Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Loss of function mutations in SGPL1, a key component of sphingolipid metabolism, are associated with accumulation of sphingolipid intermediates giving rise to a multisystemic disease incorporating primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) and progressive renal and neurological disease. Sphingolipid accumulation is implicated in mitochondrial pathology.Objective: To investigate the impact of SGPL1 deficiency on mitochondrial morphology/ f...

Short stature (SS), defined as height ≤−2 SDS for a given population, comprises ~50% of new patient referrals to paediatric endocrine clinics. Since >80% SS children in the UK do not receive a clear diagnosis, enhanced genetic testing and stratification is a fundamental need. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was offered to rare disease patients recruited to the 100 000 Genomes Project (100KGP), leading to new clinical diagnoses in ~25% of participants. The 100KGP ...

Background: A diagnosis Silver–Russell Syndrome (SRS) is important for early institution of appropriate management, access to therapy and reduces the burden of diagnostic uncertainty. SRS is molecularly heterogeneous and 11p15 LOM/upd(7)mat account for ~60% cases. Monogenic causes include variants in HMGA2, CDKN1C, IGF-2, PLAG1 and contribute to 5% cases. Clinical SRS diagnosis requires the fulfilment of ≥4/6 Netchine–Harbison Clinical Scoring ...

Background: Growth hormone insensitivity (GHI) is a continuum defined by normal/elevated growth hormone (GH), low IGF-I levels and growth restriction. Non-classical/mild-moderate GHI is poorly characterised and is frequently underdiagnosed. Heterozygous dominant negative (DN) gene variants located in the regions encoding the intracellular/transmembrane domains of the GH receptor cause a ‘non-classical’ GHI phenotype.Hypothesis/Objective: Detail...

Case history: Two unrelated male patients were referred for evaluation of short stature. The first patient aged 16.5 years, had a birth weight of 2.6 kg at term (BWSDS -2.4), height 153 cm (HSDS -3.2) at referral and normal BMI SDS of 0.6. He had early postnatal hypoglycemia, which was conservatively managed, but no other significant clinical history. He had relative macrocephaly and disproportionate short stature. His mother was also short with a similar phenotype (height 147...

Background: Congenital isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) is a rare condition characterised by low plasma ACTH and serum cortisol with normal production of other pituitary hormones. TBX19 is a T-box pituitary restricted transcription factor important for POMC gene transcription and terminal differentiation of POMC-expressing cells. TBX19 gene mutations have been shown to cause neonatal-onset congenital IAD. To date 25 mutations in TBX19 have been described, five ...

Background: GH Insensitivity (GHI) is usually caused by mutations in the GH receptor (GHR). Our centre previously described the first GHR pseudoexon mutation (42700896A>G, c. 618+792A>G). Inclusion of this 108bp pseudoexon is predicted to lead to in-frame insertion of 36 amino acid residues in the dimerization domain of the GHR. This results in defective trafficking rather than impaired signalling, causing partial loss-of-function and moderat...

Background: Growth Hormone Insensitivity is usually caused by mutations in the Growth Hormone receptor (GHR). Patients present with short stature, high GH levels, low IGF-I levels and typical Laron syndrome facial features. Our centre previously described the first GHR pseudoexon mutation (42700896A>G, c.618+792A>G). The inclusion of this pseudoexon is predicted to cause in-frame insertion of 36 amino acid residues between exons 6 and 7. This insertion in the ...

Primary adrenal insufficiency in children can be due to mutations in >20 genes, most commonly CYP21A2, giving rise to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Phenotypically these disorders overlap and present with conditions ranging from isolated (or familial) glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD) to syndromic disorders involving multiple tissues. Distinguishing between them can be problematic, especially where biochemical testing is not possible or not undertaken. Over the last 30 ...

Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) can be associated with significant morbidity in children of all ages, the most common cause being Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Several other rare inherited causes of PAI have been identified over the years which lack diagnostic phenotypic or biochemical signs, leaving genetic testing as the only approach to make a definitive diagnosis. Our cohort involves >440 patients who presented with features of PAI – hypogl...