1. Steroid hormone profiles and molecular diagnostic tools in pediatric patients with non-CAH primary adrenal insufficiency
- Author
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Tuba Seven Menevse, Yasemin Kendir Demirkol, Busra Gurpinar Tosun, Elvan Bayramoglu, Melek Yildiz, Sezer Acar, Seda Erisen Karaca, Zerrin Orbak, Asan Onder, Elif Sobu, Ahmet Anık, Zeynep Atay, Fuat Bugrul, Ayse Derya Bulus, Korcan Demir, Durmus Dogan, Hamdi Cihan Emeksiz, Heves Kirmizibekmez, Nurhan Ozcan Murat, Akan Yaman, Serap Turan, Abdullah Bereket, and Tulay Guran
- Subjects
Male ,Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ,Hydrocortisone ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,Biochemistry (medical) ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Biochemistry ,Steroid Profile ,Cortisone ,Endocrinology ,Addison Disease ,Child, Preschool ,Humans ,Female ,Steroids ,Pathology, Molecular ,LC-MS/MS ,Non-CAH Primary Adrenal Insufficiency ,Child ,Corticosterone ,Children ,Adrenal Insufficiency - Abstract
Context There is a significant challenge of attributing specific diagnoses to patients with primary adrenal insufficiency of unknown etiology other than congenital adrenal hyperplasia (non-CAH PAI). Specific diagnoses per se may guide personalized treatment or may illuminate pathophysiology. Objective This work aimed to investigate the efficacy of steroid hormone profiles and high-throughput sequencing methods in establishing the etiology in non-CAH PAI of unknown origin. Methods Pediatric patients with non-CAH PAI whose etiology could not be established by clinical and biochemical characteristics were enrolled. Genetic analysis was performed using targeted-gene panel sequencing (TPS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES). Plasma adrenal steroids were quantified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and compared to that of controls. This study comprised 18 pediatric endocrinology clinics with 41 patients (17 girls, median age: 3 mo, range: 0-8 y) with non-CAH PAI of unknown etiology. Results A genetic diagnosis was obtained in 29 (70.7%) patients by TPS. Further molecular diagnosis could not be achieved by WES. Compared to a healthy control group, patients showed lower steroid concentrations, most statistically significantly in cortisone, cortisol, and corticosterone (P Conclusion Steroid hormone profiles are highly sensitive for the diagnosis of non-CAH PAI of unknown etiology, but they are unlikely to point to a specific molecular diagnosis. TPS is an optimal approach in the molecular diagnosis of these patients with high efficacy, whereas little additional benefit is expected from WES.
- Published
- 2022