Neonatal and Early Infancy Features of Patients With Inactivating PTH/PTHrP Signaling Disorders/Pseudohypoparathyroidism

BACKGROUND

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and related disorders newly referred to as inactivating PTH/PTHrP signaling disorders (iPPSD) are rare endocrine diseases. Many clinical features including obesity, neurocognitive impairment, brachydactyly, short stature, parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance, and resistance to other hormones such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) have been well described, yet they refer mainly to the full development of the disease during late childhood and adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

A significant delay in diagnosis has been reported; therefore, our objective is to increase awareness on neonatal and early infancy presentation of the diseases. To do so, we analyzed a large cohort of iPPSD/PHP patients.

METHODS

We included 136 patients diagnosed with iPPSD/PHP. We retrospectively collected data on birth and investigated the rate of neonatal complications occurring in each iPPSD/PHP category within the first month of life.

RESULTS

Overall 36% of patients presented at least one neonatal complication, far more than the general population; when considering only the patients with iPPSD2/PHP1A, it reached 47% of the patients. Neonatal hypoglycemia and transient respiratory distress appeared significantly frequent in this latter group, ie, 10.5% and 18.4%, respectively. The presence of neonatal features was associated with earlier resistance to TSH (P < 0.001) and with the development of neurocognitive impairment (P = 0.02) or constipation (P = 0.04) later in life.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that iPPSD/PHP and especially iPPSD2/PHP1A newborns require specific care at birth because of an increased risk of neonatal complications. These complications may predict a more severe course of the disease; however, they are unspecific which likely explains the diagnostic delay.

Adult height improved over decades in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to analyze height after cessation of growth (final height [FH]) and its evolution over the last decades in X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) patients in France, as the data on natural history of FH in XLH are lacking.

DESIGN

We performed a retrospective observational study in a large cohort of French XLH patients with available data on FH measurements.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We divided patients into 3 groups according to their birth year: group 1 born between 1950 and 1974, group 2 born between 1975 and 2000, and group 3 born between 2001 and 2006, respectively, and compared their FHs.

RESULTS

A total of 398 patients were included. Mean FHs were the following: for group 1, -2.31 ± 1.11 standard deviation score (SDS) (n = 127), 156.3 ± 9.7 cm in men and 148.6 ± 6.5 cm in women; for group 2, -1.63 ± 1.13 SDS (n = 193), 161.6 ± 8.5 cm in men and 153.1 ± 7.2 cm in women; and for group 3, -1.34 ± 0.87 SDS (n = 78), 165.1 ± 5.5 cm in men and 154.7 ± 6 cm in women. We report a significant increase in mean FH SDS over 3 generations of patients, for both men and women (P < .001). Final height SDS in male (-2.08 ± 1.18) was lower than in female (-1.70 ± 1.12) (P = .002).

CONCLUSION

The FH of XLH patients in France increased significantly over the last decades. Even though men's FHs improved more than women's, men with XLH remain shorter reflecting a more severe disease phenotype. While the results are promising, most patients with XLH remain short leaving room for improvement.

Recombinant growth hormone improves growth and adult height in patients with maternal inactivating GNAS mutations

BACKGROUND

Maternal inactivating GNAS mutations lead to pseudohypoparathyroidism 1A (PHP1A), newly classified as inactivating parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTHrP-signaling disorder type 2 of maternal inheritance (iPPSD2). Patients present with resistance to PTH and other hormones, subcutaneous ossifications, brachydactyly, short stature, and early-onset obesity. They can be born small for gestational age (SGA) and may present with growth hormone (GH) deficiency. The use of recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy has been sporadically reported, yet we lack data on the long-term efficacy and safety of rhGH, as well as on adult height.

OBJECTIVE

Our multicenter, retrospective, observational study describes growth in patients treated with rhGH in comparison with untreated iPPSD2/PHP1A controls.

METHODS

We included 190 patients, of whom 26 received rhGH. Height, weight, body mass index at various time points, and adult height were documented. We analyzed the effect of rhGH on adult height by using linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Adult height was available for 11/26 rhGH-treated individuals and for 69/164 controls. Patients treated with rhGH showed a gain in height of 0.7 standard deviation scores (SDS) after 1 year (CI +0.5 to +0.8, P < .001) and of 1.5 SDS after 3 years (CI +1.0 to +2.0, P < .001). Additionally, there was a clear beneficial impact of rhGH on adult height when compared with untreated controls, with a difference of 1.9 SDS (CI +1.1 to +2.7, P < .001). Body mass index SDS did not vary significantly upon rhGH therapy.

CONCLUSION

Recombinant human growth hormone treatment of iPPSD2/PHP1A patients with short stature improves growth and adult height. More studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.

