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Center of Expertise for Rare Endocrine Diseases
Center of Expertise for Rare Endocrine Diseases (C.E.R.E.D) – Disorders of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism
THE CENTER
The Center of Expertise for Rare Endocrine Diseases (C.E.R.E.D) – Disorders of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism is part of the Endocrinology Unit of the 1st Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine of the Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. The Center is located at LAIKO General Hospital of Athens (G.H.A).
The network facility service of C.E.R.E.D in LAIKO GHA :
Consists of a multidisciplinary team of several subspecialties dealing with patients harbouring rare endocrine diseases including disorders of calcium and phosphate metabolism.
Delivers leading care for patients with rare disorders of calcium and phosphate metabolism (hypoparathyroidism, genetic variants of hyperparathyroidism, x-linked hypophosphatenic rickets , tumor-induced osteomalacia etc.)
Provides access to optimal and evidence- based care, prevention programs and scientific innovations for every patient.
Follow treatment plans that are in line with international standards of care and display a patient-friendly and patient-centric approach.
Runs at least twice a month a Specialist Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), depending on the number of patients. In these meetings all new or follow-up patients with disease progression, development of side effects, patient’s request or other related reasons are discussed. In cases of severely affected patients particular attention is paid in improving patients’ quality of life. All disciplines involved in C.E.R.E.D follow specific standard operation procedures (SOP) according to ESE guidelines.
Participates in national and international trials on patients with rare endocrine diseases in the area of calcium and phosphate metabolism disorders and has published multiple original research and review papers in international medical journals
Participates in the preparation and development of national guidelines regarding patients with calcium and phosphate disorders
Specialized Outpatient Clinics are held twice per week under the supervision of personnel with special interest in calcium and phosphate metabolism consisting of three Specialized endocrinologists, (5) Interns in Endocrinology and (1) secretary trained in the management of the center’s administrative requirements, the administrative management of patients and the recording of patient monitoring and response data and (2) academic research scholars.
More than 200 patients with rare disorders of calcium and phosphate metabolism are currently monitored at the center and more than 20 new patients are estimated each year
PERSONNEL
The specialized personnel consists of:
Dr. Eva Kassi, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Endocrinology, who is the Lead and Coordinator of the Center
Narjes N. Ansari, Molecular Biologist, Post Doc Basic Researcher
Maria Lekakou, secretarial office
The organization of the Center also includes all relevant medical specialties according to prerequisites from the European Reference Network for Rare Endocrine Diseases of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism (Endocrinology, Pediatric Endocrinology, Orthopedics, Oncology, Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Pathology, Nephrology, Genetics and Social Worker), as well as secondary specialties such as Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery, Dentistry, Psychiatry, Neurology and Nutrition.
INFRASTRUCTURE
LAIKO General Hospital of Athens is part of the National Health System (NHS) that hosts several Departments of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. It operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health lead by a Chief Executive and a Deputy. The operational delivery is organized through Groups of clinical specialties required to adhere to the organisational policies and procedures that include business continuity policies and operational plans.
Τhe hospital provides 24hours on-call duties every 4 days and daily from 08.00-14.30 thereby providing availability for continuous admission to hospital for patients with endocrine diseases in need for acute or scheduled inpatient care.
1st Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine has a capacity of 42 medical beds for in-patient care that have been fully renovated at 2008.
The C.E.R.E.D provides a defined infrastructure including an organizational management structure naming main partners and core partners, secondary partners, supportive care partners, referring and affiliated partners in a given interdisciplinary cooperation and communication structure.
Data of patients are collected in the hospital –based patients’ database in line with the existing National and European Patient Registry guidelines.
All departments that participate in the Center follow standard operating procedures (Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs) according to guidelines by ΕuroCaNET
PATIENTS CARE
1st assessment of out-patient care
Patients can make an appointment for the out-patient clinic using:
Out-patient clinic for Bone Metabolism and Calcium and Phosphate Disorders
MONDAY
09.00-1400
16 Sevastoupoleos str.
(LAIKO Specialized Outpatient Clinics)
5th floor, Room Νο. 5
Dr. EvaKassi
Out-patient clinic for Bone Metabolism and Calcium and Phosphate Disorders
WEDNESDAY
09.00-1400
16 Sevastoupoleos str.
(LAIKO Specialized Outpatient Clinics)
5th floor, Room Νο. 5
Dr. Maria Yavropoulou
DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH
Diagnostic work-up consists mainly of blood and urine laboratory tests, radiology tests (X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, bone scintigraphy, sestamibi scintigraphy) and, occasionally, invasive procedures such as bone biopsy.
