Fertility and sexual activity in patients with Triple A syndrome.

Objective: Triple A syndrome, caused by autosomal recessively inherited mutations in the AAAS gene is characterized by alacrima, achalasia, adrenal insufficiency, and neurological impairment. To the best of our knowledge, no patients of both sexes have been reported to have offspring. Our aim was to assess the causes of infertility in male patients with this multisystemic syndrome, and to present a female patient that spontaneously conceived a child. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Six males aged 19-48 years were included. Gonadotropins, testosterone, DHEAS, androstenedione, inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone measurements and testicular ultrasound were performed. Results: All six male patients had impaired general health and neurological symptoms including erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction. None of them had an offspring. The only demonstrated cause of infertility in our male patients was erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction which precludes sexual intercourse. Our patients had normal libido but were sexually abstinent. Except for low adrenal androgen levels, the concentrations of all measured hormones as well as testicular ultrasound were normal which may indicate the possibility of spermatogenesis in male patients with triple A syndrome. Little is known about fertility in female patients, but based on our observations spontaneous pregnancies seem to be possible. Conclusion: Our results contribute to still scarce knowledge on fertility in patients with Triple A syndrome and as well represents a foundation for further research on causes of infertility and possible treatment options.

The prevalence and genotype of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in the Croatian Romani population.

Objective: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by pathological variants in the CYP21A2 gene. After a high prevalence of classic 21-OHD CAH in the Romani population was reported in the Republic of North Macedonia, we decided to estimate the prevalence of 21-OHD in Croatia and, if high, assess the possible causes and estimate the frequency of particular CYP21A2 variants. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Data from a Croatian 21-OHD genetic database was reviewed, and only Romani patients were included in the study. CYP21A2 genotyping was performed using allele-specific PCR, MLPA, and Sanger sequencing. Results: According to a survey conducted in 2017, Croatia had 22,500 Romani people and six of them had a salt-wasting (SW) form of 21-OHD. All were homozygous for the c.IVS2-13A/C-G pathological variant in intron 2 and descended from consanguineous families belonging to different Romani tribes. The calculated prevalence of 21-OHD in Croatian Romani is 1:3,750, while in the Croatian general population, it is 1:18,000. Three of the six Romani patients originated from two neighboring villages in North-western Croatia (Slavonia County), as well as the seventh patient who is of mixed Romani/Croatian descent and heterozygous for the c.IVS2-13A/C-G pathological variant (not included in the prevalence calculation). Conclusion: A high prevalence of SW 21-OHD in the Croatian Romani population caused by the homozygous cIVS2-13A/C-G pathological variant was found. In addition to isolation and consanguinity, other possible reasons could be the heterozygous advantage of the CYP21A2 gene pathological variant and the bottleneck effect as a result of the Romani Holocaust in World War II.

Two Single Nucleotide Deletions in the ABCD1 Gene Causing Distinct Phenotypes of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a rare inborn error of the peroxisomal metabolism caused by pathologic variants in the ATP-binding cassette transporter type D, member 1 (ABCD1) gene located on the X-chromosome. ABCD1 protein, also known as adrenoleukodystrophy protein, is responsible for transport of the very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) from cytoplasm into the peroxisomes. Therefore, altered function or lack of the ABCD1 protein leads to accumulation of VLCFA in various tissues and blood plasma leading to either rapidly progressive leukodystrophy (cerebral ALD), progressive adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), or isolated primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). We report two distinct single nucleotide deletions in the ABCD1 gene, c.253delC [p.Arg85Glyfs*18] in exon 1, leading to both cerebral ALD and to AMN phenotype in one family, and c.1275delA [p.Phe426Leufs*15] in exon 4, leading to AMN and primary adrenal insufficiency in a second family. For the latter variant, we demonstrate reduced mRNA expression and a complete absence of the ABCD1 protein in PBMC. Distinct mRNA and protein expression in the index patient and heterozygous carriers does not associate with VLCFA concentration in plasma, which is in line with the absence of genotype-phenotype correlation in X-ALD.

Lowe syndrome - Old and new evidence of secondary mitochondrial dysfunction.