Combined gait analysis and radiologic examination in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia

BACKGROUND

X-linked hypophosphataemia causes bone deformities and gait abnormalities that tend to worsen with age in the absence of appropriate treatment. However, doctors do not currently use quantitative tools to characterize these symptoms and their possible interactions.

METHODS

Radiographs and 3D gait data from 43 non-surgical growing children with X-linked hypophosphataemia were acquired prospectively. Data from age-matched typically developing children were used to form the reference group. Subgroups based on radiological parameters were compared with each other and with the reference population. Linear correlations between radiographic parameters and gait variables were examined.

FINDING

X-linked hypophosphatemic patients differed from the control group in pelvic tilt, ankle plantarflexion, knee flexion moment and power. High correlations with tibiofemoral angle were found for trunk lean, knee and hip adduction, and knee abduction moment. The Gait Deviation Index was below 80 for 88% of the patients with a high tibiofemoral angle (varus). Compared to other subgroups, varus patients had augmented trunk lean (+3°) and knee adduction (+10°) and decreased hip adduction (-5°) and ankle plantarflexion (-6°). Femoral torsion was associated with alterations in rotation at the knee, and hip.

INTERPRETATION

Gait abnormalities induced in X-linked hypophosphataemia have been described in a large cohort of children. Links between gait alterations and lower limb deformities were found, with varus deformities standing out. Since bony deformities appear when X-linked hypophosphatemic children start walking and have been found to alter gait patterns, we suggest that combining radiology with gait analysis may improve the clinical management of X-linked hypophosphataemia.

Growth patterns and outcomes of growth hormone therapy in patients with acrodysostosis

INTRODUCTION

Severe short stature is a feature of acrodysostosis, but data on growth are sparse. Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is used in some centers to increase final height, but no studies have been published so far. Our objective was to conduct a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study to investigate growth in individuals with both types of acrodysostosis, treated with rhGH or not; we used the new nomenclature to describe acrodysostosis, as this disease belongs to the large group of inactivating PTH/PTHrP signaling disorders (iPPSD); acrodysostosis refers to iPPSD4 (acrodysostosis type 1 due to PRKAR1A mutations) and iPPSD5 (acrodysostosis type 2, due to PDE4D mutations).

METHODS

We present auxological data from individuals with genetically characterized iPPSD4, and participants with clinical features of iPPSD5.

RESULTS

We included 20 and 17 individuals with iPPSD4 and iPPSD5, respectively. The rhGH-treated iPPSD4 patients (n = 9) were smaller at birth than those who did not receive rhGH (median - 2.2 SDS vs. - 1.7 SDS); they showed a trend to catch-up growth during rhGH therapy (median 0.5 SDS in the first year). The rhGH-treated patients (n = 5) reached a better final height compared to those who did not receive rhGH (n = 4) (median - 2.8 SDS vs. - 3.9 SDS), suggesting that rhGH is efficient to increase height in those patients. The difference in target height to final height ranged between 1.6 and 3.0 SDS for iPPSD4 not treated with rhGH (n = 4), 2.1-2.8 SDS for rhGH-treated iPPSD4 (n = 5), 0.6-5.5 SDS for iPPSD5 not treated with rhGH (n = 5) and 2.5-3.1 for rhGH-treated iPPSD5 (n = 2).

CONCLUSION

Final height may be positively influenced by rhGH in patients with acrodysostosis/iPPSD. Our rhGH-treated cohort started therapy relatively late, which might explain, at least in part, the limited effect of rhGH on height.

Growth pattern in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia treated with burosumab and growth hormone

BACKGROUND

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is characterized by increased serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), hypophosphatemia and insufficient endogenous synthesis of calcitriol. Beside rickets, odonto- and osteomalacia, disproportionate short stature is seen in most affected individuals. Vitamin D analogs and phosphate supplements, i.e., conventional therapy, can improve growth especially when started early in life. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in XLH children with short stature has positive effects, although few reports are available. Newly available treatment (burosumab) targeting increased FGF23 signaling leads to minimal improvement of growth in XLH children. So far, we lack data on the growth of XLH children treated with concomitant rhGH and burosumab therapies.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients received burosumab for at least 1 year after switching from conventional therapy. Of these, 23 received burosumab alone, while the others continued rhGH therapy after switching to burosumab. Children treated with burosumab alone showed a minimal change in height SDS after 1 year (mean ± SD 0.0 ± 0.3 prepubertal vs. 0.1 ± 0.3 pubertal participants). In contrast, rhGH clearly improved height during the first year of treatment before initiating burosumab (mean ± SD of height gain 1.0 ± 0.4); patients continued to gain height during the year of combined burosumab and rhGH therapies (mean ± SD height gain 0.2 ± 0.1). As expected, phosphate serum levels normalized upon burosumab therapy. No change in serum calcium levels, urinary calcium excretion, or 25-OHD levels was seen, though 1,25-(OH)₂D increased dramatically under burosumab therapy.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first study on growth under concomitant rhGH and burosumab treatments. We did not observe any safety issue in this cohort of patients which is one of the largest in Europe. Our data suggest that continuing treatment with rhGH after switching from conventional therapy to burosumab, if the height prognosis is compromised, might be beneficial for the final height.

