Risk and penetrance of primary hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A families with mutations at codon 634 of the RET proto-oncogene. Groupe D'etude des Tumeurs à Calcitonine.

Germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene are responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, including multiple endocrine type 2A (MEN 2A), type 2B (MEN 2B), and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. The relationship between specific mutations and syndromic features has been established. In particular, the risk for pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in MEN 2A patients is clearly associated with the presence of the RET mutation at a specific position, i.e. at codon 634. Also, a correlation between a specific mutation, C634R, and the development of HPT has been suggested but is still controversial. To further investigate the relationship between specific mutations of codon 634 and the development of HPT, we studied a population of 188 individuals, carrying mutations at codon 634, namely C634R (65 patients belonging to 10 families), C634Y (80 patients belonging to 11 families), or the less frequent codon 634 mutations [i.e. C634S, C634F, C634G, or C634W (43 patients belonging to 9 families)]. In this series of patients, we defined an overall HPT prevalence of 19.1% and found that this prevalence did not vary significantly, with respect to the nature of the mutation. However, irrespective of the particular mutation, the prevalence of HPT showed a high interfamilial variability. The statistical model that best fitted with the observed data was in favor of the heterogeneity of the risk for HPT, with 40% of the families showing an HPT risk of 34% and 60% of the families showing an HPT risk of 9%. In addition, our study clearly demonstrated that HPT could be an early component of the disease and provided the first estimate of age-specific and mutation-specific HPT penetrance in individuals with mutations of codon 634 of the RET proto-oncogene.

Diabetes: from phenotypes to genotypes.

Diabetes mellitus comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases which have chronic hyperglycaemia in common as well as the resulting microvascular, macrovascular and neurological complications of this condition. Familial studies have provided strong evidence for the existence of genetic determinants in the different types of diabetes. In particular, monozygotic twin studies have indicated a higher rate of concordance in non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) than in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In IDDM, 8 susceptibility loci have been identified, notably the HLA complex and insulin promotor gene. Rigorous family studies have identified monogenic subtypes representing 10-15% of all NIDDM: MODY2 related to glucokinase gene mutations, MODY1 and MODY3 secondary to mutation of hepatic nuclear factors, and diabetes resulting from deletion or mutation of mitochondrial DNA. Most NIDDM result from polygenic heredity, and susceptibility genes conducive to increased receptivity to deleterious environmental influences are now under investigation, such as beta 3 adrenergic receptor, FABP2 and OB. Precise analysis of phenotypes in the remaining families or systematic screening of the genome could allow the genes of each subtype to be identified. Finally, susceptibility genes for the increased severity and frequency of vascular complications have been identified, such as angiotensin converting enzyme, aldose reductase and aldehyde dehydrogenase genes. This progress has been facilitated by developments in molecular biology.

Chronic diarrhoea and diabetes mellitus: prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

The mechanisms of chronic diarrhoea, a frequent symptom in diabetes mellitus, are multifactorial and complex, although small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and autonomic neuropathy seem to play a major role. This study evaluated the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and the effects of antibiotic treatment in a population of diabetic patients with chronic diarrhoea (defined as > 3 stools/24 h, weight > 200 g/24 h, duration > 3 weeks). Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome was diagnosed by glucose-hydrogen breath testing (sensitivity: 78%, specificity: 89%). The characteristics of diarrhoea (duration, number of stools per day, and gastrointestinal symptoms) were noted. Autonomic neuropathy was assessed by cardiac parasympathetic tests. A total of 35 patients were included, 15 with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (43%, group 1) and 20 with no bacterial overgrowth (group 2). Age (52.9 +/- 13.5 vs. 53.9 +/- 11.8 years, NS), duration of diabetes (13.8 +/- 9.1 vs. 10.6 +/- 7.8 years, NS), and HbA1c level (10 +/- 2.9 vs. 10.9 +/- 2.4%, NS) were not different between the two groups. In group 1, duration of diarrhoea was longer (18.1 +/- 18.5 vs. 7.75 +/- 4.02 months, P = 0.05), the number of stools higher (7.1 +/- 5.7 vs. 4.6 +/- 2.6/24 h, P < 0.05), and gastrointestinal symptoms more frequent (13 vs. 10, P < 0.05). The prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome and gastrointestinal symptoms was not different in patients with and without autonomic neuropathy (9 vs. 8 and 12 vs. 11 respectively, NS). Eight patients with bacterial overgrowth received antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 1.5 g/24 h for 10 days). Dramatic clinical improvement was observed in 6 out of 8 of these patients. It is concluded that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth should be considered in case of chronic diabetic diarrhoea because of its frequency (43%), facility of diagnosis, and often successful treatment with antibiotics.

