ESPE Abstracts (2015) 84 P-2-166

ESPE2015 Poster Category 2 Adrenals (38 abstracts)

Late Diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency Caused by Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations in Proopiomelanocortin

Elena Frolova a , Irina Shirokova a , Svetlana Karpova b , Anna Kolodkina b , Nina Makretskaya b & Anatoly Tiulpakov b


aScientific Centre of Children’s Health, Moscow, Russia; bEndocrinology Research Centre, Moscow, Russia


Background: Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency is characterised clinically by adrenal insufficiency, obesity and red hair. As a rule, such patients present early in life with severe hypoglycemia, which leads to initiation of glucocorticoid therapy. We describe here a case of POMC deficiency, where adrenal insufficiency was not diagnosed until the fourth year of life.

Objective and hypotheses: To present a case of late diagnosis of POMC deficiency and characterise novel mutations in POMC gene.

Method: POMC gene was analysed by Sanger sequencing.

Results: The boy initially presented with prolonged neonatal jaundice. By the end of his first year the growth acceleration was evident. There were two episodes of severe hypoglycemia (glucose level 1.7 mmol/l) at ages of 1.5 and 3 years. In addition, there were recurrent episodes of cholestasis with bilirubin level 101 mcmol/l, ALAT 276 U/l, ASAT 444 U/l. At presentation at 3.6 years his height was at 4.1 SD, the BMI at 3.0 SD. He had red hair and light skin. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol were undetectable. Replacement with hydrocortisone was initiated. Sequencing of POMC gene revealed two novel heterozygous mutations: p.W84X and c.-11C>A. The latter mutation is predicted to create an alternative initiation codon, which results in a frameshift.

Conclusion: A case of late diagnosis of POMC deficiency is presented. It is not yet clear whether c.-11C>A mutation is compatible with partial inframe POMC translation, which could explain less severe adrenal insufficiency in infancy.

Funding: By Alfa-Endo Program of Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Russia.

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