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Open access

Regression from stage 3 to stage 2 type 1 diabetes mellitus after discontinuing growth hormone therapy

Micah A Fischer, Ghada A Elmahmudi, Bracha K Goldsweig, and Salaheddin H Elrokhsi

Summary

Multiple research studies address the anti-insulinemic effect of growth hormone (GH). We report a case of a patient with anterior hypopituitarism on GH replacement who later developed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy was discontinued at the time of growth completion. Because of significantly improved glycemic control, this patient was weaned off subcutaneous insulin. He regressed from stage 3 to stage 2 T1DM and remained in this status for at least 2 years and until the writing of this paper. The diagnosis of T1DM was established based on relatively low C-peptide and insulin levels for the degree of hyperglycemia as well as seropositivity of zinc transporter antibody and islet antigen-2 antibody. Additional laboratory data obtained 2 months after discontinuing rhGH revealed improved endogenous insulin secretion. This case report calls attention to the diabetogenic effect of GH therapy in the setting of T1DM. It also demonstrates the possibility of regression from stage 3 T1DM requiring insulin therapy to stage 2 T1DM with asymptomatic dysglycemia after discontinuing rhGH.

Learning points

  • Given the diabetogenic effect of growth hormone, blood glucose levels should be monitored in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on insulin therapy and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement.

  • Clinicians should closely monitor for risk of hypoglycemia after discontinuing rhGH among T1DM patients who are on insulin treatment.

  • The discontinuation of rhGH in the setting of T1DM may cause regression of symptomatic T1DM to asymptomatic dysglycemia requiring no insulin treatment.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0276
Volume 2023: Issue 2
Open access

A family with type A insulin resistance syndrome caused by a novel insulin receptor mutation

Osamu Horikawa, Satoshi Ugi, Tomofumi Takayoshi, Yasushi Omura, Maya Yonishi, Daisuke Sato, Yukihiro Fujita, Tomoya Fuke, Yushi Hirota, Wataru Ogawa, and Hiroshi Maegawa

Summary

A 17-year-old boy was referred to our endocrinology clinic for a clinical investigation of hyperinsulinemia. An oral glucose tolerance test showed plasma glucose concentrations in the normal range. However, insulin concentrations were considerably elevated (0 min: 71 μU/mL; 60 min: 953 μU/mL), suggesting severe insulin resistance. An insulin tolerance test confirmed that he had insulin resistance. There was no apparent hormonal or metabolic cause, including obesity. The patient had no outward features of hyperinsulinemia, including acanthosis nigricans or hirsutism. However, his mother and grandfather also had hyperinsulinemia. Genetic testing showed that the patient (proband), his mother, and his grandfather had a novel p.Val1086del heterozygous mutation in exon 17 of the insulin receptor gene (INSR). Although all three family members have the same mutation, their clinical courses have been different. The onset of the mother’s diabetes was estimated at 50 years, whereas the grandfather developed diabetes at 77 years.

Learning points

  • Type A insulin resistance syndrome is caused by mutations in the insulin receptor (INSR) gene and results in severe insulin resistance.

  • Genetic evaluation should be considered in adolescents or young adults with dysglycemia when an atypical phenotype, such as severe insulin resistance, or a relevant family history is observed.

  • Clinical courses may differ even if the same genetic mutation is found in a family.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0362
Volume 2023: Issue 2
Open access

Extreme hyperferritinemia in restrictive type anorexia nervosa

Christine Hvolby Amanoal, Lene Kongsgaard Nielsen, and Henrik Holm Thomsen

Summary

Iron metabolism and markers hereof are altered in anorexia nervosa (AN) but far from completely understood. We report a case of extreme hyperferritinemia in a patient with AN and discuss the possible mechanisms and current knowledge about the association between hyperferritinemia and AN. A 20-year-old woman with a history of AN presented with bradycardia, weariness, and malaise in addition to an incidentally very high ferritin level. The symptoms disappeared spontaneously after a short admission. There were no signs suggestive of systemic, hematological, or malignant disease causing the very high concentration of ferritin. Her body weight was in decline, leading up to admission, but did initially increase after discharge accompanied by declining ferritin concentration. However, a clear association between ferritin dynamics and weight changes or physical activity was not identified and neither were other causes of the hyperferritinemia. Around one in four patients with AN have increased ferritin concentrations. Our case represents the highest ferritin concentration reported in a patient with AN without other underlying causes or comorbidities.

Learning points

  • Perturbed iron metabolism is frequent in restrictive type anorexia nervosa but incompletely understood.

