Spectrum of diabetes mellitus in patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

BackgroundShwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is a rare congenital disorder caused by mutations in the SBDS gene and characterized by exocrine pancreatic deficiency, hematologic dysfunction, and skeletal growth failure. Although the hematologic features and characteristics of the somatic disorders commonly associated with SDS are well known, emerging data from case reports and patient registries suggest that SDS may also be associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. However, currently available data on SDS-associated diabetes are limited and do not allow conclusions regarding prevalence and incidence rates, clinical course, and outcomes.Case presentationHere we report the case of a 5-year-old girl with SDS who underwent bone marrow transplantation at the age of 3 months and developed autoantibody-positive type 1 diabetes mellitus at the age of 1.8 years. The manifestation and course of diabetes development were mild, complicated by concurrent spontaneous episodes of hypoglycemia even before the onset of antidiabetic treatment. Currently, adequate metabolic control can be achieved by dietary intervention.ConclusionsConsidering that the SBDS protein regulates mitosis and ribosomal biosynthesis and that its suppression may cause immunologic instability and chronic inflammation, this case provides insight into the phenotype of rare Shwachman-Diamond syndrome-associated diabetes mellitus, which may be characterized by significant age-dependent differences in clinical course.