Further testing that may be required include reviewing of pathology samples, functional imaging including 68Gallium-DOTATATE -PET/CT, 18FDG-PET/CT and genetic (molecular) testing.
Functional testing with somatostatin receptors scintigraphy (Octreoscan) is conducted at the Nuclear Medicine Department of LAIKO GHA or at the Foundation of Medical and Biological Research of the Academy of Athens, when 68Gallium-DOATATE-PET/CT and 18FDG-PET are required.
TREATMENT AND FOLLOW UP
Treatment consists of surgical procedures, drug therapy, molecular targeted therapy and/or calcium, phosphate and vitamin D supplements. In selected cases a combination of treatment (such as surgery and drug therapy) may be appropriate.
Surgical treatment is provided at two General Surgery Departments (1st and 2nd) of LAIKO General Hospital of Athens.
COLLABORATIONS
The Centre personnel work in close contact with numerous Departments of LAIKO G.H.A as well as Departments of other hospitals and Private Diagnostic Centers.
LAIKO General Hospital of Athens
1st Department of General Surgery, (Scientific Supervisor: Assoc. Professor Dimitris Dimitroulis)
2nd Department of General Surgery, (Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Professor Ioannis Karavokyros)
1st Department of Pathology, (Scientific Supervisor: Professor George Agrogiannis)
Department of Biochemistry, (Scientific Supervisor: Professor Aggeliki Papapanagiotou)
Department of Cardiology, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. George Anastasiadis)
Department of Nephrology, (Scientific Supervisor: Professor Ioannis Mpoletis)
Department of Nuclear Medicine, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Antigoni Velidaki)
Department of Radiology and Invasive Radiology, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Konstantinos Revenas)
Department of Orhopedics, (Scientific supervisor: Dr. Eva Papakitsou)
Department of Gynecology, (Scientific supervisor: Dr. Konstantinos Giannakopoulos)
Division of Neurology, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Athina Efthymiou)
Social Workers Division, (Scientific Supervisor: Kyriaki Katsetou)
Division of Clinical Dieticians, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Liana Poulia)
Division of Physiotherapy, (Scientific Supervisor: Chariklia Lagiou)
Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Department of Biology (Scientific Supervisor: Professor Panagoulia Kollia)
Department of Biological Chemistry (Scientific Supervisor: Assoc. Professor Eva Kassi)
ATΤIKOΝ General Hospital of Athens
Department of Thoracosurgery, (Scientific Supervisor: Professor Periklis Tomos)
Department of Nuclear Medicine, (Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Sofia Hatzhioannou)
AIGINITION General Hospital of Athens
Department of Psychiatry, (Scientific Supervisor: Ioannis Zervas)
Diagnostic Centers in the Private Sector-Athens
Department of CT/MRI, BIOIATRIKI Diagnostic Center, Peristeri, Athens (Scientific supervisor Dr. D. Kolomodi)
Clinical Laboratory Genetics- ACCESS TO GENOME-ATG, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Emmanouil Manolakos, Dr. Ioannis Papoulidis)
Foundation of Medical-Biological Research of the Academy of Athens
Department of PET/CT, (Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Sofia Hatzhioannou)
AGIA SOFIA Children’s Hospital of Athens
Institute of Children’s Health, (Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Artemis Doulgeraki)
DISORDERS OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHATE METABOLISM
Information For Patients
Calcium and Phosphate Homeostasis is of major importance to a large number of physiological processes thereby affecting several organ systems typically bone, muscles, kidney, brain with consequences on the patient’s quality of life and on the risk of chronic disability.
These diseases often manifest with unspecific symptoms (like seizure, failure to thrive) leading to a severe delay in diagnosis. For several of them, treatment options are available (or under development), upon diagnosis. However, it is only recently that long-term consequences and burden of the diseases have been characterized.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is secreted by the parathyroid glands, and Vitamin D, which is mainly produced in the skin from sun exposure and is activated in the kidney, are the main hormones that regulate the calcium homeostasis, while these two hormones along with FGF-23 (a bone-derived hormone) are responsible for the phosphorus homeostasis. Dysregulation of the secretion of these hormones leads to hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia and disorders of phosphate balance.
