Search

Purpose Genotype–phenotype correlation in congenital 21 hydroxylase deficiency is strong but by no means absolute. Indeed, clinical and hormonal features may vary among patients carrying similar CYP21A2 mutations, suggesting that modifier genes may contribute to the phenotype. Aim of the present study was to evaluate whether polymorphisms in the p450 oxidoreductase (POR) gene may affect clinical features in patients with 21 hydroxylase deficiency Methods Sequencing of the POR gene was performed in 96 patients with 21 hydroxylase deficiency (49 classic, 47 non-classic) and 43 control subjects. Results Prevalence of POR polymorphisms in patients with 21 hydroxylase was comparable to controls and known databases. The rs2228104 polymorphism was more frequently associated with non-classic vs classic 21 hydroxylase deficiency (allelic risk 7.09; 95% C.I. 1.4–29.5, p Conclusions Polymorphisms in the POR gene are associated with clinical features of 21 hydroxylase deficiency both as regards predisposition to classic vs non-classic forms and severity of classic adrenal hyperplasia.

Background The phenotypic features of SHOX deficiency (SHOX-D) are highly variable and can be very mild, especially in young children. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate auxological and radiological indicators that could be predictive of SHOX-D in children. Methods Molecular analysis of the SHOX gene was performed in 296 subjects with growth impairment or skeletal disproportion, without alternative diagnosis. Auxological variables and radiographs of the hand, wrist and forearm were evaluated. Results SHOX mutations (88% inherited, 12% de novo) were identified in 52 subjects. The most predictive auxological indicators of SHOX-D were an increased sitting height/height ratio and a decreased arm span/height ratio. The convexity of distal radial metaphysis at X-ray, not yet reported in literature, was also found to be predictive of SHOX-D. In young children, stratification of data by bone age also highlighted ulnar tilt, lucency of the ulnar border of the distal radius and enlarged radius as the radiological signs most related to SHOX-D . Conclusions In this study, the analysis of auxological and radiological indicators in SHOX-D children allowed to identify an additional early radiological sign and underlines the importance of family auxological evaluation.

To assess the incidence of abnormal neuroendocrine function post-traumatic brain injuriy (TBI) in a large group of paediatric patients and its correlations with clinical parameters (Glasgow coma scale—GCS, Glasgow outcome scale—GOS, TC marshall scale, height velocity). We evaluated 70 patients [58 M, 12 F; age at the time of TBI (mean ± SEM) 8.12 ± 4.23 years] previously hospitalized for TBI at the “Regina Margherita” Hospital, in Turin and “Maggiore della Carita Hospital” in Novara, Italy, between 1998 and 2008. All patients included underwent: auxological, clinical, hormonal and biochemical assessments at recall (after at least 1 year from TBI to T0); auxological visit after 6 months (T6) and hormonal assessments at 12 months (T12) in patients with height velocity (HV) below the 25th centile. At T0, 4 cases of hypothalamus-pituitary dysfunction had been diagnosed; At T6 20/70 patients had an HV

Familial hyperaldosteronism (FH) encompasses 3 types of autosomal dominant hyperaldosteronisms leading to inheritable hypertension. FH type II (FH-II), undistinguishable from sporadic hyperaldosteronism, represents the most frequent cause of inheritable hypertension and is believed to only manifest in adults. FH-III is a severe variety of PA resistant to pharmacotherapy and recently demonstrated to be caused by mutations in the gene encoding the potassium channel KCNJ5. In this report, we describe a FH pediatric patient, remarkable both for age at onset and unusual presentation: a two-years old girl with polyuric-polydipsic syndrome and severe hypertension, successfully treated with canrenone and amiloride. The girl had severe hypertension, hypokalemia, hypercalciuria, suppressed renin activity, high aldosterone, and unremarkable adrenal imaging. FH type I was ruled out by glucocorticoid suppression test, PCR test for CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene, and urinary 18-oxo-cortisol and 18-hydroxy-cortisol excretion, which was in FH-II range. In spite of a clear-cut FH-II phenotype, the girl and her mother were found to harbor a FH-III genotype with KCNJ5 mutation (c.452G>A). Treatment with canrenone was started, resulting in prompt normalization of electrolytes and remission of polyuric-polydypsic syndrome. The addition of amiloride led to a complete normalization of blood pressure. This report expands the phenotypic spectrum of FH-III to a milder end, mimiking FH-II phenotype demonstrating that pharmacotherapy may be effective. This also implies that FH-II/III should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypertensive children and, perhaps, that the offspring of patients with hyperaldosteronism should be screened for hypertension.

McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS) is a congenital endocrine disorder due to mosaic tissutal hyper-function. We describe a boy with a molecularly confirmed MAS, clinically evident with congenital café-au-lait spots, bone fibrous dysplasia, hyperthyroidism, and renal phosphate wasting syndrome. At 4.6 years of age he disclosed a rapid progression of peripheral puberty, so we decided to treat him with bicalutamide 25 mg/day and anastrozole 1 mg/day. Combined third generation aromatase inhibitors - competitive androgen receptor blockers were employed in familial male precocious puberty (FMPP). Combined treatment was performed for 49 months from the age of 4.6 to 6.7 years. The patient underwent clinical, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation twice a year from the first admission to the current age. This treatment caused a rapid normalization of growth velocity, subsequent reduction of penile androgenization, and stabilization of testicular volume. The therapy was well tolerated for all its duration and neither side effects, nor secondary hypothalamic activation were noted. This report provides further evidence of effectiveness and safety of combined third generation aromatase inhibitors - competitive androgen receptor blockers in male precocious peripheral puberty, firstly employed in male MAS, and contributes to expand the spectrum of disorders in which their employment may reveal promising.

Ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) secretion is a rare cause of Cushing syndrome in paediatric age, due to tumours arising from different tissues. To date, only 11 reports of ACTH-secreting pancreatic tumours in children and adolescents exist in the literature. We present a paediatric case of Cushing syndrome caused by ectopic ACTH secretion. This was caused by a large acinar cell carcinoma that developed in the pancreas of a 3-year-old girl.