  • Altered ferritin in anorexia nervosa may be linked to nutritional status.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0405
Volume 2023: Issue 1
Open access

Pheochromocytoma crisis precipitated by dexamethasone with profound lactic acidosis, but without severe hypertension

David Lin, Jai Madhok, Jason Bouhenguel, and Frederick Mihm

Summary

We describe a case of a 47-year-old patient who presented with severe lactic acidosis, troponinemia, and acute kidney injury after receiving 8 mg of intramuscular dexamethasone for seasonal allergies in the setting of an undiagnosed epinephrine-secreting pheochromocytoma. This case was atypical, however, in that the patient exhibited only mildly elevated noninvasive measured blood pressures. Following a period of alpha-adrenergic blockade, the tumor was resected successfully. Steroid administration can precipitate pheochromocytoma crisis that may present unusually as in our patient with mild hypertension but profound lactic acidosis.

Learning points

  • Steroids administered via any route can precipitate pheochromocytoma crisis, manifested by excessive catecholamine secretion and associated sequelae from vasoconstriction.

  • Lack of moderate/severe hypertension on presentation detracts from consideration of pheochromocytoma as a diagnosis.

  • Lactatemia after steroid administration should prompt work-up for pheochromocytoma, as it can be seen in epinephrine-secreting tumors.

  • Noninvasive blood pressure measurements may be unreliable during pheochromocytoma crisis due to excessive peripheral vasoconstriction.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0306
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

A case series and literature review of necrobiosis lipoidica

Matthew J Verheyden, Natassia Rodrigo, Anthony J Gill, and Sarah J Glastras

Summary

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a rare and chronic disease characterised by yellow-brown, atrophic, telangiectatic plaques usually located on the lower extremities, with pathological features of collagen necrobiosis and dermal inflammation. Most cases are seen in those with diabetes mellitus, particularly type 1 diabetes (T1DM), and many without diabetes have evidence of abnormal glucose tolerance or family history of autoimmune disease. In this study, we describe four patients with NL and T1DM. A common theme is late identification and delay in diagnosis. Hence, we discuss the clinical features, need for clinicopathological correlation, and the management and prognostic implications for this distinctive entity. While most remain relatively asymptomatic, others progress to debilitating disease with pruritus, dysesthesia, and pain. Pain is often intense in the presence of ulcerated plaques, a morbid complication of NL. Diagnosis requires the integration of both clinical and histopathological findings. NL has proven a challenging condition to treat, and despite the numerous therapeutic modalities available, there is no standard of care. Hence, in this study, we provide an overview of current management strategies available for NL.

Learning points

  • Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is classically seen in patients with type 1 diabetes.

  • Koebner phenomenon, defined as the appearance of new skin lesions on previously unaffected skin secondary to trauma, is a well-recognised feature in NL.

  • Background skin phototype contributes to variable yellow appearance of lesions in NL.

  • Diagnosis of NL requires careful clinicopathological correlation.

  • NL is a chronic disease often refractory to treatment leading to significant morbidity for the patient and a management conundrum for the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

  • No standard therapeutic regimen has been established for the management of NL.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0185
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Early onset obesity due to a mutation in the human leptin receptor gene

Carolina Chaves, Teresa Kay, and João Anselmo

Summary

Leptin is secreted by adipocytes in response to fat storage and binds to its receptor (LEPR), which is ubiquitously expressed throughout the body. Leptin regulates energy expenditure and is anorexigenic. In this study, we describe the clinical and hormonal findings of three siblings with a personal history of rapid weight gain during the first months of life. They had delayed puberty, high levels of FSH (15.6 ± 3.7 mUI/mL; reference: 1.5–12.4) and LH (12.3 ± 2.2 mUI/mL; reference: 1.7–8.6), normal oestradiol and total testosterone and successful fertility. None of the patients had dyslipidemia, diabetes or thyroid disease. Next-generation sequencing identified a pathogenic homozygous variant c.2357T>C, p.(Leu786Pro) in LEPR. Their parents and children were heterozygous for this mutation. We compared clinical and biochemical findings of homozygous carriers with first-degree heterozygous family members and ten randomly selected patients with adult-onset morbid obesity. Homozygous carriers of the mutation had significantly higher BMI (32.2 ± 1.7 kg/m2 vs 44.5 ± 7.1 kg/m2, P = 0.023) and increased serum levels of leptin (26.3 ± 9.3 ng/mL vs 80 ± 36.4 ng/mL, P = 0.028) than their heterozygous relatives. Compared with the ten patients with adult-onset morbid obesity, serum levels of leptin were not significantly higher in homozygous carriers (53.8 ± 24.1 ng/mL vs 80 ± 36.4 ng/mL, P = 0.149), and thus serum levels of leptin were not a useful discriminative marker of LEPR mutations. We described a rare three-generation family with monogenic obesity due to a mutation in LEPR. Patients with early onset obesity should be considered for genetic screening, as the identification of mutations may allow personalized treatment options (e.g. MC4R-agonists) and targeted successful weight loss.

Learning points

  • The early diagnosis of monogenic forms of obesity can be of great interest since new treatments for these conditions are becoming available.