The PTH-dependent hypercalcemia diseases cover a wide range of sporadic cases of primary hyperparatahyroidism as well as genetic syndromes predisposing to hyperparathyroidism, and in some complex cases simple parathyroidectomy may not be completely curative. Hypocalcemia, on the other hand covers hypoparathyroidism, autosomal dominant hypocalcemia as well as vitamin D dependent rickets (VDDR). Disorders of phosphate imbalance share abnormal bone and teeth structure, as well as a dysregulation of the FGF23 endocrine system.
Patients suffering from the following diseases can turn to C.E.R.E.D for specialist care.
Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is caused by excessive secretion of PTH by one or more parathyroid glands. It leads to hypercalcemia and increased excretion of calcium in the urine. Rare forms of primary hyperparathyroidism include 1) hyperparathyroidism diagnosed in children or young adults and 2) hyperparathyroidism associated with germline mutations in susceptibility genes. The symptoms are mainly related to the level of serum calcium and/or to the kidney/urinary tract complications. In addition, the features associated with the genetic defects may also lead to the diagnosis.
Non-PTH Related Hypercalcemia
Hypercalcemia with low PTH is due to an excess in vitamin D action/concentration or to an increased efflux of calcium from the bone (hypophosphatasia, bone resorption due to PTHrP or cytokines production). The symptoms are mainly related to the level of serum calcium and/or to the kidney/urinary tract complications. Hypercalcemia due to anomalies in vitamin D metabolism is mainly diagnosed in neonates and young children with severe hypercalcemia and nephrocalcinosis. Hypophosphatasia may be diagnosed because of hypercalcelmia, hyperphosphatemia, low PTH and severely impaired bone mineralization.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 1
Multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) is characterized by the development of neuroendocrine tumors of the parathyroid, pancreas, and anterior pituitary gland, and less commonly the adrenal cortical gland, with other non-endocrine tumors in some patients. In individuals with MEN1, tumors can develop at any age and 95% of patients develop clinical symptoms by the 5th decade. Parathyroid tumors causing hyperparathyroidism occur most commonly, and are often the first clinical manifestation of the disease.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) is characterized by the occurrence of medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and, in one variant, primary hyperparathyroidism. The clinical manifestations of MEN2 are related to the syndrome subtypes and depend on the specific mutation in the RET gene. MEN2 can affect all age groups, with manifestations beginning in infancy to early childhood (MEN2B) or adulthood
Parathyroid cancer
Parathyroid cancer usually manifests as severe hypercalcemia, i.e. anorexia, polyuria, fatigue, dehydration, bone pain, subcortical bone resorption, pathological fractures and renal complications of hypercalciuria. A mass may be palpable in the neck.
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) is a generally asymptomatic genetic disorder of phosphate and calcium metabolism characterized by lifelong moderate hypercalcemia along with normo- or hypocalciuria and elevated plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration. FHH is biologically characterized by moderate but significant hypercalcemia associated with levels of PTH and urinary calcium excretion that appear inappropriate in the presence of the hypercalcemia: serum levels of PTH are, in general, normal or slightly increased and calciuria is low. FHH is usually asymptomatic but rarely symptoms of fatigue, weakness, excessive thirst and concentration problems are experienced.
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism is due to the lack of production/secretion of PTH. It is characterized by low calcium, high phosphate and low PTH. Symptoms are mainly related to low levels of calcium can include: paresthesias, numbness, seizures and tetany (including muscle twitches and hand and foot spasms); in severe cases, hypocalcemia leads to cardiac complications. Long-term complications are frequent such as tissues calcifications, nephrocalcinosis, cognitive and neuropsychiatric difficulties. In children, hypoparathyroidism is mainly due to the impaired development of parathyroid glands; in adolescents and adults, hypoparathyroidism may be due to autοimmune diseases, drug side-effects and neck surgery
Pseudohypoparathyroidism
Disease definition
The term PHP (describes disorders that share common biochemical features of hypoparathyroidism (i.e.hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia) that are the result of resistance of target tissues to the biological actions of PTH. Patients with PHP1A and PHP1C are also characterized by the variable expression of a collection of physical features, termed Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). Furthermore, based on the number of AHO features and the presence and extent of ectopic ossifications, patients might be classified as having pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP; OMIM #612463), progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH; OMIM #166350) or osteoma cutis. Acrodysostosis (OMIM #101800) refers to a group of chondrodysplasias that resemble PHP in some patients, owing to the presence of brachydactyly and often resistance to different hormones, but differ from PHP owing to more extensive facial dysmorphism, nasal hypoplasia and often developmental delay.
