Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
Published on: August 20, 2019
Novel pathogenic variant in the deficiency in ELF4, X-linked (DEX): case report and literature review
Lin Zhuo1, Pengfei Ma1, Miaomiao Chen1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital, Wangjiang East Road No.39, Hefei, 230051, China.
Background:
Deficiency in ELF4, X-linked (DEX) is a recently recognized monogenic autoinflammatory disorder and a novel type of congenital immunodeficiency. Due to the limited number of reported cases, understanding of DEX remains incomplete. In clinical settings, children with this condition are often misdiagnosed as having diseases such as Behçet's disease or inflammatory bowel disease, due to overlapping clinical features.
Methods:
Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples for genetic analysis, and genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of the proband's mother for x chromosome inactivation (XCI) analysis.
Results:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and genetic characteristics of a 3-year-old male patient with DEX in China. This study offers a detailed exploration of the child's specific clinical symptoms and treatment approach, in addition to a comprehensive review of the primary clinical manifestations and genotypic traits of individuals with DEX.
Conclusion:
This study aims to increase clinicians' understanding of DEX. In cases where young male patients present with recurrent fever, oral or mucosal ulcers, or repeated infections, DEX should be strongly considered. Early implementation of gastrointestinal endoscopy and genetic testing is recommended to enable a more precise and timely diagnosis, laying a solid foundation for informed treatment decisions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
Sex-linked Disorders
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
X-linked Traits
Incomplete Dominance

