Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 in Brazil: MEN1 founding mutation, clinical features, and bone mineral density
D M Lourenço1, R A Toledo, I I Mackowiak
1Unidade de Endocrinologia Genética, Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM 25), Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Cerqueira Cesar, São Paulo 01246-903, SP, Brasil.
Objective:
Only few large families with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) have been documented. Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical features of a seven-generation Brazilian pedigree, which included 715 at-risk family members.
Design:
Genealogical and geographic analysis was used to identify the MEN1 pedigree. Clinical and genetic approach was applied to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic features of the family members.
Results:
Our genetic data indicated that a founding mutation in the MEN1 gene has occurred in this extended Brazilian family. Fifty family members were diagnosed with MEN1. Very high frequencies of functioning and non-functioning MEN1-related tumors were documented and the prevalence of prolactinoma (29.6%) was similar to that previously described in prolactinoma-variant Burin (32%). In addition, bone mineral density analysis revealed severe osteoporosis (T, -2.87+/-0.32) of compact bone (distal radius) in hyperparathyroidism (HPT)/MEN1 patients, while marked bone mineral loss in the lumbar spine (T, -1.95+/-0.39), with most cancellous bone, and femoral neck (mixed composition; T, -1.48+/-0.27) were also present.
Conclusions:
In this study, we described clinically and genetically the fifth largest MEN1 family in the literature. Our data confirm previous findings suggesting that prevalence of MEN1-related tumors in large families may differ from reports combining cumulative data of small families. Furthermore, we were able to evaluate the bone status in HPT/MEN1 cases, a subject that has been incompletely approached in the literature. We discussed the bone loss pattern found in our MEN1 patients comparing with that of patients with sporadic primary HPT.
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