Prospective analysis of muscle adiposity in children with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets versus control children

Context

Children with X-linked hypophosphatemic (XLH) rickets have muscle weakness that severely impairs their function. Intermuscular and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT and intraMAT, respectively) may contribute to this muscle weakness.

Objective

This work aimed to compare IMAT and intraMAT in XLH children vs typically developing (TD) children.

Methods

A prospective, monocentric cohort study was conducted of XLH (n = 11; aged 10.3 years [6-17]) and TD children (n = 22; aged 10.2 years [5-15.5]). All children underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the lower limbs; IMAT and intraMAT percentages were calculated after manual contouring of each muscle of the thigh and the deep fascia at mid-thigh level.

Results

XLH children were comparable in age but shorter and heavier than TD children (P = .001 and P = .03, respectively). They had smaller muscle length and volume than TD children (P < .001) but there was no statistically significant difference in muscle cross-sectional area between the groups (P = .833). The total percentage of IMAT was higher in XLH children (8.66% vs 3.60% in TD children; P < .0001). In addition, though the total percentage of intraMAT did not differ significantly (12.58% and 10.85% in XLH and TD children, respectively; P = .143) intraMAT was statistically significantly higher in XLH children than TD children in 4 of the 13 muscles studied.

Conclusion

Our results show that IMAT is higher in young children with XLH, independently of obesity and overweight. Further, these results will facilitate both the early prevention of functional and metabolic consequences of the increase in adipose tissue in XLH children.

Quantitative analysis of lower limb and pelvic deformities in children with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets

INTRODUCTION

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) rickets mainly causes leg deformities in children that can worsen as they grow. We hypothesized that quantifying the bone parameters will help to document and monitor these deformities in children with XLH.

METHODS

Thirty-five growing children affected by XLH were included in this cross-sectional study. Biplanar radiographs were taken with an EOS system allowing three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the pelvis and legs. Sixteen geometric parameters were calculated for the legs and pelvis. A control group of 40 age-matched patients was used to define the reference values for these geometric parameters.

RESULTS

For the legs, significant differences (p<0.05) appeared between the XLH patients and the control group in the neck-shaft angle, femur/tibia length ratio and HKS. Among the 70 legs in the XLH group, 23 were in genu varum, 25 were in genu valgum and 22 were straight. There were significant differences between the genu varum and genu valgum subgroups in the femoral mechanical angle and the HKS. A strong correlation was found between the femoral mechanical angle and femorotibial angle (r²=0.73) and between the femoral mechanical angle and HKS (r²=0.69) The sacral slope and acetabular anteversion were significant different from the reference values.

DISCUSSION

Quantitative radiological parameters derived from 3D reconstructions show that the deformities in XLH patients are (1) mainly in - but not limited to - the femoral shaft; (2) highly variable from one person to another. Some of these radiological parameters may be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of XLH patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; case control study.

Physiological Evaluation for Endurance Exercise Prescription in Sickle Cell Disease

PURPOSE

Although strenuous exercise may expose sickle cell disease (SCD) patients to risks of vaso-occlusive crisis, evidence suggests that regular endurance exercise may be beneficial. This study aimed to test (i) the safety and usefulness of a submaximal incremental exercise in evaluating physical ability of SCD patients and identify a marker for the management of endurance exercise and (ii) the feasibility of endurance exercise sessions in SCD patients.

METHODS

Twenty adults with SCD (12 men and 8 women) performed a submaximal incremental exercise used to determine the first lactate threshold (LT1) and stopped as soon as blood lactate concentration ([lactate]b) reached ≥4 mmol·L. Fifteen of those patients (8 men and 7 women) also performed three 30-min endurance exercise sessions at ~2.5 mmol·L of [lactate]b on separate occasions.

RESULTS

LT1 occurred at 47 ± 3 and 33 ± 3 W for men and women, respectively, demonstrating the extreme deconditioning and, thus, low physical ability of adult SCD patients. During endurance exercise, peripheral oxygen saturation and [lactate]b most often remained stable and within acceptable ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed strategy of submaximal incremental exercise allowed safe determination of LT1, an important parameter of patients' physical ability. The study also demonstrated the feasibility and safety of individually tailored endurance exercises at ~2.5 mmol·L of [lactate]b. These latter results suggest that endurance training programs may be considered for adult SCD patients and that the method proposed here may be helpful in that regard.