Epidemiology
The exact prevalence of PHP is unknown. Studies published in 2000 and 2016 estimated the prevalence to be 0.34 in 100,000 in Japan and 1.1 in 100,000 in Denmark. The prevalence of POH has never been estimated. However, it seems to be extremely rare, as <60 cases have been reported worldwide up to December 2016. The prevalence of Acrodysostosis is unknown as clinical, biochemical and radiological features overlap with those of PHP1A and PPHP.
Clinical description
All forms of PHP can present in infancy, especially if significant hypocalcemia occurs. Symptoms related to low levels of calcium include: paresthesias, numbness, seizures and tetany (including muscle twitches and hand and foot spasms). Some forms of PHP may remain unnoticed if patients do not have hypocalcemia and/or characteristic physical features, which include short stature, rounded face, short neck, brachydactyly, ectopic ossifications and other poorly defined abnormalities, collectively termed Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO).
Etiology
All patients with PHP and PHP-related disorders in whom a molecular diagnosis is confirmed have genetic or epigenetic alterations in genes encoding for proteins involved in the PTH/PTHrP signaling pathway. PHP1A, PPHP and POH are due to genetic defects in the gene coding the alpha sub-unit of the stimulatory G protein (GNAS, 20q13.2-q13.3).
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis is based on the presence of characteristic clinical and endocrinological findings.
Genetic counseling
PHP can be sporadic or inherited autosomal dominantly with parental imprinting. In inherited cases, genetic counseling is possible.
Management and treatment
A multidisciplinary follow-up and early, specific interventions are necessary for efficient therapeutic management of these patients.
Management consists of general measures (lifestyle advice for obesity, exercise and rehabilitation) and specific measures aimed to correct hypocalcemia, growth retardation and other endocrine deficiencies. Surgical management may include orthopaedic, spinal and dental aspects.
Prognosis
Very variable depending on age at onset, severity and presence or absence of endocrine abnormalities.
Hereditary forms of Hypophosphatemic Rickets
Phosphate wasting leads to hypophosphatemia hence osteomalacia, rickets, mineralization defects, bone deformities, bone pain, poor growth, anomalies of teeth mineralization and muscle function impairment. Additional features may include nephrocalcinosis, craniosynostosis, hearing impairment, Chiari type 1 malformations, entesopathies and hyperparathyroidism. Hypophosphatemia associated with phosphate wasting is usually diagnosed in young children, yet the features are so variable that diagnosis may be reached only in adults or parents of affected patients. Hypophosphatemia associated with phosphate wasting is caused by genetic conditions leading to an increased production/action of the hormone FGF23. In rare cases, the low phosphate level is due to anomalies in the renal phosphate transport (genetic or acquired).
Acquired Oncogenic Osteomalacia
Oncogenic hypophosphatemia or Tumor Induced Osteomalacia (TIO) leads to severe hypophosphatemia and phosphate wasting due to a tumoral secretion of FGF23 by mesenchymal tumors; the calcium level is also usually low. Patients (usually adults) present with severe muscular defects, fractures, pseudofractures, bone and muscular pain. It is crucial to localize the source of FGF23 secretion through the best available imaging techniques.
Hyperphosphatemia
Hyperphosphatemia may be due to the impaired excretion of urinary phosphate. Most cases are of genetic origin and are characterized by a lack of FGF23 secretion. Patients may present with joints and bone pain, diaphysitis and often severe ectopic calcifications.
DISORDERS OF BONE METABOLISM
Fibrous Dysplasia
Epidemiology
The exact prevalence of fibrous dysplasia is unknown, but it is less than 1:2000.FD/MAS is a rare disorder characterized by skeletal lesions, skin hyperpigmentation, and hyper-functioning endocrinopathies
Etiology
It arises from post-zygotic gain-of-function mutations in the GNAS gene, which encodes the α-subunit of the Gs signaling protein. These mutations disrupt the intrinsic GTPase activity of Gsα, leading to persistent stimulation of adenylyl cyclase and dysregulated production of cyclic AMP and downstream signaling. The resulting disease is mosaic with a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from a trivial incidentally discovered radiographic finding to severe and disabling disease.
