A novel mutation in the GATA3 gene of a Japanese patient with PTH-deficient hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a disease characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia derived from deficient actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH). We report the case of 43-year-old Japanese man with PTH-deficient hypoparathyroidism introduced to an endocrinologist in our hospital. As he had complained of hearing disturbance since the age of 20, we decided to investigate the GATA3 gene. Direct sequencing of PCR products identified a novel heterozygous mutation, 432insG, in the GATA3 gene. The mutation introduces a premature stop codon at exon 4 (K302X), which results in a loss of both zinc finger domains of the GATA3 protein. However, because the mutation in the GATA3 gene found in this patient is highly likely to impair GATA3 function, we speculate that it is extremely unlikely that this patient has mutations in other genes that cause PTH-deficient hypoparathyroidism, in addition to the GATA3 mutation described here.     

Cis-platinum therapy in a patient with extragonadal seminoma and hydronephrosis of the only functioning kidney. A case report

A 41-year-old man presented with a massive abdominal extragonadal seminoma. His only functioning kidney was hydronephrotic and the serum creatinine clearance was 55 ml/min. He was given combination chemotherapy including cis-platinum. At 46 months' follow-up he has improved renal function and no evidence of active disease.     

Acquired Gitelman syndrome in a primary Sjögren syndrome patient with a SLC12A3 heterozygous mutation: A case report and literature review

Acquired Gitelman's syndrome (GS) associated with Sjögren syndrome (SS) is rare. A 50‐year‐old woman was admitted to our department because of nausea, acratia and sicca complex. Laboratory tests after admission showed renal failure, hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalciuria, all of which met the diagnostic criteria for GS. Diagnostic evaluation identified primary SS as the cause of the acquired GS. Light microscopy of the renal tissue from the patient showed severe membranoproliferative glomerunephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis. Immunohistochemical staining of the renal tissue showed the absence of sodium‐chloride co‐transporter (NCCT) in distal convoluted tubules. Genetic analysis of chromosomal DNA extracted from the patient's peripheral blood showed SLC12A3 gene heterozygous mutation. The reported case was comprehensively analyzed on the basis of the clinical features, and laboratory, pathological and genetic test findings. The patient has achieved a complete remission after meticulous care and appropriate treatment.     

Irreversible severe kidney injury and anuria in a 3‐month‐old girl with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome under administration of eculizumab

Histopathological findings can play an important role in the management of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). We report a case of aHUS that did not recover from anuria, despite the administration of eculizumab, with impressive histopathological findings. A 3‐month‐old girl was admitted because of poor feeding, vomiting, and diarrhoea without haemorrhage. She had anuria and severe hypertension, and laboratory results showed haemolytic anaemia with schizocytes, thrombocytopenia, and renal impairment. Although no mutations in the complement system or diacylglycerol kinase epsilon were detected, she was diagnosed with aHUS owing to the clinical course and by the exclusion of Escherichia coli infection and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Plasma exchange was performed once at day 2 and eculizumab therapy was started from day 18, with a severe infusion reaction at the first administration. After the initiation of eculizumab, although the serum lactate dehydrogenase level improved gradually, she did not recover from anuria. Pathological findings of the kidney biopsy at day 37 included diffuse arteriolar and arterial luminal stenosis with remarkable thickness and sclerotic changes of the media and intima, which are suggestive of aHUS. In addition, most glomeruli had global sclerosis and were collapsed, and 80% of the tubulointerstitial compartment showed atrophic changes with infiltration of inflammatory cells. The present case is possibly a kidney‐specific fulminant type of aHUS. Although showing efficacy against thrombotic microangiopathy, eculizumab did not improve kidney function. The pathological findings reflected the severe and irreversible kidney injury.     