Tubular Acidification Defect in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Metabolic acidosis is a frequent manifestation of sickle cell disease but the mechanisms and determinants of this disorder are unknown. Our aim was to characterize urinary acidification capacity in adults with sickle cell disease and to identify potential factors associated with decreased capacity to acidify urine.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Among 25 adults with sickle cell disease and an eGFR of ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m² from a single center in France, we performed an acute acidification test after simultaneous administration of furosemide and fludrocortisone. A normal response was defined as a decrease in urinary pH <5.3 and an increase in urinary ammonium excretion ≥33 µEq/min at one or more of the six time points after furosemide and fludrocortisone administration.

RESULTS

Of the participants (median [interquartile range] age of 36 [24-43] years old, 17 women), 12 had a normal and 13 had an abnormal response to the test. Among these 13 participants, nine had normal baseline plasma bicarbonate concentration. Plasma aldosterone was within the normal range for all 13 participants with an abnormal response, making the diagnosis of type 4 tubular acidosis unlikely. The participants with an abnormal response to the test were significantly older, more frequently treated with oral bicarbonate, had a higher plasma uric acid concentration, higher hemolysis activity, lower eGFR, lower baseline plasma bicarbonate concentration, higher urine pH, lower urine ammonium ion excretion, and lower fasting urine osmolality than those with a normal response. Considering both groups, the maximum urinary ammonium ion excretion was positively correlated with fasting urine osmolality (r ²=0.34, P=0.002), suggesting that participants with sickle cell disease and lower urine concentration capacity have lower urine acidification capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

Among adults with sickle cell disease, impaired urinary acidification capacity attributable to distal tubular dysfunction is common and associated with the severity of hyposthenuria.

PODCAST

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2019_12_10_CJN07830719.mp3.

Heritability of fetal hemoglobin, white cell count, and other clinical traits from a sickle cell disease family cohort

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic disorder in the world. Notably, there is extensive clinical heterogeneity in SCD that cannot be fully accounted for by known factors, and in particular, the extent to which the phenotypic diversity of SCD can be explained by genetic variation has not been reliably quantified. Here, in a family-based cohort of 449 patients with SCD and 755 relatives, we first show that 5 known modifiers affect 11 adverse outcomes in SCD to varying degrees. We then utilize a restricted maximum likelihood procedure to estimate the heritability of 20 hematologic traits, including fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and white blood cell count (WBC), in the clinically relevant context of inheritance from healthy carriers to SCD patients. We report novel estimations of heritability for HbF at 31.6% (±5.4%) and WBC at 41.2% (±6.8%) in our cohort. Finally, we demonstrate shared genetic bases between HbF, WBC, and other hematologic traits, but surprisingly little overlap between HbF and WBC themselves. In total, our analyses show that HbF and WBC have significant heritable components among individuals with SCD and their relatives, demonstrating the value of using family-based studies to better understand modifiers of SCD.

Score Predicting Acute Chest Syndrome During Vaso-occlusive Crises in Adult Sickle-cell Disease Patients

Background

Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), hallmark of sickle-cell disease (SCD), is the first cause of patients' Emergency-Room admissions and hospitalizations. Acute chest syndrome (ACS), a life-threatening complication, can occur during VOC, be fatal and prolong hospitalization. No predictive factor identifies VOC patients who will develop secondary ACS.

Methods

This prospective, monocenter, observational study on SS/S-β₀thalassemia SCD adults aimed to identify parameters predicting ACS at Emergency-Department arrival. The primary endpoint was ACS onset within 15 days of admission. Secondary endpoints were hospitalization duration, morphine consumption, pain evaluation, blood transfusion(s) (BT(s)), requiring intensive care and mortality.

Findings

Among 250 VOCs included, 247 were analyzed. Forty-four (17.8%) ACSs occurred within 15 (median [IQR] 3 [2, 3]) days post-admission based on auscultation abnormalities; missing chest radiographs excluded three patients. Comparing ACS to VOC, respectively, median hospital stay was longer 9 [7–11] vs 4 [3–7] days (p < 0.0001), 7/41 (17%) vs 1/203 (0.5%) required intensive care (p < 0.0001), and 20/41 (48.7%) vs 6/203 (3%) required BTs (p < 0.0001). No patient died. The multivariate model retained reticulocyte and leukocyte counts, and spine and/or pelvis pain as being independently associated with ACS; the resulting ACS-predictive score's area under the ROC was 0.840 [95% CI 0.780–0.900], 98.8% negative-predictive value and 39.5% positive-predictive value for the real ACS incidence.

Interpretation

The ACS-predictive score is simple, easily applied and could change VOC management and therapeutic perspectives. Assessed ACS risk could lead to earlier discharges or close monitoring and rapid medical intensification to prevent ACS.

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Acute chest syndrome is a threatening complication.

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Acute chest syndrome often occurs during a vaso occlusive crisis.

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Our study provides a predictive score of acute chest syndrome.