Diagnostic methods
A diagnosis of the subtypes of FD/MAS can only be made after a thorough evaluation of a) the extent of skeletal disease: monostotic/polyostotic and b) the presence of extra-skeletal manifestations. Monostotic fibrous dysplasia is defined as the presence of fibrous dysplasia in one skeletal site only. Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia is defined as the presence of fibrous dysplasia in more than one skeletal site without extra-skeletal manifestations. McCune-Albright syndrome is defined as the combination of FD and one or more extra-skeletal feature, OR the presence of two or more extra skeletal features. Not requiring FD for the diagnosis of MAS reflects better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the disorder.
Mazabraud Syndrome is the combination of FD with intramuscular myxoma(s).
Management and treatment
Management consists of general measures (Provision of information about the disease, Lifestyle advice, Exercise and rehabilitation) and specific measures including management of FGF-23 induced renal phosphate wasting, Scoliosis, bone pain, Mazabraud syndrome, endocrinopathies of the ovary, testes, thyroid, pituitary and adrenals, haematological manifestations, gastrointestinal manifestations and increased risk of malignancy. Surgical management includes orthopaedic, spinal, craniofacial, maxillofacial and dental aspects.
Prognosis
Very variable depending on severity and response to drug and surgical treatment.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Disease definition
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) comprises a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders characterized by increased bone fragility, low bone mass, and susceptibility to bone fractures with variable severity.
Synonyms
Brittle bone disease, Glass bone disease, Lobstein disease, OI, Osteopsathyrosis
Epidemiology
Prevalence is estimated at between 1/10,000 and 1/20,000.
Clinical description
Age at diagnosis depends on the severity of the disease. Five clinically distinct types of OI have been identified. The most clinically relevant characteristic of all types of OI is bone fragility, which manifests as multiple spontaneous fractures. Osteogenesis imperfecta type II is lethal, type III is severe, types IV and V are moderate, and type I is mild (see these terms). Type I is nondeforming with normal height or mild short stature, blue sclera, and no dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI; see this term). Patients with type II present multiple rib and long bone fractures at birth, marked deformities, broad long bones, low density on skull X-rays, and dark sclera. The main signs of type III include very short stature, a triangular face, severe scoliosis, grayish sclera, and DI. Patients with type IV have moderately short stature, mild to moderate scoliosis, grayish or white sclera, and DI. Type V is characterized by mild to moderate short stature, dislocation of the radial head, mineralized interosseous membranes, hyperplastic callus, white sclera, and no DI. Other genetically different types have been observed (types VI to IX) but they are not clinically different from types II-IV.
Etiology
In 95% of cases, OI is caused by mutations in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes (17q21.33 and 7q21.3) encoding the alpha1 and alpha2 chains of type 1collagen. These mutations can cause all five clinical types of OI. Transmission is autosomal dominant. Autosomal recessive forms of OI are also observed and are caused by mutations in the LEPRE1, CRTAP, and PPIB genes (1p34.1, 3p22 and 15q21-q22). Autosomal recessive forms are always severe forms with severe hypotonia.
Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis is based on skeletal and extra-skeletal clinical findings. Radiological studies reveal osteoporosis and the presence of wormian-like bones. Bone densitometry confirms the low bone mass.
Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnoses include in utero diagnosis of chondrodysplasia, idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis, osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome, Cole-Carpenter and Bruck syndromes, hyper or hypophosphatasia, panostotic form of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (see these terms), non-accidental injury (multiple fractures without osteoporosis), and osteoporosis due to medication, nutritional deficiency, metabolic disease, or leukemia. The presence of several fractures should not lead to the assumption of child abuse.
Management and treatment
Management should be multidisciplinary involving experienced medical, orthopedic, physiotherapy and rehabilitation specialists. Bisphosphonates with potent antiresorptive properties are now considered as the standard of care for severe forms but do not constitute a cure. Prevention of vitamin D and calcium deficiency is essential throughout life. Surgical management is essential for the correction of bone and spinal deformities and the prevention of long bone fractures (centro-medullary osteosynthesis). Early physiotherapy improves autonomy by helping to evaluate any motor deficits, reducing the risk of falls and encouraging patients to take up a sporting activity.
Prognosis
Functional prognosis depends on the severity of the disease and on the quality of management. Vital prognosis depends on the severity of any respiratory complications associated with spinal deformities.
