Metreleptin Treatment in a Boy with Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy due to Homozygous c.465_468delGACT (p.T156Rfs*8) Mutation in the BSCL2 Gene; The First-year Results.

Abstract

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by an almost complete absence of body fat. In CGL, patients may have hyperphagia due to leptin deficiency. Recombinant human leptin (metreleptin) has been suggested as an effective treatment option. We, herein, present the successful use of metreleptin in a case with CGL and its 1-year follow-up. An eight-month-old boy presented with complaints of hair growth and muscular appearance: He had, hypertrichosis, decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue in the whole body and hepatomegaly. In the laboratory investigations hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia, elevated liver transaminases and low leptin levels were detected. In molecular genetic analysis homozygous c.465_468delGACT (p.T156Rfs*8) mutation was detected in the BSCL2 gene. A diagnosis of CGL type 2 was considered. Despite the dietary intervention, exercises, omega-3 and metformin treatment, the hypertriglyceridemia, hyperinsulinemia, and elevated liver transaminase levels worsened. After one year of metreleptin treatment, hyperphagia disappeared, insulin, HbA1c, triglyceride and liver transaminase levels improved dramatically. Hepatosteatosis reduced, The size of the liver and the spleen remarkably decreased. Metreleptin is an effective treatment option that prevents the development of metabolic complications of CGL in children. The initiation of metreleptin treatment in the early period would decrease mortality and morbidity, and increase the quality of life in children with CGL.