Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, And Deafness Research Articles

Wolfram Syndrome; Case Series Report at the “National Medical Center 20 De Noviembre ISSSTE”

Wolfram syndrome it’s a rare autosomal genetic disease. Also, kwon as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness). Its classified as one of infancy onset diabetes mellitus non autoimmune causes, its presentation generally happens at an early age; other characteristics of the disease are insipidus diabetes, optic atrophy, neurosensorial deafness, psychiatric alterations and other neurodegenerative disorders.

The importance of multidisciplinary care of patients with Wolfram

Background: Wolfram syndrome is a genetic condition, which is typically inherited in autosomal recessive fashion, characterized by the combination of diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. It is along a spectrum which encompasses DIDMOAD (Diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness). Profound hypoglycemic unawareness can be seen in this condition but is not commonly described as an associated feature in the literature. Case report: A 16 year old female with history of presumed type 1 diabetes presented to urology clinic with urinary incontinence. She was found to have profound dilation of the bladder and was admitted for bladder decompression. During the course of admission she was found to also have diabetes insipidus and optic atrophy. She had several severe hypoglycemic episodes with profound hypoglycemia unawareness during this admission. Genetic testing for Wolfram syndrome was positive. As an outpatient she was placed on a continuous glucose monitor to help manage her hypoglycemia. Addtionally, psychiatric support to manage her associated depression was an important aspect of her therapy. As her depression improved so did her ability to comply with the necessary therapies. Conclusions: Wolfram syndrome is a rare syndrome that has been well described. However, patients with this syndrome have frequent hypoglycemia unawareness and severe hypoglycemia likely related to the neurologic deterioration that occurs at the molecular level in the pathogenesis of Wolfram syndrome. Strategies must be put in to place to help prevent and quickly treat these hypoglycemic events.

Expression pattern of wolframin, the WFS1 (Wolfram syndrome-1 gene) product, in common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) cochlea.

Wolfram syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder of the neuroendocrine system, known as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy and Deafness) syndrome, and considered an endoplasmic reticulum disease. Patients show mutations in WFS1, which encodes the 890 amino acid protein wolframin. Although Wfs1 knockout mice develop diabetes, their hearing level is completely normal. In this study, we examined the expression of wolframin in the cochlea of a nonhuman primate common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) to elucidate the discrepancy in the phenotype between species and the pathophysiology of Wolfram syndrome-associated deafness. The marmoset cochlea showed wolframin immunoreactivity not only in the spiral ligament type I fibrocytes, spiral ganglion neurons, outer hair cells, and supporting cells, but in the stria vascularis basal cells, where wolframin expression was not observed in the previous mouse study. Considering the absence of the deafness phenotype in Wfs1 knockout mice, the expression of wolframin in the basal cells of primates may play an essential role in the maintenance of hearing. Elucidating the function of wolframin protein in the basal cells of primates would be essential for understanding the pathogenesis of hearing loss in patients with Wolfram syndrome, which may lead to the discovery of new therapeutics.

Early-onset urological disorders due to Wolfram syndrome: A case of neonatal onset

Wolfram syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness). Genetic analysis has demonstrated mutations of the WOLFRAMIN gene (WFS1) in patients with this syndrome (1), which may be complicated by other conditions, among them urological disorders (UDs). According to one study, UDs were found to occur in 19.39% (76/392) of WS patients with an average age of 20 yr (2), with only two patients presenting UDs before the age of 5 yr, both during infancy. We report here a neonatal case of WS presenting UDs.

Cataract as a Phenotypic Marker for a Mutation in WFS1, the Wolfram Syndrome Gene

Wolfram syndrome (WS) or diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness (DIDMOAD) (OMIM 222300) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy as the 2 major criteria, followed later in life by deafness, diabetes insipidus, and various signs of neurologic impairment. The presence of a cataract has been variably mentioned in WS. Two members of a family had thorough ophthalmic examination and their DNA was screened for mutations in mitochondrial DNA, WFS1, OPA1, and OPA3 genes. We report a patient who first had surgery for bilateral cataract at age 5 and who subsequently presented typical signs of WS, i.e., diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy with reduced visual acuity at 20/400 on both eyes at age 22, and mild deafness. The patient was found to be a compound heterozygote for 2 truncating mutations in WFS1, the major WS gene. She carried the previously reported c.1231_1233 delCT and a novel c.2431_2465dup35 mutation. She also was heterozygote for a novel OPA1 sequence variant, c.929A>G in exon 9, whose pathogenicity remains uncertain. The patient's mother was a heterozygous carrier of the c.2431_2465dup35 mutation. She did not have diabetes mellitus or optic atrophy but had bilateral polar cataract. She did not carry the OPA1 sequence variant. Cataract could be a marker for the WFS1 heterozygosity in this family, namely the c.2431_2465dup35 mutation.

