Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is associated with familial syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), 2A (MEN2A), MEN-like syndromes (CDKN1B), and CDC73-related disorder (hyperparathyroidismjaw tumor syndrome (HPJT)). Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) caused by CASR variants is an important differential diagnosis for pHPT. In order to evaluate the contribution of hereditary causes to pHPT in patients encountered in a specialized clinic, we conducted a retrospective study on patients with pHPT that underwent germline genetic testing. We evaluated 46 patients referred to a Cancer Genetics Clinic. Reasons for referral were young age (age < 40) for 29 patients (63%), multi-gland disease for 23 patients (50%), and a positive family history of pHPT for 11 patients (24%). All 46 patients underwent genetic evaluation. A total of 11 rare variants were found (CASR (4), CDC73 (2), MEN1 (2) CDKN1B (1), and RET (2)). One MEN1 variant was classified as pathogenic, and all others were variants of uncertain significance (VUS). All patients with CASR variants had clinical features of FHH and were counselled against parathyroidectomy. Both patients with CDC73 variants were counselled about recurrence of pHPT and parathyroid cancer. Neither of the RET variants were MEN2-associated. The CDKN1B variant was regarded as a true VUS and no action was taken. In this study, genetic testing impacted clinical care in 7 (15%) patients. We suggest that all patients < 40 years of age, with multi-gland disease, single gland disease refractory to treatment, and a positive family history for pHPT or associated tumors should be considered for genetic evaluation.
BackgroundJuvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an auto-immune muscle disease which presents with skin manifestations and muscle weakness. At least 10% of the patients with JDM present with acquired lipodystrophy. Laminopathies are caused by mutations in the lamin genes and cover a wide spectrum of diseases including muscular dystrophies and lipodystrophy. The p.T10I LMNA variant is associated with a phenotype of generalized lipodystrophy that has also been called atypical progeroid syndrome.Case presentationA previously healthy female presented with bilateral proximal lower extremity muscle weakness at age 4. She was diagnosed with JDM based on her clinical presentation, laboratory tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She had subcutaneous fat loss which started in her extremities and progressed to her whole body. At age 7, she had diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, low leptin levels and low body fat on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, and was diagnosed with acquired generalized lipodystrophy (AGL). Whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed a heterozygous c.29C > T; p.T10I missense pathogenic variant in LMNA, which encodes lamins A and C. Muscle biopsy confirmed JDM rather than muscular dystrophy, showing perifascicular atrophy and perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration. Immunofluroscence of skin fibroblasts confirmed nuclear atypia and fragmentation.ConclusionsThis is a unique case with p.T10I LMNA variant displaying concurrent JDM and AGL. This co-occurrence raises the intriguing possibility that LMNA, and possibly p.T10I, may have a pathogenic role in not only the occurrence of generalized lipodystrophy, but also juvenile dermatomyositis. Careful phenotypic characterization of additional patients with laminopathies as well as individuals with JDM is warranted.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s40842-018-0058-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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