Remission induced by interferon alfa in a patient with massive osteolysis and extension of lymph-hemangiomatosis: a severe case of Gorham-Stout syndrome

The treatment of massive osteolysis with lymphangioma and/or hemangioma (Gorham-Stout syndrome) has been controversial. The authors report on a patient with multiple massive osteolyses and extensive lymph-hemangiomatosis whose lesions were reduced by interferon alfa therapy.A 2-year-old girl had complained of left chylothorax. Thoracoscopy showed an increase in small lymphatic vessels in the chest wall. The chylothorax was improved by coagulation of the lymphatic vessels. Later, multiple massive osteolyses appeared in the left 11th and 12th ribs, the TH10-L3 vertebrae, and the right femur. There were also hemangiomas in the liver and spleen, a tumor lesion in the left lower chest wall, and hemangiomatous change on the skin surface of the left back. The left lung had only a minimal air content. After OK-432 was injected into the femur and chest wall lesions, the femur lesion disappeared. Then, as right chylothorax appeared, OK-432 was injected into the right pulmonary cavity. The chylothorax disappeared, but pericardial effusion appeared. After steroid pulse therapy, pericardial effusion disappeared. During these treatments, the 7th to 10th ribs disappeared from the x-ray and scoliosis developed. One month later, a cloudy fluid collection in the right lung was found on computed tomography. Interferon alfa and steroid pulse therapy were started. Interferon alfa (1,500,000 units) was subcutaneously administered daily for 2 months and was gradually reduced and maintained at 1,500,000 unit/wk. Steroids were also reduced and maintained at 5 mg/d of predonine. Later, the progress of osteolysis and the extension of lymph-hemangiomatosis stopped. Ten months later, hemangioma in the back disappeared, and the 7th to 10th ribs, which had disappeared, reappeared. The interferon alfa therapy was stopped 14 months after it was administered. The patient's condition has been stable for 10 months since then. At this time, computed tomography shows regression of the hemangiomatous lesion in the back.The authors clinically diagnosed the patient as having Gorham-Stout syndrome with extension of lymph-hemangiomatosis. Interferon alfa with or without steroid therapy should be a choice for patients with extension lesions.     

Combined use of plasmapheresis and antidigoxin antibodies in a patient with severe digoxin intoxication and acute renal failure.

Digitalis intoxication is a common and potentially life-threateningsituation [1]. In this condition, the administration of digoxin-specificantibodies (Fab) have proven to be effective in controllingserious complications [2]. However, in patients with severerenal impairment, the clearance of Fab–digoxin complexesis     

Combined adrenal adenoma and myelolipoma in a patient with Cushing''s syndrome: Case report and review of the literature

Myelolipoma is an uncommon benign tumor of unknown etiology and adrenal myelolipoma is rarely associated with endocrine disorders. We report a 67-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome due to left adrenal adenoma associated with myelolipoma. The patient underwent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy and pathological examination revealed an adrenocortical adenoma associated with myelolipoma. To the best of our knowledge, 25 cases of endocrine dysfunction associated with myelolipoma have been reported in the English and Japanese literature. We review and discuss the pathogenesis of adrenal myelolipoma.     

Dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta in a patient with nephrotic syndrome and brucellosis

We report the case of a 61-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome due to glomerulonephritis and chronic brucellosis complicated by dissecting aortic aneurysm. The patient worked as a veterinarian and was diagnosed for chronic but non-active brucellosis with positive serum test for Brucella melitensis in the past. Administration of cyclosporine in combination with low dose prednisone resulted at least in proteinuria reduction and partial remission for 3 years. Dissecting aortic aneurysm was treated by insertion of a stent-graft, that resulted in canalization of blood flow and retraction of aneurysm wall later in the course in our patient.     

Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies in the diagnosis of Goodpasture syndrome: a comparison of different assays.

