Mutations In AAAS Gene Research Articles

Allgrove syndrome: a case report

Allgrove syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease which is characterized by Achalasia, Alacrimia and ACTH-resistant Adrenal deficiency with progressive neurological manifestations. Allgrove syndrome is caused due to mutations in AAAS gene, localized on chromosome 12q13. This report relates to an 8 years old female child who had complaints of vomting, fever, cough, hyperpigmentation and poor weight gain. Barium swallow, ophthalmic examination and ACTH stimulation test proves that patient has Allgrove’s syndrome. Management consisted of initiation of cortisone therapy which was successful in improving the hyper pigmentation. Patient was planned for surgical intervention for achalasia cardia on follow-up. Allgrove’s syndrome may be an under diagnosed disorder. High index of suspicion is needed when patients present with such complex symptoms. Diagnosing and timely intervention helps in reducing the morbidity and mortality.

Allgrove syndrome and motor neuron disease.

Allgrove or triple A syndrome (AS or AAA) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome with variable phenotype due to mutations in AAAS gene which encodes a protein called ALADIN. Generally, it’s characterized by of adrenal insufficiency in consequence of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) resistance, besides of achalasia, and alacrimia. Neurologic features are varied and have been the subject of several case reports and reviews. A few cases of Allgrove syndrome with motor neuron disease have been already described. A 25-year-old white man, at the age of four, presented slowly progressive distal amyotrophy and weakness, autonomic dysfunction, dysphagia and lack of tears. He suffered later of orthostatic hypotension and erectile dysfunction. He presented distal amytrophy in four limbs, tongue myofasiculations, alacrimia, hoarseness and dysphagia due to achalasia. The ENMG showed generalized denervation with normal conduction velocities. Genetic testing revealed 2 known pathogenic variants in the AAAS gene (c.938T>C and c.1144_1147delTCTG). Our case presented a distal spinal amyotrophy with slow evolution and symptoms and signs of AS with a mutation in AAAS gen. Some cases of motor neuron disease, as ours, may be due to AAS. Early diagnosis is extremely important for symptomatic treatment.

Clinical and molecular report of c.1331\u2009+\u20091G\u2009>\u2009A mutation of the AAAS gene in a Moroccan family with Allgrove syndrome: a case report

BackgroundAllgrove syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of achalasia, alacrimia and adrenal insufficiency. It is caused by the mutations of the AAAS gene located on chromosome 12q13. The c.1331 + 1G > A mutation is one of the most common described in North Africa including Tunisia, Algeria and Libya. We report here the clinical and genetic profile of a Moroccan family with Allgrove syndrome.Case presentationA Moroccan sister and brother born to consanguineous parents were found, at the ages of twelve and fifteen months old respectively, to have alacrimia and isolated glucocorticoid deficiency. Later, they developed achalasia whereupon Allgrove syndrome was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by DNA sequencing which revealed a c.1331 + 1G > A mutation in the AAAS gene.ConclusionThis finding reinforces previous studies in demonstrating the geographic expansion of the ancestral mutation c.1331 + 1G > A in North African patients and thus enabling targeted genetic counseling. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the AAAS gene mutation in Moroccan patients.

Allgrove Syndrome in Iranian Patients and Report on a Novel Mutation in AAAS Gene

: Allgrove syndrome (triple A syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive condition with adrenal insufficiency, achalasia and alacrima. This syndrome is caused by mutations in AAAS gene. In this article we introduce six patients of Allgrove syndrome, in whom genetic analysis of the triple A gene was used to identify gene mutation, DNA was extracted from blood samples. Exon 1 to 16 and some introns of the AAAS gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were evaluated by complete nucleotide sequence analysis. After sequencing, alignment and analysis were carried out. In one patient we identified a IVS14 + 1 G > A mutation, which is previously reported. In 4 patients, we couldn’t detect any mutation. We determined a new mutation (c.446 + 87del T) in the AAAS gene in a patient that this deletion causes splicing defect in intron 5 which results in a premature termination and non-functional ALADIN protein. In conclusion, since molecular genetic testing results may influence the therapy and prognosis of Allgrove patients, this paper contributes to understanding of the molecular basis of Allgrove syndrome in Iranian patients.