[Hypophyseal adenomas: functional and tumor evaluation and therapeutic approaches]. / Adénomes hypophysaires: bilan tumoral et fonctionnel et abords thérapeutiques. therapeutic approaches]

Patients with pituitary adenomas present with hypersecretion syndrome(s), and/or pituitary failure(s), and/or signs of mass effect, or incidentally. Pituitary function evaluation, visual acuity and field check-up, and MRI or at least CAT are compulsory for diagnosis, and for therapeutic approach; surgery for Cushing's disease, dopamine agonists for prolactinomas, somatostatin analogs or surgery for thyrotroph adenomas, surgery and/or somatostatin analogs and/or radiotherapy in acromegaly, surgery with additional irradiation in most adenomas of other types, or even expectation in some instances.

[Lymphocytic hypophysitis: a reality]. / Hypophysite lymphocytaire: une réalité.

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a rare entity; we report here three cases. This condition usually occurs in women during pregnancy or in the post-partum period. Pituitary enlargement is associated with complete or partial hypopituitarism. The difficulty in diagnosis is well illustrated by our cases and results from the similarity between the clinical and biological signs of adenoma and hypophysitis. Circulating antipituitary antibodies are not constantly found and are nonspecific, evidence only of the autoimmune nature of hypophysitis. Thus the diagnosis has to be undertaken in all suspected cases in pregnant women or during the post-partum period. The clinical course may be very long, emphasizing the need for rigorous long-term observation. The pituitary gland is commonly enlarged and homogenous in lymphocytic hypophysitis, but in our third case the enlargement was heterogeneous with associated cyst formation. We suggest that the inflammatory process could have been maintained by the presence of cysts. Finally, corticosteroids are the therapy of choice in the inflammatory stage and should be undertaken as soon as the diagnosis has been established. Regular surveillance is required.

Prevalence of macular pattern dystrophy in maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. GEDIAM Group.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of macular pattern dystrophy (MPD) in maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD), a new subtype of diabetes mellitus that cosegregates with a mutation of mitochondrial DNA (i.e., the substitution of guanine for adenine at position 3243 of leucine transfer RNA) and to report the clinical characteristics of MPD. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six patients from 29 families with an adenine-to-guanine mutation of mitochondrial DNA were recruited from a French collaborative multicenter study. Thirty-five patients had MIDD, 8 were asymptomatic children of MIDD patients, and 3 had MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes). The 33 MIDD patients with diabetes were matched for diabetes duration and gender with 33 patients with "common" type-2 diabetes to compare the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in both series. METHODS: All patients had a full ophthalmologic examination and fundus photographs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The presence and severity of MPD and DR were assessed in each patient. RESULTS: Thirty MIDD patients (85.7%) of 35 exhibited bilateral MPD characterized by linear pigmentation surrounding the macula and optic disc. In 24 of these 30 patients, visual acuity was 20/25 or more in both eyes. The prevalence of DR was 6% in MIDD patients with diabetes versus 15% for patients with common type-2 diabetes (a difference that was not significant, P = 0.23). The fundus of each of the eight asymptomatic children was normal. MPD was present in one of the three cases of MELAS. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MPD in MIDD is high. Its detection may be helpful for the diagnosis of this new subtype of diabetes, for which specific treatments may be proposed.