BACKGROUND: The role of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies in the pathogenesis of Goodpasture syndrome (GPS) is firmly established. Untreated, the disease may follow a fulminating course. Early identification of patients has important implications in terms of management and prognosis. Therefore, a diagnostic test for the determination of circulating anti-GBM antibodies, of very high sensitivity and specificity, is necessary. A number of assays, using different antigenic substrates, are available, but studies comparing the 'performances' of the different tests are scarce. METHODS: The aim of our work was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of four immunoassay-based anti-GBM antibodies kits. Thirty-four serum samples from 19 GPS patients, 41 pathological and 28 normal controls were studied retrospectively (the follow-up samples were not included in the analysis of performance data). Cut-off limits were derived from receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. RESULTS: All the assays showed a comparable good sensitivity (between 94.7 and 100.0%), whereas specificity varied considerably (from 90.9 to 100.0%). The better performance in terms of sensitivity/specificity was achieved by a fluorescence immunoassay which utilizes a recombinant antigen. CONCLUSION: All the assays have a good performance, with high sensitivity; however, the specificity may vary considerably.     

Invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the hand in a patient with Kindler syndrome: Case report and literature review

Kindler syndrome is a rare, autosomal, recessive genodermatosis characterized by trauma-induced acral blisters in infancy and childhood, photosensitivity and progressive poikiloderma. Very few cases in the literature report an association with squamous cell carcinoma, even though it is a very well-known, long-term complication. A case involving a 23-year-old woman with a history of Kindler syndrome who was admitted to the department of plastic surgery (Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Quebec) with an extensive ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma of the right hand is presented. A local excision of the tumour was initially performed, but positive margins and clinically palpable axillary lymphadenopathy over the course of hospitalization necessitated below-elbow amputation and lymph node dissection. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the second reported case of aggressive metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the hand in a patient with Kindler syndrome.     

Coexistence of three distinct adrenal tumors in the same adrenal gland in a patient with primary aldosteronism and preclinical Cushing's syndrome

A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of hypokalemia. Physical examination revealed no signs of excessive adrenocortical steroid production, as are found in Cushing's syndrome. Her plasma renin activity (PRA) was suppressed (0.10 ng/ml per h), and her serum aldosterone level was high (30.0 ng/dl). PRA was not increased after a renin-releasing test. Her plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level was low (<5 pg/ml), but her serum cortisol level was normal (21.0 μg/dl). Administration of 8 mg dexamethasone did not suppress her plasma cortisol level. Finally, she was diagnosed with clinical primary aldosteronism associated with preclinical Cushing's syndrome. Magnetic resonance image revealed three sequential nodular masses (each 15 mm × 15 mm) in the right adrenal gland. A right adrenalectomy was performed by endoscopy. The three removed tumors appeared to have different characteristics. Microscopic examination revealed that the upper and lower tumors were adrenocortical adenomas, and the middle tumor was a black adenoma. Immunohistochemical staining for the enzymes involved in cortisol biosynthesis suggested that the upper tumor secreted aldosterone, whereas either or both of the two other tumors secreted cortisol. Surprisingly, at 33 years of age, she had been diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome, due to a cortisol-producing adrenocortical adenoma, and she had received a left adrenalectomy. Clinically and pathophysiologically, this was a very rare case.     

A new acute inflammatory syndrome related to the introduction of mycophenolate mofetil in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is increasingly used for prevention of allograft rejection and to treat immune disorders. We report the development of an acute inflammatory syndrome in two patients with Wegener's granulomatosis after MMF was introduced, because of persistent renal and systemic disease activity despite cyclophosphamide treatment. Within 1 week both patients developed an acute inflammatory syndrome, characterized by fever, arthralgias and muscle pain. No infection could be detected and no indications for increased Wegener's activity were present. MMF was stopped resulting in a rapid and complete resolution of the syndrome. A rechallenge with 2 g of MMF in the second patient resulted in a relapse of the syndrome within 4 days. There was an association between symptoms and increased levels of mycophenolic acid (MPA) acyl glucuronide and serum interleukin-6, suggesting the induction of inflammatory cytokines by MPA acyl glucuronide as the cause of the syndrome. Therefore, special attention should be given to side effects such as fever, arthralgias and muscle pain when treating patients with Wegener's granulomatosis during the active phase. Because this side effect of MMF may also occur after solid organ transplantation and in other immune disorders, pharmacokinetic profiling of MPA and MPA acyl glucuronide is needed in future studies with MMF.