The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (LS) is a rare, progressive, multisystemic X-linked disorder caused by mutations in OCRL gene. Patients classically present with ocular abnormalities including bilateral congenital cataracts and glaucoma, intellectual delay, severe generalized hypotonia with absent tendon reflexes, and proximal renal tubular dysfunction. Congenital bilateral cataracts and hypotonia are present at birth in almost all patients, while other classical symptoms develop gradually with variable severity. Consequently, differential diagnosis in infant period in these patients can be broad including other rare metabolic and neurologic disorders. Herein we present a 4.5 year old boy with Lowe syndrome caused by mutation of OCRL gene, NM_000276.4:c.643C > T; p.(Gln215*), initially diagnosed as having mitochondriopathy due to alteration of mitochondria on electron microscopic examination in different tissues and decreased values of mitochondrial energy metabolism measurements in muscle. No pathogenic mutations in mitochondrial DNA were found on whole exome sequencing. This patient recall historical hypothesis of secondary mitochondrial dysfunction in Lowe syndrome, that may be caused/intensified by some of disease symptoms.

Molecular genetic analysis in 93 patients and 193 family members with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in Croatia.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is caused by mutation in the CYP21A2 gene. The frequency and spectrum of CYP21A2 mutations and genotype-phenotype correlations among different populations are variable. Aim of this study was to define mutation frequency and spectrum of CYP21A2 gene mutations in patients with classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) and their family members in Croatia and study genotype-phenotype correlation. Clinical features and mutations of CYP21A2 gene in 93 unrelated 21OHD patients and 193 family members were examined. In this cohort, 66 patients were affected with salt wasting (SW) form, and 27 were affected with simple virilizing (SV) form of the disease. Mutations were identified in both alleles (67% compound heterozygous and 33% homozygous) in 91 of 93 patients. Deletions and conversions were found in 18.8% and point mutations in 79.6% alleles. Mutations in 3 alleles (1.6%) remained unidentified (in one patient we found only one, while in other no mutations were found at all). The most common point mutations were Intron 2 splice mutation IVS2-13 A/C>G (35.5%) and p.R357W (16.7%). Genotypes were categorized into Groups 0, A, B and C according to the extent of enzyme impairment. Genotype-phenotype concordance was 100%, 85% and 75% for Groups 0, A and B, respectively. Since only classical 21OHD patients were studied, Group C comprised solely p.P31L mutation and had 73% patients with SV and 27% with SW phenotype. Intrafamilial phenotypic variability was found in two families. CYP21A2 genetic analysis in 193 family members showed that 126 parents were heterozygous carriers, 3 were newly discovered patients, 2 fathers were not biological parents, and mutations were not detected in 3. Among 59 siblings, 32 were heterozygous carriers, 15 carried normal alleles, and 12 were patients (4 newly diagnosed). Genotype-phenotype divergence observed in this study suggests caution in preconceptional counseling and prenatal diagnosis of CAH. High frequency of p.R357W mutation was found in Croatian patients with classical 21-OHD. Genotyping of family members discovered new patients and thus avoided pitfalls in genetic counseling when the parents were found to be affected.

Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification workflow for the detection of submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities in patients with developmental delay/intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Array based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) has been increasingly used as the method of choice for diagnosis of patients with unexplained developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID) but is not universally available for the high throughput use in routine practice. The next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, emerging as a new tool in clinical diagnostics, are at present quite labour-intensive and expensive. Since multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) is relatively fast, easily interpreted and cost-effective, it is still a method of choice for screening large cohorts of patients with DD/ID. RESULTS: We prospectively studied a cohort of 150 patients with DD/ID with or without dysmorphic features or additional congenital abnormalities. We used two distinct MLPA kits, SALSA P036 and P070, for subtelomere screening and MLPA kit SALSA P245 for the 21 common microdeletion syndromes. Subtelomere analysis was performed by both kits in all patients. All imbalances were verified by follow-up MLPA kits. The MLPA analysis revealed chromosome aberrations in 21 (14%) cases: 11 subtelomeric rearrangements and 10 microdeletions. CONCLUSIONS: We have presented the results of the investigation of patients with DD/ID obtained by using a combination of the MLPA sets for subtelomere aberrations and microdeletion syndromes followed by the confirmation of the aberrant results by the region-specific MLPA kits. The use of two subtelomeric kits per patient and investigation of all aberrations by follow-up sets has reduced the rate of false positive and negative results and improved the diagnostic yield. The relatively low cost, simplicity and reliability makes MLPA an effective first-tier cytogenetic diagnostic test for screening large cohorts of DD/ID patients.