Endocrine and metabolic aspects of the Wolfram syndrome

Wolfram syndrome (WS), also known as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy and Deafness), is a neurodegenerative disease with autosomal recessive inheritance with incomplete penetrance. DIDMOAD is a very rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 770,000 and it is believed to occur in 1 of 150 patients with juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Additionally, WS may also present with different endocrine and metabolic abnormalities such as anterior and posterior pituitary gland dysfunction. This mini-review summarizes the variable presentation of WS and the need of screening for other metabolic and hormonal abnormalities, coexisting in this rare syndrome.

The mitochondrial ND1 m.3337G>A mutation associated to multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions in a patient with Wolfram syndrome and cardiomyopathy

Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is a rare hereditary disorder also known as DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness). It is a heterogeneous disease and full characterization of all clinical and biological features of this disorder is difficult. The wide spectrum of clinical expression, affecting several organs and tissues, and the similarity in phenotype between patients with Wolfram syndrome and those with certain types of respiratory chain diseases suggests mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) involvement in Wolfram syndrome patients. We report a Tunisian patient with clinical features of moderate Wolfram syndrome including diabetes, dilated cardiomyopathy and neurological complications. The results showed the presence of the mitochondrial ND1 m.3337G>A mutation in almost homoplasmic form in 3 tested tissues of the proband (blood leukocytes, buccal mucosa and skeletal muscle). In addition, the long-range PCR amplifications revealed the presence of multiple deletions of the mitochondrial DNA extracted from the patient’s skeletal muscle removing several tRNA and protein-coding genes. Our study reported a Tunisian patient with clinical features of moderate Wolfram syndrome associated with cardiomyopathy, in whom we detected the ND1 m.3337G>A mutation with mitochondrial multiple deletions.

An Asian Indian Woman with Wolfram Syndrome on Insulin Pump: Successful Pregnancy and Beyond

Wolfram syndrome (WS), or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness), is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with a median life expectancy of 30 years and occurs in one in 770,000 live births. To date only five successful pregnancies have been reported among WS subjects worldwide. Here we describe the sixth report of successful pregnancy in a WS patient and the first from India. The subject is still on an insulin pump, now 31 years old and doing well. She developed diabetes at 5 years of age, optic atrophy at 14 years, and diabetes insipidus at 25 years and had a successful delivery in 2007 while on an insulin pump. Sequencing of exonic regions of the WFS1 gene showed five changes, two of which were pathogenic (exon 8). Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed generalized neurodegenerative changes. The benefits of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and that of tight metabolic control in prevention of abortions and fetal malformations in diabetes associated with pregnancy are well documented. The impression of probable pleiotropic action of insulin pumps over and above that of glycemic reduction is gaining momentum. Recent evidence supports use of insulin pumps in alleviating neuropathic pain in diabetes, probably by virtue of its action in minimizing mean amplitude of glycemic excursions not possible with conventional insulin shots. WS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which will probably help us in understanding the positive impact of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in prolonging the life span and retarding neuronal damage in WS.

A Case of Wolfram Like Disorder with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in an Adult

Wolfram-like disorder is one of the WFS1-related disorders that are caused by mutation of the WFS1 genes. WFS1-related disorders are classified as Wolfram syndrome, Wolfram like disorder and nonsyndromic low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (DFNA6/14/38). Wolfram syndrome is known to DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness), and it is an autosomal-recessive disorder that predisposes a patient to developing type 1 diabetes in association with progressive optic atrophy, and the disease shows various phenotypes. Wolfram like disorder is an autosomal-dominant disorder that predisposes a patient to develop type 2 diabetes in association with optic atrophy and hearing impairment. We experienced a case of Wolfram like disorder with diabetes, optic atrophy and sensorineural hearing loss in a 28-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital. Our case demonstrated the E737K missense mutation on the WFS1 gene, which has been previously reported in the medical literature. The diagnosis of WFS1-related disorder was confirmed by the clinical features and molecular genetic testing of the WFS1 gene.

Wolfram Syndrome presenting with optic atrophy and diabetes mellitus: two case reports

Wolfram syndrome is the constellation of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy, known as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness).Patients demonstrate diabetes mellitus followed by optic atrophy in the first decade, diabetes insipidus and sensorineural deafness in the second decade, dilated renal outflow tracts early in the third decade, and multiple neurological abnormalities early in the fourth decade.This study reports two siblings with late diagnosed wolfram syndrome with diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, deafness and severe urological abnormalities.In conclusion, cases having early onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy together need to be evaluated with respect to Wolfram.