  • Since BMI and leptin levels in patients with leptin receptor mutations are not significantly different from those found in randomly selected morbid obese patients, a careful medical history is mandatory to suspect this condition.

  • Loss of leptin receptor function has been associated with infertility. However, our patients were able to conceive, emphasizing the need for genetic counselling in affected patients with this condition.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0124
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Turner syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1: the unusual combination of two common genetic disorders

Inês Vieira, Sofia Lopes, Margarida Bastos, Luísa Ruas, Dírcea Rodrigues, and Isabel Paiva

Summary

The coexistence of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NFT1) and Turner syndrome (TS) has only been reported in a few patients and may represent a diagnostic challenge. We describe the case of a 16-year-old girl, with a prior clinical diagnosis of NFT1, who was referred to Endocrinology appointments for the etiological study of primary amenorrhea. Evaluation of the anterior pituitary function was requested and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was detected. During the etiological study, a 45X karyotype was found and TS was diagnosed. The fact that NFT1 can also be associated with short stature, short broad neck and hypertelorism was likely responsible for TS being diagnosed in late adolescence. As both TS and NFT1 are relatively common genetic disorders, it is important to be alert to the possibility that the presence of one disease does not invalidate the other.

Learning points

  • The concomitant presence of two syndromes in the same patient is unlikely and represents a diagnostic challenge.

  • Some phenotypic characteristics and clinical manifestations may be shared by several syndromes.

  • Some syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 may have very heterogeneous presentations.

  • It is important to be alert to the characteristics that are not explained by the initial diagnosis.

  • If such features are present, diagnostic work-up must be performed regardless of the initial syndromic diagnosis.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0226
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 and premature ovarian insufficiency: chance or causality: a case report and literature review

Mauricio Alvarez, Oswaldo Rincon, Alejandra Alvarado, and Francisco Puentes

Summary

We present the case of a 23-year-old patient with maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY 3) and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). There is no known correlation between MODY 3 and POI, although POI can impair glucose metabolism, and MODY can cause microvascular complications such as POI. We did not find literature describing a correlation between these two pathologies nor did we find similar cases described in the literature.

Learning points

  • Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY 3) is an infrequent cause of diabetes that should be considered in young patients with atypical presentation of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

  • MODY 3 can be associated with microvascular complications of diabetes, which is why it is important to diagnose as early as possible.

  • Impairment of glucose metabolism has been demonstrated in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and menopause.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0166
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Graves’ disease in an adolescent presenting with increased intracranial pressure and bilateral papilledema

Jay Nguyen and Dennis Joseph

Summary

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) can present with symptoms of headache, vomiting, visual changes, and tinnitus. Papilledema may be seen on physical exam. Thyroid disease has been a rare secondary cause of increased ICP. We present a 16-year-old female who had a worsening headache for 6 months. She was found to have signs, symptoms, physical exam findings, and diagnostic studies consistent with both increased ICP and previously undiagnosed Graves’ disease. The patient was treated with a 19-month course of methimazole 40 mg daily. Her headache and papilledema resolved shortly after medication initiation. The timeline of symptoms and resolution of her increased ICP symptoms with treatment of Graves’ disease suggests that hyperthyroidism was the underlying cause of her increased ICP. Clinicians should consider Graves’ disease as the etiology in pediatric patients presenting with signs and symptoms of increased ICP with papilledema.

Learning points

  • Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) include headache, vomiting, transient visual changes, and tinnitus.

  • Secondary causes of increased ICP should be considered in males, young children, older patients, and those not overweight.

  • Clinicians should consider Graves’ disease as the etiology in pediatric patients presenting with signs and symptoms of increased ICP with papilledema. They should assess for orbitopathy and thyromegaly and inquire about symptoms that would be indicative of hyperthyroidism.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-22-0240
Volume 2022: Issue 1
Open access

Insulinoma in an adolescent female with weight loss: a case report and literature review on pediatric insulinomas

Pranav Gupta, Karen Loechner, Briana C Patterson, and Eric Felner

Summary

Insulinomas are a rare cause of persistent hypoglycemia in a previously healthy child. In addition to symptoms of hypoglycemia, individuals with insulinomas usually present with a history of incessant caloric intake and weight gain due to a constant need to counter hypoglycemia. In addition to an extensive review of the literature, we report the first case of an insulinoma coexisting with reduced appetite secondary to anorexia nervosa in an adolescent female.

Learning points

  • Eliciting a detailed family history is important in hypoglycemia cases.

  • Obtaining a thorough dietary intake, weight history, and menstrual cycles (in females) and considering a psychiatric consultation for an eating disorder when indicated.

  • Although rare in the pediatric population, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome should be considered in the evaluation of children and adolescents with hypoglycemia who also have a family history of pituitary, pancreatic, and/or parathyroid endocrinopathies.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-21-0206
Volume 2022: Issue 1