Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction. 4H leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessive RNA polymerase III-related leukodystrophy, characterized by hypomyelination, with or without hypodontia (or other dental abnormalities) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Case Presentation. We describe a 28-year-old female who presented with...

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Main Authors: Emma Billington, Geneviève Bernard, William Gibson, Bernard Corenblum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/314594
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author Emma Billington
Geneviève Bernard
William Gibson
Bernard Corenblum
author_facet Emma Billington
Geneviève Bernard
William Gibson
Bernard Corenblum
author_sort Emma Billington
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. 4H leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessive RNA polymerase III-related leukodystrophy, characterized by hypomyelination, with or without hypodontia (or other dental abnormalities) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Case Presentation. We describe a 28-year-old female who presented with primary amenorrhea at the age of 19. She had a history of very mild neurological and dental abnormalities. She was found to have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hypomyelination. The diagnosis of 4H leukodystrophy was made. She was subsequently found to have mutations in the POLR3B gene, which encodes the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase III. She wished to become pregnant and failed to respond to pulsatile GnRH but achieved normal follicular growth and ovulation with subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy. Discussion. Patients with 4H leukodystrophy may initially present with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, particularly if neurological and dental manifestations are subtle. Making the diagnosis has important implications for prognosis and management. Progressive neurologic deterioration is expected, and progressive endocrine dysfunction may occur. Patients with 4H leukodystrophy should be counseled about disease progression and about this disease’s autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. In those who wish to conceive, ovulation induction may be achieved with subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy, but pulsatile GnRH does not appear to be effective.
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spelling doaj-art-6ca5687f71f248c4b973537eed81d6832025-02-03T06:12:38ZengWileyCase Reports in Endocrinology2090-65012090-651X2015-01-01201510.1155/2015/314594314594Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the LiteratureEmma Billington0Geneviève Bernard1William Gibson2Bernard Corenblum3Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Calgary, 1820 Richmond Road SW, Calgary, AB, T2T 5C7, CanadaDepartments of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 boul Décarie, Site Glen Pavilion E / Block E, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, CanadaDepartment of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Child and Family Research Institute, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, CanadaDivision of Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of Calgary, 1820 Richmond Road SW, Calgary, AB, T2T 5C7, CanadaIntroduction. 4H leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessive RNA polymerase III-related leukodystrophy, characterized by hypomyelination, with or without hypodontia (or other dental abnormalities) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Case Presentation. We describe a 28-year-old female who presented with primary amenorrhea at the age of 19. She had a history of very mild neurological and dental abnormalities. She was found to have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed hypomyelination. The diagnosis of 4H leukodystrophy was made. She was subsequently found to have mutations in the POLR3B gene, which encodes the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase III. She wished to become pregnant and failed to respond to pulsatile GnRH but achieved normal follicular growth and ovulation with subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy. Discussion. Patients with 4H leukodystrophy may initially present with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, particularly if neurological and dental manifestations are subtle. Making the diagnosis has important implications for prognosis and management. Progressive neurologic deterioration is expected, and progressive endocrine dysfunction may occur. Patients with 4H leukodystrophy should be counseled about disease progression and about this disease’s autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. In those who wish to conceive, ovulation induction may be achieved with subcutaneous gonadotropin therapy, but pulsatile GnRH does not appear to be effective.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/314594
spellingShingle Emma Billington
Geneviève Bernard
William Gibson
Bernard Corenblum
Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Case Reports in Endocrinology
title Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_fullStr Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_short Endocrine Aspects of 4H Leukodystrophy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_sort endocrine aspects of 4h leukodystrophy a case report and review of the literature
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/314594
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AT williamgibson endocrineaspectsof4hleukodystrophyacasereportandreviewoftheliterature
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