Ana Agapito

PROP1 gene analysis in Portuguese patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiency

Objective  Mutations of the PROP1 gene lead to combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD), which is characterized by a deficiency of GH, TSH, LH/FSH, PRL and, less frequently, ACTH. This study was undertaken to investigate the molecular defect in a cohort of patients with CPHD.

Gitelman syndrome and primary hyperparathyroidism: a rare association

Gitelman syndrome(GS) is a rare autosomal recessive salt-losing tubulopathy of young adults, characterised by hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalciuria and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Hypercalcaemia due to hypocalciuria in these patients is extremely rare. A 25-year-old healthy woman was referred to the Endocrinology clinic for evaluation of persistent hypokalaemia. She presented with fatigue, myalgias, cramps and paraesthesia. Her physical examination was normal. Laboratory workup revealed: K+ 2.7 mEq/L (r.v.3.5–5.1), 24 hours urinary K+ 84.7 mEq/24 hours (r.v.25–125), Mg2+ 0.71 mg/dL (r.v.1.6–2.6), 24 hours urinary Mg2+ 143.1 mg/24 hours (r.v.73–122), Ca2+ 12 mg/dL (r.v.8.4–10.2), aldosterone 47.1 ng/mL (r.v. 4–31) and active renin 374.7 uUI/mL (r.v.4.4–46.1). She was diagnosed with GS and was treated with spironolactone, oral K+ and Mg2+ supplementation. Further investigation confirmed hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism owing to a single parathyroid adenoma. Following parathyroidectomy serum calcium normalised. Current knowledge favours that hypomagnesaemia in patients with GS protects them from hypercalcaemia. In this context of multiple electrolyte imbalances, correction of hypomagnesaemia is a challenge and should be done carefully. Like in our patient, aetiology of hypercalcaemia should be promptly diagnosed and reversed.

ARMC5 Mutation in a Portuguese Family with Primary Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia (PBMAH)

Summary PBMAH is a rare etiology of Cushing syndrome (CS). Familial clustering suggested a genetic cause that was recently confirmed, after identification of inactivating germline mutations in armadillo repeat-containing 5 (ARMC5) gene. A 70-year-old female patient was admitted due to left femoral neck fracture in May 2014, in Orthopedics Department. During hospitalization, hypertension (HTA) and hypokalemia were diagnosed. She presented with clinical signs of hypercortisolism and was transferred to the Endocrinology ward for suspected CS. Laboratory workup revealed: ACTH <5 pg/mL; urinary free cortisol (UFC), 532 µg/24 h (normal range: 20–90); failure to suppress the low-dose dexamethasone test (0.5 mg every 6 h for 48 h): cortisol 21 µg/dL. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed enlarged nodular adrenals (right, 55 × 54 × 30 mm; left, 85 × 53 × 35 mm), and she was submitted to bilateral adrenalectomy. In 2006, this patient’s 39-year-old daughter had been treated by one of the authors. She presented with severe clinical and biological hypercortisolism. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed massively enlarged nodular adrenals with maximal axis of 15 cm for both. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. In this familial context of PBMAH, genetic study was performed. Leucocyte DNA genotyping identified in both patients the same germline heterozygous ARMC5 mutation in exon 1 c.172_173insA p.I58Nfs*45. The clinical cases herein described have an identical phenotype with severe hypercortisolism and huge adrenal glands, but different ages at the time of diagnosis. Current knowledge of inheritance of this disease, its insidious nature and the well-known deleterious effect of hypercortisolism favor genetic study to timely identify and treat these patients. Learning points: PBMAH is a rare etiology of CS, characterized by functioning adrenal macronodules and variable cortisol secretion. The asymmetric/asynchronous involvement of only one adrenal gland can also occur, making disease diagnosis a challenge. Familial clustering suggests a genetic cause that was recently confirmed, after identification of inactivating germline mutations in armadillo repeat-containing 5 (ARMC5) gene. The insidious nature of this disease and the well-known deleterious effect of hypercortisolism favor genetic study of other family members, to diagnose and treat these patients timely. As ARMC5 is expressed in many organs and recent findings suggest an association of PBMAH and meningioma, a watchful follow-up is required.

Macroprolactinemia: prevalence and clinical characteristics in a cohort of hyperprolactinemic patients assessed for macroprolactinemia

Joanna Prokop DOI: 10.3252/pso.eu.18ECE.2016 Pituitary Clinical Among premenopausal women with macroPRL the most common complaints were: galactorrhea (23,5%), menstrual irregularities (29,4%), infertility (29,4%), while among those with true hyperPRL they were found in 45%, 50%, and 15% respectively. Some of the patients presented more than one symptom. No symptoms were reported in 22,2% of patients with macroPRL and 14,8% with true hyperPRL. Three male patients had macroPRL and symptoms: erectile dysfunction, infertility or galactorrhea. Two men with true hyperPRL presented erectile dysfunction with gynecomastia and headaches with visual disturbances (Table 2). Macroprolactinemia: prevalence and clinical characteristics in a cohort of hyperprolactinemic patients assessed for macroprolactinemia