Wolfram syndrome: a clinicopathologic correlation

Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy as well as diabetes insipidus and deafness in many cases. We report the post-mortem neuropathologic findings of a patient with Wolfram syndrome and correlate them with his clinical presentation. In the hypothalamus, neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei were markedly decreased and minimal neurohypophyseal tissue remained in the pituitary. The pontine base and inferior olivary nucleus showed gross shrinkage and neuron loss, while the cerebellum was relatively unaffected. The visual system had moderate to marked loss of retinal ganglion neurons, commensurate loss of myelinated axons in the optic nerve, chiasm and tract, and neuron loss in the lateral geniculate nucleus but preservation of the primary visual cortex. The patient's inner ear showed loss of the organ of Corti in the basal turn of the cochleae and mild focal atrophy of the stria vascularis. These findings correlated well with the patient's high-frequency hearing loss. The pathologic findings correlated closely with the patient's clinical symptoms and further support the concept of Wolfram syndrome as a neurodegenerative disorder. Our findings extend prior neuropathologic reports of Wolfram syndrome by providing contributions to our understanding of eye, inner ear and olivopontine pathology in this disease.

Current Developments in Wolfram Syndrome

Wolfram syndrome (WS), an infrequent cause of diabetes mellitus, derives its name from the physician who first reported the combination of juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. Also referred to as DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness), it is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by various clinical manifestations, such as diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, diabetes insipidus, deafness, neurological symptoms, renal tract abnormalities, psychiatric manifestations and gonadal disorders. The condition is very rare with an estimated prevalence of one in 770,000 of the normal population, one out of 150 cases of juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and with a carrier frequency of one in 354. This progressive neurodegenerative disease usually results in death before the age of 50 years and many patients lead a morbid life. The pathogenesis of the disorder although unknown is ascribed to mutation of a gene on chromosome 4p encoding a transmembrane protein of undetermined function called wolframin. This review summarizes the variable presentation of the disorder, its widespread complications, poor quality of life in affected individuals, and the problems in diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome.

Microvascular Diabetes Complications in Wolfram Syndrome (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness [DIDMOAD

OBJECTIVE—Some previous studies suggested that patients suffering from Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness) might be relatively preserved from diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. However, these data were not conclusive because either observations were only anecdotic or did not match with control type 1 diabetic populations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A group of 26 French diabetic patients with DIDMOAD was compared with a population of 52 patients with common type 1 diabetes matched for age at diabetes diagnosis (8.62 ± 1.84 vs. 8.27 ± 1.30 years; P = NS) and diabetes duration (12.88 ± 1.58 vs. 12.87 ± 1.13 years; P = NS) to study the quality of glycemic control and the incidence of microvascular complications. RESULTS—Glycemic control was significantly better in the DIDMOAD group than in the type 1 diabetic group (A1C: 7.72 ± 0.21 vs. 8.99 ± 0.25%, respectively; P = 0.002), with significant lower daily insulin requirements (0.71 ± 0.07 vs. 0.88 ± 0.04 UI · kg−1 · day−1, respectively; P = 0.0325). The prevalence of microvascular complications in the DIDMOAD group was half that observed in the type 1 diabetic group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS—Diabetes in DIDMOAD patients is more easily controlled despite the presence of other handicaps. This better glycemic control could explain the trend to decreased microvascular diabetes complications observed in previous studies.

Síndrome de Wolfram: da definição às bases moleculares

Wolfram syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. Diabetes insipidus and sensorineural deafness are also noted frequently, explaining the acronym DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness) by which the syndrome is also referred. Additional manifestations such as atonic bladder, ataxia, nystagmus and predisposition for psychiatric illness may be present. The Wolfram syndrome gene, WFS1, was mapped to chromosome 4p16.1 by positional cloning. It encodes an 890-amino-acid polypeptide named wolframin. Although the wolframin function is still not completely known, its localization to the endoplasmic reticulum suggests it can play a role in calcium homeostasis, membrane trafficking and protein processing. Knowing the cellular function of wolframin is necessary for understanding the pathophysiology of Wolfram syndrome. This knowledge may lead to development of therapies to prevent or reduce the outcomes of WS.

Cranial magnetic resonance imaging of Wolfram (DIDMOAD) syndrome

Wolfram syndrome is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness (DIDMOAD). A wide spectrum of abnormalities of the central nervous system, urinary tract and endocrine glands is also observed. We report cranial MRI findings in a 32-year-old female patient with Wolfram syndrome. In addition to the classical features, including absence of the normal high signal of the neurohypophysis, atrophy of visual pathways, the brainstem, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, we observed bilateral hyperintensity on proton density- and T2- weighted images related to the optic radiations in the periventricular white matter of the temporal and parieto-occipital lobes, which may reflect gliosis pathologically.

Diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy: a study of Wolfram syndrome in the Lebanese population.

Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disorder also known as DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness). WFS seems to be a heterogeneous disease that has not yet been fully characterized in terms of clinical features and pathophysiological mechanisms because the number of patients in most series was small. In this study we describe 31 Lebanese WFS patients belonging to 17 families; this, to our knowledge, is the largest number of patients reported in one series so far. Criteria for diagnosis of WFS were the presence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy unexplained by any other disease. Central diabetes insipidus was found in 87% of the patients, and sensorineural deafness confirmed by audiograms was present in 64.5%. Other less frequent features included neurological and psychiatric abnormalities, urodynamic abnormalities, limited joint motility, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal autonomic neuropathy, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism in males, and diabetic microvascular disease. New features, not reported in previous descriptions, such as heart malformations and anterior pituitary dysfunction, were recognized in some of the patients and participated in the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Genetic analysis revealed WFS1 gene mutations in three families (23.5%), whereas no abnormalities were detected in mitochondrial DNA. In conclusion, WFS is a devastating disease for the patients and their families. More information about WFS will lead to a better understanding of this disease and hopefully to improvement in means of its prevention and treatment.

Mutations in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene (WFS1) define a clinical entity of dominant low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss.

To describe low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL) inherited as a dominant trait in 3 families and in 1 sporadic case. Longitudinal clinical study from 1968 to 2001. Tertiary care hospital; field studies conducted by molecular genetic research laboratory. Dominant LFSNHL families. Questionnaires, serial audiograms, and interviews, correlated with molecular genetic data. Symptoms, age of onset, serial audiometric data, and hearing aid use. Low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss is typically diagnosed in the first decade and slowly progresses over decades; LFSNHL is often asymptomatic in young patients, few of whom use hearing aids. Speech perception becomes affected in later decades when patients develop high-frequency loss. Even children with a strong family history of dominant LFSNHL were not monitored routinely. Penetrance appears complete in that all individuals with a genetic mutation developed hearing loss. Dominant LFSNHL is most commonly caused by mutations in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene (WFS1). Mutations in WFS1 also cause a rare recessive syndromic form of hearing loss known as Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness). Routine newborn hearing screening methods will not typically identify hearing loss affecting frequencies below 2000 Hz; thus, children at risk must be specifically monitored. Genetic counseling and genetic testing may be useful in the management of patients with this type of hearing loss.

Mutations in the WFS1 gene that cause low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss are small non-inactivating mutations.

Hereditary hearing impairment is an extremely heterogeneous trait, with more than 70 identified loci. Only two of these loci are associated with an auditory phenotype that predominantly affects the low frequencies (DFNA1 and DFNA6/14). In this study, we have completed mutation screening of the WFS1 gene in eight autosomal dominant families and twelve sporadic cases in which affected persons have low-frequency sensorineural hearing impairment (LFSNHI). Mutations in this gene are known to be responsible for Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness), which is an autosomal recessive trait. We have identified seven missense mutations and a single amino acid deletion affecting conserved amino acids in six families and one sporadic case, indicating that mutations in WFS1 are a major cause of inherited but not sporadic low-frequency hearing impairment. Among the ten WFS1 mutations reported in LFSNHI, none is expected to lead to premature protein truncation, and nine cluster in the C-terminal protein domain. In contrast, 64% of the Wolfram syndrome mutations are inactivating. Our results indicate that only non-inactivating mutations in WFS1 are responsible for non-syndromic low-frequency hearing impairment.

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Missense Variations of the Gene Responsible for Wolfram Syndrome (WFS1/wolframin) in Japanese: Possible Contribution of the Arg456His Mutation to Type 1 Diabetes as a Nonautoimmune Genetic Basis

Recently, a novel gene for a putative transmembrane protein (WFS1/wolframin) was found to be mutated in patients with Wolfram syndrome or DI-DM-OA-D (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness) syndrome. It is suggested that the WFS1 protein is important in the survival of islet β-cells. We studied the WFS1 gene in a Japanese population to assess its possible role in common type 1 diabetes. Mutation screening revealed four missense mutations; R456H, G576S, H611R, and I720V. By genetic association studies of 185 type 1 diabetes patients and 380 control subjects, we found that R456H was significantly increased in the type 1 diabetes group compared to the control group (P = 0.0005); H611R and I720V were also significantly increased with weaker significance. Furthermore, in patients with the R456H mutation, type 1 diabetes-resistant HLA-DRB1 alleles (DRB1*0406, 1501, and 1502) were significantly increased compared to mutation-negative patients while susceptible DRB1*0901 was significantly decreased. Frequencies of autoimmunity characteristics (ICA or GAD-Ab positiveness and combination of autoimmune thyroid disease) were decreased in the R456H-positive patients compared to the R456H-negative patients. These data suggest that the WFS1 gene may have a role in the development of common type 1 diabetes as a nonautoimmune genetic basis.