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.

Pseudohypertriglyceridemia: A Novel Case with Important Clinical Implications

Pseudohypertriglyceridemia is an overestimation of serum triglyceride levels that may incorrectly lead to a diagnosis of hypertriglyceridemia. Glycerol kinase deficiency is a condition in which glycerol cannot be phosphorylated to glycerol-3-phosphate, resulting in elevated levels of serum glycerol. Laboratory assays that measure triglycerides indirectly may be affected by elevated glyerol levels and incorrectly report serum tryglyceride levels. We present a case of a novel missense mutation in the GK gene leading to isolated glycerol kinase deficiency and pseudohypertriglyceridemia in a male infant of a mother with gestational diabetes. This paper reviews glycerol kinase deficiency, describes the challenges in diagnosing pseudohypertriglyceridemia, and provides suggestions on improving diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, a potential maternal-fetal interaction between gestational diabetes and glycerol kinase deficiency is discussed.

SAT-578 A Rare Case of Laboratory Hypertriglyceridemia: Glycerol Kinase Deficiency

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is common; however, pseudo-HTG due to high glycerol in glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD, MIM: 307030) is a rare cause of HTG that need to be delineated for appropriate management. GKD is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by hyperglycerolemia and glyceroluria. Two of three GKD subtypes are known as “isolate” GKD due to a mutation in GK gene alone: (1) symptomatic juvenile form, and (2) benign adult form, associated with an incidental finding of HTG. Since most commercial laboratories determine triglyceride (TG) levels by a glycerol measurement, TG-backbone, patients with GKD are mistakenly labelled as having HTG. Glycerol-blanking is required to reveal the actual TG, but it is costly. Since usual TG-lowering medications are ineffective or even harmful, novel methods to screen for individuals with GKD or pseudo-HTG are necessary. Objective: Through identification of a clinical case of GKD that was diagnosed by glycerol-blanking, we are proposing two potential methods to screen for pseudo-HTG, and presenting their reliability. Methods: The patient was recruited into an IRB-approved study investigating etiologies of dyslipidemia at the University of Pennsylvania. Patient provided consent for medical record review. Results: A 49-year-old man was referred for HTG management. His reported TG levels ranged between 490 and 559 mg/dL without any other adverse lipid levels for several years without a history of pancreatitis or diabetes mellitus. Intriguingly, he reported a family history of HTG. Since TG-lowering medications (fibrates and fish oil) had not reduced his TG levels, specialized lipid analyses were obtained: a non-blanked TG level of 521 mg/dL and a glycerol-blanked TG of 66 mg/dL, consistent with pseudo-HTG or hyperglycerolemia. Repeat glycerol blanked TG levels were 68 and 69 mg/dL, confirming the previous result, and the likely diagnosis of GKD. With two methods, estimated TG levels were calculated, using some of his laboratory values: (1) modified Friedewald equation to solve for TG with a direct LDL (dLDL) value, and (2) the application of a newly developed formula derived from a collection of 17,545 patient samples, to calculate the absolute TG-gap, using apolipoprotein A and B, estimating TG levels (% deltaTG), and determining whether a TG mesurement might be falsely deviated from the “plausible” TG value. Although neither methods showed perfect concordance, the calculated TG-valued derived by the two methods were significantly lower than the non-glycerol blanked TG values. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The patient was clinically diagnosed with GKD, and was taken off of fibrate and the recently added niacin. These two methods can be used quickly to screen for pseudo-HTG or patients with GKD. Currently, it is unknown whether high glycerol levels are associated with high cardiovascular risks.