Hypophosphatasia
Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare heritable metabolic disorder characterized by defective mineralization of bone and/or teeth in the presence of reduced activity of unfractionated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The clinical spectrum is extremely wide, from stillbirth at one end to fractures of the lower extremities in adulthood, at the other, or even no bone manifestations (odontohypophosphatasia).
Epidemiology
Exact prevalence and incidence data for hypophosphatasia are not available. The prevalence ofsevere forms of the disease has been estimated to be 1/300,000 births in Europe.
Clinical description
Six different clinical forms of HPP have been described. Prenatal benign hypophosphatasia involves prenatal skeletal manifestations that slowly resolve to become the milder childhood or adult form. Perinatal lethal hypophosphatasia involves significant hypomineralization and leads to hypercalcemia and respiratory insufficiency. Infantile hypophosphatasia is characterized by rickets developing between birth and six months of age. Childhood-onset hypophosphatasia ranges from low bone mineral density with unexplained fractures to rickets. Adult hypophosphatasia involves early loss of adult dentition and stress fractures of the lower extremities in middle age. Lastly, odontohypophosphatasia includes premature exfoliation of primary teeth and/or severe dental caries. Rare cases of infantile hypophosphatasia that have normal serum alkaline phosphatase activity are known as ”pseudohypophosphatasia”.
Etiology
More than 250 different mutations in the ALPL gene (1p36.12) are known to cause hypophosphatasia. The gene encodes alkaline phosphatase, tissue-nonspecific isozyme (TNSALP) involved in skeletal mineralization.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis is based on laboratory testing and molecular genetic testing of the ALPL gene to detect causative mutations. Serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity is markedly reduced while urinary phosphoethanolamine (PEA) is increased but these abnormalities are not pathognomonic. Ultrasound is used in prenatal and perinatal forms. Clinical examinations and radiographs help to establish the diagnosis in infantile, childhood and adult forms.
Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis includes osteogenesis imperfecta and campomelic dysplasia in early diagnosis, and hypophosphatemic rickets and achondrogenesis in later diagnosis (see these terms).
Genetic counseling
Perinatal and severe infantile HPP are inherited as autosomal recessive traits. Prenatal benign, moderate infantile, childhood HPP, adult HPP and odontohypophosphatasia can be inherited in an autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant manner, depending on the specific effect the gene mutation has on TNSALP activity. The less severe the disease, the more likely it is dominantly inherited. The range of inheritance patterns partially explains the clinical heterogeneity. In autosomal recessive hypophosphatasia, rare de novo mutations have been reported. In autosomal dominant hypophosphatasia, affected patients may have an affected parent but penetrance appears to be low and de novo mutations have not been reported. HPP displays highly variable expressivity. Genetic counseling is complicated by these factors but should be offered to affected families.
Management and treatment
Supportive symptomatic treatment in childhood and adult forms includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (children), teriparatide (adults) and orthopedic management.
Dental monitoring and care are essential. Enzyme replacement therapy also plays a role. Bisphosphonates are generally contraindicated in hypophosphatasia.
Prognosis
The perinatal form is almost always fatal within days or weeks. Respiratory complications lead to high mortality rates in the infantile form. Life expectancy is not thought to be affected in the adult form or in odontohypophosphatasia
Research Activity-Publications
RELATIVE PUBLICATIONS RESEARCH TEAM C.E.R.E.D
Gender Predilection in Sporadic Parathyroid Adenomas Yavropoulou MP, Anastasilakis AD, Panagiotakou A, Kassi E, Makras P . Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 22;21(8):2964. doi: 10.3390/ijms21082964 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32331456/
Treatment of severe hypocalcaemia due to osteoblastic metastases in a patient with post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism with 153Sm-EDTMP.Kassi E, Kapsali I, Kokkinos M, Gogas H.BMJ Case Rep. 2017 May 16;2017:bcr2017219354. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-219354 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28512123/
A novel mutation of the calcium-sensing receptor gene in a Greek family from Nisyros. Zapanti E, Polonifi A, Kokkinos M, Boutzios G, Kassi G, Nasiri Ansari N, Kassi E, Polyzos A. Hormones (Athens). 2015 Apr-Jun;14(2):321-5. doi: 10.14310/horm.2002.1586. PMID: 26158657. http://www.hormones.gr/8569/article/article.html
Osteoporosis and Referral Centre of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism Disorders. (code number 00571)
16 Sevastoupoleos street 11527, Goudi, Athens
5th Floor, Room No5
Tel: 213-2060934
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