SAT-370 Novel CASR Gene Mutation as a Cause of Familial Isolated Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHT) is one of the most common causes of hypercalcemia. About 10% of these patients have a familial cause of which MEN and the hyperparathyroid-jaw tumor syndrome (HJTs) are most common. Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) due to loss of function mutations of the calcium sensing receptor (CASR) gene is an important familial mimic of this that needs to be distinguished. Beyond this are still a group of patients with familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism (FIpHT). Recognition of this entity is important because of the different prognostic and surgical treatment strategy for their management compared to regular sporadic pHT. Clinical Case: A 58 yr old postmenopausal lady on topical HRT was referred for thyroid nodular disease. Her initial lab tests showed primary hyperparathyroidism with mild hypercalcemia. Her initial neck sonogram showed multiple benign appearing nodules that did not warrant biopsy. There was a history of hypothyroidism in her mother and thyroid cancer in a maternal cousin. In addition, her father and two sons have history of hypercalcemia that required repeated hospital admissions for treatment. Her two daughters to date have had no hypercalcemia, nephrolithiasis nor thyroid problems. There was no family history of jaw, renal nor brain or pituitary tumors and no history of severe dyspeptic disease nor familial cancers. She had hypercalciuria, normal bone density and non-obstructive nephrolithiasis. MEN-1 gene testing was normal. Parathyroid scan suggested a possible right sided parathyroid lesion and she had elective parathyroidectomy of an ectopic right parathyroid that was hypercellular on histology. The intra-operative PTH dropped following the lesion extraction by ~ 51%. Post operatively the patient’s mild pHT and hypercalcemia persists but imaging studies have been unrevealing. Further genetic testing for other possible etiologies of familial pHT were -ve for HJTs but revealed a novel somatic mutation of the CASR gene; c.1868G>A (p.Gly623Asp) whose present significance is unclear. This variant has been described in one family with FHH but In silico predictive analyses of the mutation suggests a possible deleterious effect. Given her known family history of symptomatic hypercalcemia this novel mutation appears to be a hitherto unrecognized cause for FIpHT. The patient is presently being conservatively managed and monitored. Conclusion: While familial pHT is relatively uncommon its recognition is important as it can inform planned surgical intervention and expected prognosis for anticipated cure. While MEN and HJTs are the most common etiologies for familial pHT other possibilities need to considered when the history suggests possible FIpHT and our case highlights a novel CASR mutation as diagnostic consideration.