[GATA2 gene mutations: 3 cases]

INTRODUCTION

Heterozygous germline mutations of GATA2 gene (guanine-adenine-thymine-adenine binding protein 2) are hereditary mutations that can be pathogenic, sometimes occurring sporadically, responsible for a florid clinical-biological picture, sometimes serious and quickly leading to the death.

CASE REPORTS

We reported two women and one man with germline mutations in the GATA2 gene. The first patient, aged 19, initially presented with monocytopenia and chronic lymphedema of the four limbs, suggestive of Emberger syndrome. The second patient, 28-years-old, presented with a disseminated atypical mycobacterium (Mycobacterium kansasii) infection, raising suspicion of an immune deficiency such as MonoMAC syndrome (deficiency syndrome of dendritic cells, monocytes, B lymphocytes and NK cells). The last patient, 30-years-old, presented with pancytopenia, leading to the diagnosis of a family form of myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia characterized by a mutation of the GATA2 gene.

CONCLUSIONS

Each case illustrates a typical clinical presentation of GATA2 deficiency, although the evolution of these syndromes ultimately reveals a complex, heterogeneous and intricate picture of hematological, dermatological, infectious, pulmonary, ENT or oncological symptoms. Mutations in the GATA2 gene remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the internist, and require multidisciplinary management given the florid picture that can be of interest to all specialties. The clinical spectrum of these GATA2 mutations as well as the latest management recommendations from the recent litterature and the "GATA2 club" are described in this article.

Genetic predisposition syndromes: when should they be considered in the work-up of MDS?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by cytopenias, ineffective hematopoiesis, myelodysplasia, and an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). While sporadic MDS is primarily a disease of the elderly, MDS in children and young and middle-aged adults is frequently associated with underlying genetic predisposition syndromes. In addition to the classic hereditary bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFS) such as Fanconi Anemia and Dyskeratosis Congenita, in recent years there has been an increased awareness of non-syndromic familial MDS/AML predisposition syndromes such as those caused by mutations in GATA2, RUNX1, CEBPA, and SRP72 genes. Here, we will discuss the importance of recognizing an underlying genetic predisposition syndrome a patient with MDS, will review clinical scenarios when genetic predisposition should be considered, and will provide a practical overview of the common BMFS and familial MDS/AML syndromes which may be encountered in adult patients with MDS.