previously described, which is responsible for the pathophysiology of 17Alpha-hydroxylase deficiency. This entity is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The disease often goes unnoticed until adolescence or early adult life, and should be suspected in 46,XY individuals with ambiguous genitalia or 46,XX with delayed puberty associated with hypertension and/or hypokalaemia

Congenital hypokalemia with hypercalciuria in preterm infants: a hyperprostaglandinuric tubular syndrome different from Bartter syndrome.

A congenital hypokalemic tubular disorder is described with many features resembling Bartter syndrome. Additional features include prenatal onset with polyhydramnios and premature labor; failure to thrive; episodes of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and renal electrolyte and water wastage; hypercalciuria; nephrocalcinosis; and osteopenia. Unlike Bartter syndrome, there is no defect in tubular reabsorption of chloride. Urinary levels of prostaglandin E2 and 7 alpha-hydroxy-5,11-diketotetranorprosta-1,16-dioic acid are selectively elevated, indicating marked stimulation of renal and systemic PGE2 production. Chronic suppression of PGE2 activity by indomethacin corrects most of the abnormalities, and there is an immediate decompensation of the disease on indomethacin withdrawal. We conclude that these preterm infants have a distinct variety of hypokalemic tubular disorders rather than a variant of Bartter syndrome, because renal and systemic hyperprostaglandinism ranks high in the pathogenic chain of events, and the suppression of PGE2 hyperactivity is associated with significant improvement in the development (and probably in the prognosis) of the affected children.