An Iranian Congenital Adrenal Hypoplasia Patient with Elevated Testosterone in Infancy due to a Novel Pathogenic Frameshift Variant in NR0B1

X-linked congenital adrenal hypoplasia due to NR0B1 mutation is characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) and infertility. Here, we describe a novel pathogenic frameshift variant in NR0B1 associated with congenital adrenal hypoplasia by whole exome sequencing in an Iranian case with high level of testosterone. Clinical evaluations and pedigree drawing were performed. Point mutations, gene conversions, and large deletions of the CYP21A2 gene were checked. WES and segregation analyses were conducted. In silico analysis was also performed for the novel variant. The ACTH, 17-hydroxy progesterone c, and DHEA sulfate values were elevated up to 624.6 pg/mL, 8.6 pmol/L, and 17.8UMOL/L, respectively. No mutation was found in the CYP21A2 gene. WES identified a novel hemizygous frameshift insertion c.218_219insACCA: p.His73GlnfsTer41 variant in the NR0B1 gene with a pathogenic effect according to ACMG criteria. Genetic testing is helpful for differential diagnosis in primary adrenal insufficiency disorders. NR0B1 may be a common cause of congenital adrenal hypoplasia in our population.

A rare co-occurrence of duchenne muscular dystrophy, congenital adrenal hypoplasia and glycerol kinase deficiency due to Xp21 contiguous gene deletion syndrome: case report

Background Contiguous gene deletion syndromes are rare genomic disorders caused by deletion of large segments of DNA resulting in co-occurrence of apparently unrelated multiple clinical phenotypes. We report a boy with contiguous gene deletion involving Xp21 genomic location. Case presentation A Sri Lankan boy with developmental delay and failure to thrive first presented at three years of age with hypovolaemia, hyperpigmentation and drowsiness. Investigations done at that time revealed hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, low cortisol, low aldosterone, high ACTH and low 17-hydroxyprogesterone. He was diagnosed to have primary adrenal insufficiency. During follow-up at five years, he was noted to have progressive difficulty in walking, waddling gait, hypotonia, calf hypertrophy and positive Gower’s sign. His creatine kinase was very high, and the electromyogram showed myopathy. Genetic analysis revealed hemizygous deletion involving the final 35 exons of the dystrophin gene confirming the diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Further investigations revealed pseudohypertriglyceridemia, large glycerol peak on urine organic acid analysis and hemizygous deletion of the glycerol kinase gene confirming glycerol kinase deficiency. Based on the presence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, glycerol kinase deficiency and probable congenital adrenal hypoplasia along with genetic confirmation of deletions involving dystrophin and glycerol kinase genes, the diagnosis of Xp21 contiguous gene deletion syndrome was made. Conclusions We report a child with contiguous gene deletion syndrome who was initially diagnosed as having isolated primary adrenal insufficiency probably due to congenital adrenal hypoplasia. Later he was confirmed to have Duchenne muscular dystrophy and glycerol kinase deficiency, as well. This case report highlights the importance of pre-emptive evaluation and identification of genetic defects when patients present with seemingly unrelated diseases that could aid in accurate diagnoses of contiguous gene deletion syndromes.

X-linked congenital adrenal hypoplasia: a case presentation

Background Most patients with congenital adrenal hypoplasia (AHC) develop symptoms during infantile and juvenile periods, with varying clinical manifestations. AHC is a disease that is easily misdiagnosed as Addison’s disease or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). There was also a significant time difference between the age at which patients developed symptoms and the age at which they were diagnosed with AHC. Most patients showed early symptoms during infantile and juvenile periods, but were diagnosed with AHC many years later. Case presentation We are currently reporting a male patient who developed systemic pigmentation at age 2 and was initially diagnosed with Addison’s disease. At 22 years of age, he experienced a slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), a disease mostly seen in adolescents aged 8–15 years, an important cause of which is endocrine disorder. Testes evaluated using color Doppler Ultrasonography suggested microcalcifications. Further genetic testing and auxiliary examinations revealed that the patient had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) and DAX-1 gene disorders, at which time he was diagnosed with AHC complicated by HH. He was given hormone replacement therapy, followed by regular outpatient review to adjust the medication. Conclusions The typical early symptoms of AHC are hyperpigmentation and ion disturbance during infantile and juvenile periods, while few patients with AHC develop puberty disorders as early symptoms. AHC is prone to being misdiagnosed as Addison’s disease, and then gradually develops the symptoms of HH in adolescence. The definitive diagnosis of AHC ultimately is based on the patient’s clinical presentation, laboratory results and genetic testing results.

