Sagliker syndrome in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism and chronic renal failure: Case report

Sagliker Syndrome: A Case Report of Facial Deformities and Renal Osteodystrophy Secondary to Hyperparathyroidism in End-Stage Renal Disease

Sagliker syndrome (SS) is a rare but distinctive form of renal osteodystrophy associated with poorly managed secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We present a case of a 28-year-old male with end-stage CKD on hemodialysis for 10 years, who exhibited progressive facial deformities and maxillofacial bone pain. Physical examination revealed bilateral expansion of the maxillary and mandibular bones and facial asymmetry. Radiological findings included diffuse bone thickening and multilocular cysts in the maxillofacial bones, while laboratory tests showed decreased levels of calcium and elevated parathyroid hormone, confirming SHPT. Despite multidisciplinary management involving nephrology, endocrinology, and maxillofacial surgery, the patient's condition deteriorated and he manifested community-acquired pneumonia leading to cardiopulmonary arrest and death. This case underscores the challenges in managing severe HPT in CKD and emphasizes the importance of early assessment and comprehensive multidisciplinary care to prevent irreversible complications.

Case report: Sagliker syndrome in the patient with recurrent tertiary hyperparathyroidism due to intrathyroidal parathyroid carcinoma

Sagliker syndrome (SS) is an extremely rare disorder that manifests in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing programmed hemodialysis as a renal replacement therapy. Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in these patients is still challenging. The main clinical manifestations of SS include craniofacial and fingertip deformities, dental anomalies, gingival hyperplasia, short stature, hearing loss, neurological and psychiatric impairment. The etiology and pathogenesis of SS in patients with SHPT require further clarification. However, mutations in the GNAS1, FGF23, and FGFR3 genes were described in some patients, suggesting a possible role of genetic predisposition to the syndrome. The preferred therapeutic approach for SS is surgery, but the volume of the operation is debated. The main surgical strategies include total, subtotal parathyroidectomy, or total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation of the parathyroid gland (PG). Unfortunately, parathyroidectomy does not contribute to the regression of significant skeletal deformities. We present a unique clinical case of a patient with classical features of SS, recurrent tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT) after total parathyroidectomy due to intrathyroidal parathyroid carcinoma (PC).

Sagliker Syndrome in a Patient With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report From Palestine

Sagliker syndrome (SS) is a rare complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on prolonged dialysis due to uncontrolled secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). SS manifests with a constellation of clinical manifestations, including short stature, craniomaxillofacial abnormalities, hearing loss, and neuropsychiatric disorders. This article reports a 33-year-old male patient with CKD who complained of progressive disfiguring facial changes, multiple recurrent fractures, and shortened height. The condition affects his quality of life. On workup, his lab results showed highly elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, and phosphate. His comorbidities and poor health status limit his ability to do parathyroidectomy (Ptx). A reliable diagnostic approach must be considered, enabling physicians to make earlier interventions and get better outcomes.

Cephalometric craniofacial features of patients with Sagliker syndrome: a primary analysis of our experience

Background

Sagliker syndrome (SS) is characterized by a severe uglifying facial appearance resulting from untreated or inadequately treated secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). To date, the craniofacial morphology of patients with SS has yet to be analyzed. The present research sought to cephalometrically evaluate the craniofacial features of patients with SS and to perform an in-depth analysis of their serum biochemical parameters, with the aim of furthering the theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and prevention of SS.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 9 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for SS were included in this study, and their serum biochemical parameters were collected. After subjecting standard lateral cephalometric radiographic images to correction for distortions caused by magnification followed by digitization, we conducted a cephalometric analysis. Student's two-tailed t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data. Thirty-three patients with patients with SHPT alone were also included as controls.

Results

The lower anterior facial height (ANS-ME) and total anterior facial height (N-Me) measurements of patients with SS were significantly increased compared to those of the controls. The angles between the Frankfort horizontal, palatal, and occlusal planes and the mandibular plane, were greater in the SS group than in the control group, as was the gonial angle. Patients with SS also exhibited a significantly larger maxillary protrusion angle and relative position of the maxilla to the mandible. Most patients with SS had class II malocclusion, whereas most of the controls exhibited normal occlusion. Soft tissue largely followed the same pattern as craniofacial changes. Our investigation also showed that among patients with SHPT, female sex, longer duration of dialysis, and higher serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and intact parathyroid hormone were associated with development to SS.

Conclusions

Patients with SS show facial and biochemical differences compared to patients with SHPT. Female sex, long dialysis duration, and high serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase may be potential risk factors for SS.

Perioperative Care and Airway Management for a Patient With Sagliker Syndrome

In this report, we present a case of a patient with a history of complex airway anatomy secondary to Sagliker syndrome (SS) who presented with acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory failure. The patient's difficult airway, complicated medical comorbidities, and poor psychosocial status posed a unique challenge for providing safe care during an emergency. The perioperative anesthesia service (PAS), led by critical care anesthesiologists, coordinated a multidisciplinary airway management plan. The PAS team also assisted this medically complex patient with her decision-making process. A 37-year-old female with SS, which is characterized by irreversible disfiguring of head and neck anatomy secondary to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and poorly controlled hyperparathyroidism, presented with acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory failure due to hypervolemia. The patient's respiratory status rapidly deteriorated despite aggressive hemodialysis, requiring transfer to the ICU. Given the challenging anatomy and poor respiratory reserve in this patient, the PAS team helped coordinate a comprehensive airway plan that involved transnasal fiberoptic intubation, and in case of emergency, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to a surgical airway. During the decision-making process, the patient was found to be in psychological distress and had limited insights into her condition. The PAS team helped facilitated multidisciplinary goals-of-care discussions for the patient and her family. Fortunately, the patient's oxygenation improved with noninvasive oxygen support and aggressive hemodialysis without the need for intubation. She was discharged with outpatient follow-up appointments arranged to discuss long-term management. This is the first reported case of SS in the United States. The early involvement by the PAS team helped coordinate a multidisciplinary care plan for this patient with a difficult airway and complex comorbidities. This report highlights an innovative airway algorithm for a potentially "cannot-intubate, cannot ventilate" complex airway, and the PAS team's role in providing support for the patient's physical and psychological needs, suggesting that a comprehensive perioperative service can improve the quality and safety of care, not only for surgical patients but also for medically complex patients as well.