Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Recently, major advances have been made in genetics of familial acromegaly and isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA). Mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon interacting protein (AIP) gene have been found in 25–50% of patients with FIPA and familial acromegaly.Aim of the study: Our goal was to identify and collect data on patients who met the criteria for FIPA.Patients and methods: The patients were identified between 2008...

Locus-specific databases (LSDBs) have been recently developed in response to the increasing number of genetic changes reported in the human genome. LSDBs have been created for several genes implicated in endocrine syndromes, for example MEN1, VHL, RET, GNAS, PRKAR1A and the SDH subunits. Mutations in AIP are found in about 20% of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) patients.The aim of this proj...

Approximately 25% of the reported cases of MTC are familial. Familial MTC can occur as part of MEN2-syndrome or as familial MTC alone (fMTC) defined as more than ten carriers in the kindred, or multiple carriers or affected members over the age of 50 with an adequate medical history excluding pheochromocytoma. The vast majority of MEN2 families (98%), as well as fMTC kindreds (88%) harbour a RET mutation. In MEN2A, mutations at codon-634 (exon-11) account for 85% of all mutati...

Introduction: Approximately 25% of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) cases arise in a familial setting, either as MEN2 or fMTC. While most of these are caused by mutations in the RET gene, a few families have unidentified mutations. Recently, a frameshift mutation in the ESR2 gene (coding oestrogen receptor beta) was found in a family with RET-negative fMTC associated with C-cell hyperplasia. In vitro, transfection of mutant ESR2 led t...

Introduction: Insulinomatosis is a rare disorder characterised by persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (PHH) due to the occurrence of multifocal pancreatic insulinomas. This condition, whose pathogenesis is unknown, can occur in a familial setting. Paradoxically, while some family members develop PHH, others develop diabetes mellitus.Methods: We have identified a family with autosomal dominant familial insulinomatosis and diabetes. Exome sequencing...

Introduction: Non-syndromic pituitary gigantism can result from AIP mutations and the recently identified Xq26.3 microduplications causing X-LAG.Patients and methods: DNA samples and clinical data were collected from 151 patients with pituitary gigantism. All samples were tested for AIP mutations; AIP mutation negative cases (AIPneg) were screened for Xq26.3 microduplications.Results: Xq26.3 micr...

Pituitary adenomas and phaeochromocytoma/paragangliomas (PHAEO/PGL) can very rarely occur in the same patient or in the same family. Together, they are not known to be part of any classical endocrine neoplasia syndromes. In some caes the pathogenetic mechanism may be secondary to a PHAEO secreting GHRH leading to somatotroph hyperplasia and clinical acromegaly. However, we suggest several other mechanisms which could lead to the development of pituitary and PHAEO/PGL together:...

Background: A founder mutated AIP allele, R304* was previously identified in several Irish familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) pedigrees from a small region within Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland, but the allele’s general population impact remains unknown.Aims: To estimate R304* prevalence in the general population and pituitary adenoma (PA) patients and to calculate the allele’s time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA).<p c...