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  • Congenital disorders of glycosylation
    Publication . Mendes, Ana Raquel; Quelhas, D; Correia, Joana; Paiva Coelho, Margarida; Bandeira, Anabela; Martins, Esmeralda
    Congenital disorders of glycosylation are a highly variable, rapidly expanding family of genetic diseases that result from defects in the synthesis of glycans. The vast majority of these monogenic diseases are inherited in an autosomal recessive way, but some types follow an autosomal dominant or X-linked inheritance. The present work aimed to review the state of the art of congenital disorders of glycosylation, including available therapeutic options, and present a simplified diagnostic approach to this group of diseases. Congenital disorders of glycosylation can be classified into four categories: N-linked glycosylation defects, O-linked glycosylation defects, combined glycosylation defects, and glycosphingolipid and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor synthesis defects. The phenotype may range from mild to severe, depending on disease severity. Clinical features include dysmorphic features, neurologic, dermatologic, cardiac, endocrine, immunologic, hematologic, gastrointestinal and liver involvement, and skeletal muscle abnormalities. As there is no universal or pathognomonic sign or symptom and no sensitive diagnostic test, it is of foremost importance to keep a high index of suspicion of these diseases. When a congenital disorder of glycosylation is suspected, the first step in screening is to perform serum transferrin isoelectric focusing. Molecular genetic testing is the most specific diagnostic test. Treatment is usually symptomatic, with specific treatment only available for some of these disorders. Since congenital defects of glycosylation may affect any organ at any age and have variable clinical presentation, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with multiorgan involvement.
  • Should patients with Phosphomannomutase 2-CDG (PMM2-CDG) be screened for adrenal insufficiency?
    Publication . Čechová, Anna; Honzík, Tomáš; Edmondson, Andrew C.; Ficicioglu, Can; Serrano, Mercedes; Barone, Rita; De Lonlay, Pascale; Schiff, Manuel; Witters, Peter; Lam, Christina; Patterson, Marc; Janssen, Mirian C.H.; Correia, Joana; Quelhas, D; Sykut-Cegielska, Jolanta; Plotkin, Horacio; Morava, Eva; Sarafoglou, Kyriakie
    PMM2-CDG is the most common congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) accounting for almost 65% of known CDG cases affecting N-glycosylation. Abnormalities in N-glycosylation could have a negative impact on many endocrine axes. There is very little known on the effect of impaired N-glycosylation on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and whether CDG patients are at risk of secondary adrenal insufficiency and decreased adrenal cortisol production. Cortisol and ACTH concentrations were simultaneously measured between 7:44 am to 1 pm in forty-three subjects (20 female, median age 12.8 years, range 0.1 to 48.6 years) participating in an ongoing international, multi-center Natural History study for PMM2-CDG (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03173300). Of the 43 subjects, 11 (25.6%) had cortisol below 5 μg/dl and low to normal ACTH levels, suggestive of secondary adrenal insufficiency. Two of the 11 subjects have confirmed central adrenal insufficiency and are on hydrocortisone replacement and/or stress dosing during illness; 3 had normal and 1 had subnormal cortisol response to ACTH low-dose stimulation test but has not yet been started on therapy; the remaining 5 have upcoming stimulation testing planned. Our findings suggest that patients with PMM2-CDG may be at risk for adrenal insufficiency. Monitoring of morning cortisol and ACTH levels should be part of the standard care in patients with PMM2-CDG.