Long Term Follow-Up of Clinical and Electromyoneurographical Abnormalities in Eight Croatian Patients with Triple A Syndrome (P01.126)

Objective: To analyse long term follow up of neurological abnormalities (during 2 years to 23 years) in eight Croatian patients with triple A syndrome. Background The triple A syndrome is caused by autosomal recessively inherited mutation in AAAS gene on chromosome 12q13 encoding the nuclear pore protein ALADIN. This multisystem disease is characterized by achalasia, alacrimia, adrenal insufficiency and neurological impairment. Design/Methods: Clinical examination, electromyoneurography (EMNG) and molecular genetic analysis were performed in eight patients with triple A syndrome (five males and three females). Results: At the time of diagnosis all patients (aged 2 years to 8 years) presented with alacrimia, latent or manifest adrenal insufficiency, anisocoria in 2, optic atrophy in 4, motor and sensory polyneuropathy on the first exam in 2 siblings, muscle weakness and hypotrophy of distal muscle groups, cavus feet, hyperreflexia but absent triceps surae jerks, talocrural joints contractures, tremor and dysmetria in 5 patients. First EMG findings were normal at the age 6-11 years in 6/8 patients. The follow up EMG showed chronic partial denervation in all patients. Spontaneous activity (fibrillations) was registered in 3/8, compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were polyphasic in 6/8 patients. Absent or low CMAP amplitude (0-0,5mV) was obtained in 6/8, decreased motor conduction velocity (29-40 m/s) in 8/8, absent F-wave potentials in 7/8, absent neural potentials in 5/8, and proximal conduction block in 5 patients. Mutation pSer263Pro was identified in 5 of 8 patients. One is homozygous and four are compound heterozygous for this mutation. Genotype/phenotype analysis confirmed lack of correlation in patients with triple A syndrome. Conclusions: Long term follow up neurography in patients with triple A syndrome showed progressive mixed motor and sensory polyneuropathy development with signs of pronounced demyelination and/or probably secondary axonal damage. Molecular results support the hypothesis that the pSer263Pro mutation is founder mutation in Slavic population. Disclosure: Dr. Barisic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dumic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kusec has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stingl has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lehman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bunoza has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grdan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Koehler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Heubner has nothing to disclose.

Triple A syndrome: 32 years experience of a single centre (1977–2008)

Triple A syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by alacrima, achalasia, ACTH-resistant adrenal insufficiency, autonomic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. Mutations in the AAAS gene on chromosome 12q13 encoding the nuclear pore protein ALADIN have been reported in these patients. Over the period 1977-2008 we evaluated ten subjects with the clinical diagnosis of triple A syndrome. Molecular analysis was performed in seven patients and revealed that all except one are compound heterozygotes for two mutations in the AAAS gene. Two novel mutations were detected: c.123+2T>C resulted in splice defect while c.1261_1262insG mutation resulted in a truncated protein (p.V421fs), which most probably is not functional. Genotype-phenotype correlation could not be established. In all our patients, except one sibling of previously diagnosed brother and sister, genetic analysis was performed when at least two symptoms were present, usually alacrima and achalasia. Based on our experience, we recommend that in case of the presence of alacrima and at least one more symptom of triple A syndrome, adrenal function testing and molecular analysis should be performed. In all children with mutation in AAAS gene, regular follow up of adrenal function is necessary to avoid adrenal crisis and start substitution therapy as soon as adrenal insufficiency is noted.

Two Italian patients with novel AAAS gene mutation expand allelic and phenotypic spectrum of triple A (Allgrove) syndrome

Two Italian patients with novel AAAS gene mutation expand allelic and phenotypic spectrum of triple A (Allgrove) syndrome