SAT-227 Long-Term Outcomes of Two Siblings with X-Linked Congenital Adrenal Hypoplasia Due to a Mutation in NR0B1 (DAX1) Gene: Reproductive and Neuropsychiatric Aspects

Background: X-linked congenital adrenal hypoplasia (CAH) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the NR0B1 (DAX-1) gene. Non-classical manifestations have been described, including late-onset adrenal insufficiency (AI) and gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty (GIPP). We report long-term endocrine and neuropsychiatric outcomes of two siblings with CAH due to mutation in NR0B1.Case report: A 2-yr-old boy was referred due to progressive clinical signs of puberty since 6 months of age. At the age of 3 yr, AI was diagnosed, and the molecular analysis revealed a mutation in the NR0B1 (p.Cys65Leufs*6). Glucocorticoid replacement resulted in reduced testicular volume and decreased testosterone levels. At 11 yr, cyproterone acetate was indicated due to pubertal progression and bone age advancement. At 17 yr the patient had incomplete sexual development and no pubarche. Testosterone levels declined, despite pubertal levels of basal and GnRH-stimulated gonadotropin levels, indicating partial hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Adult height was 156 cm (SDS: -2.7) within his target height of 161 cm (SDS: -2.1). This patient also presented a psychiatric diagnosis of mood disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and was under methylphenidate, topiramate and sertraline. Both the patient and his mother had SNP array performed, which excluded contiguous gene syndrome. His younger brother also harbored the same mutation in the NR0B1, confirmed shortly after birth. AI was diagnosed with 1 month of age. Cortisone acetate and fludrocortisone were initiated. At 11 months of age, he presented signs of pubertal development with an elevated ACTH and testosterone levels with suppressed gonadotropins, confirming the diagnosis of GIPP. He was treated with cyproterone acetate. At 8 yr, a pubertal response to the GnRH test was detected, and leuprorelin was added. At 9 yr, due to the low growth velocity and advanced bone age, rhGH was started. However, this patient presented a poor compliance and severe obesity (BMI 33 kg/m2). Treatment for GIPP and secondary CPP was stopped at 10 yr, with bone age of 13.5 yr and height of 151 cm (SDS: - 2.3). The diagnosis of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder was made after neuropsychiatric assessment and the patient received treatment with methylphenidate and sertraline. Conclusion: Pubertal development of patients with CAH due to NR0B1 mutations can be heterogeneous. However, the intriguing neuropsychiatric features in two siblings may suggest a role of NR0B1 in neuropsychological development or other still unknown underlying genetic defect.

Late-onset vanishing testis-like syndrome in a 38,XX/38,XY agonadic pig (Sus scrofa)

Here we describe the case of a pig with intersex traits including ambiguous external genitalia, sex chromosome abnormalities and a late-onset vanishing testis-like syndrome. It was identified shortly after birth by presenting a predominantly female phenotype with two large scrotal masses resembling testes. The karyotype is 38,XX (53%)/38,XY (47%). Sex steroid levels were undetectable at 1 and 7 months old, whereas circulating cortisol levels were typical. DNA studies excluded gene alterations in sex-determining region Y (SRY), dosage-sensitive sex reversal-congenital adrenal hypoplasia critical region on the X chromosome protein 1 (DAX1), SRY-related high mobility group-box gene 9 (SOX9), nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group a, member 1 (NR5A1), nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group c, member 4 (NR3C4) and steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2 (SRD5A2). At 8 months of age the XX/XY pig evinced delayed growth; however, the most striking phenotypic change was that the testes-like structures completely vanished in a 2–3-week period. The internal genitalia were found to consist of a portion of a vagina and urethra. No fallopian tubes, uterus or remnants of Wolffian derivatives were observed. More importantly, no testes, ovaries, ovotestis or gonadal streaks could be identified. The XX/XY sex chromosome dosage and/or overexpression of the DAX1 gene on the X chromosome in the presence of a wild-type SRY gene may have caused this predominantly female phenotype. This specimen represents an atypical case of 38,XX/38,XY chimeric, ovotesticular disorder of sex development associated with agonadism.

Delayed-onset adrenal hypoplasia congenita and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism caused by a novel mutation in DAX1

In this study, we described a male who presented with delayed-onset adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) and mild hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HHG) without a relevant family history. A novel mutation in the DAX1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal, congenital adrenal hypoplasia critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1) gene was shown to cause X-linked AHC and HHG. Genetic analysis revealed a novel nonsense mutation, c.154G > T (p.Glu52Term), in the DAX1 gene. Molecular testing demonstrated that the milder phenotype caused by this mutation was due to expression of a partially functional, amino-truncated DAX1 protein generated from an alternate in-frame translation start site (methionine at codon 83). This unusual case revealed a potential mechanism for a novel mutation that resulted in an unusual delayed-onset mild clinical phenotype. It expands the spectrum of adrenal hypoplasia congenita and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

A case report of concomitant myopathy, adrenal insufficiency, and mental retardation linked with deletion of Xp21

Contiguous gene syndromes (CGS) are the disorders caused by chromosomal abnormalities: deletions, duplications, or other complex rearrangements that alter gene dosage. Initially, before their chromosomal nature is elucidated, they may be misdiagnosed as monogenic disorders depending on the leading clinical symptom cluster. The altered chromosomal region in individuals with this condition is typically less than 5 Mb in size and sometimes cannot be identified by conventional karyotyping. Patients present with signs of the diseases associated with each individual monogenic disorder. The Xp21-linked genetic syndrome, or glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD) (MIM 300474), is an example of this syndrome [1–3]. The genes coding for glycerol kinase (GK), congenital adrenal hypoplasia (NR0B1), and dystrophin (DMD) follow each other in the Xp21.2—p21.3 region. Deletions of an X-chromosome region may cause several monogenic disorders in one patient, including primary adrenal insufficiency and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a result of deletion in the NR0B1 gene, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (or a milder form, Becker muscular dystrophy) resulting from deletion in the dystrophin gene, and mental retardation as a result of deletion in the glycerol kinase gene. We report a case of concomitant myopathy, adrenal insufficiency, and mental retardation linked with deletion of Xp21.