Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy: Report of Seven Additional Sicilian Patients and Overview of the Overall Series from Sicily.

Valenzise, Mariella; Fierabracci, alessandra; Cappa, Marco; Porcelli, Paolo; Barcellona, Roberto; De Luca, Filippo; Barollo, Susi; Garelli, Silvia; Betterle, Corrado

Background: Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare recessive inherited disease caused by the mutation of the AIRE gene on chromosome 21. To date, 8 Sicilian patients have been described and the R203X AIRE mutation was found to be the most common in this region. Aims: (1) To describe 7 additional Sicilian APECED patients and to review all 15 Sicilian APECED patients who have been investigated by our group in the last years, and (2) to report a novel AIRE gene mutation. Results: Among the 3 cardinal features of APECED, hypoparathyroidism has been already detected in all 15 patients, whereas Addison's disease and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis have so far been found in 10/15 and 12/15 cases, respectively. In 2 consanguineous cases, AIRE gene analysis revealed a novel mutation, named IVS13+2T, in homozygosis. R203X was the most common mutation in this region (30% of alleles and 46.6% of patients), followed by R257X (20% of alleles and 40% of patients). Conclusions: Sicilian APECED patients are confirmed to have some peculiar characteristics from a clinical and genetic point of view. No correlations between genotype and phenotype were identified. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

ITALY; SICILY (Italy); AUTOIMMUNE polyendocrinopathies; PUBLIC health; GENETIC mutation; GENETIC disorders; ALLELES

Hormone Research in Paediatrics, 2014, Vol 82, Issue 2, p127

1663-2818

Academic Journal

10.1159/000363537