Clinical practice: Coeliac disease

Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic condition elicited by gluten and related prolamines in genetically predisposed individuals and characterised by gluten-induced symptoms and signs, specific antibodies, a specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type and enteropathy. The risk of coeliac disease is increased in first-degree relatives, certain syndromes including Down syndrome and autoimmune disorders. It is thought to occur in 1 in 100–200 individuals, but still only one in four cases is diagnosed. Small-bowel biopsy is no longer deemed necessary in a subgroup of patients, i.e. when all of the following are present: typical symptoms or signs, high titres of and transglutaminase antibodies, endomysial antibodies, and HLA-type DQ2 or DQ8. In all other cases, small-bowel biopsy remains mandatory for a correct diagnosis. Therapy consists of a strictly gluten-free diet. This should result in complete disappearance of symptoms and of serological markers. Adequate follow-up is considered essential. Conclusion: Although small-bowel biopsy may be omitted in a minority of patients, small-bowel biopsy is essential for a correct diagnosis of CD in all other cases. Diagnostic work-up should be completed before treatment with gluten-free diet instituted

Forty years of carabid beetle research in Europe - from taxonomy, biology, ecology and population studies to bioindication, habitat assessment and conservation

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Enzyme replacement therapy administered during hemodialysis in patients with Fabry disease

Enzyme replacement therapy administered during hemodialysis in patients with Fabry disease.BackgroundEnzyme replacement treatment with recombinant human α-galactosidase A (r-hαGalA) is now available for patients with Fabry disease, many of whom are on maintenance hemodialysis. Because r-hαGalA must be infused over several hours, administering the enzyme during dialysis would save a day of treatment for patients receiving both therapies. However, these procedures have never been combined due to concerns about possible loss of enzyme in the dialysate.MethodsTen Fabry patients received r-hαGalA (1 mg/kg body weight continuously infused over 4 hours) during dialysis and separately in the interval between dialysis treatments. Plasma activity of r-hαGalA was measured at baseline and then every hour for both procedures. In two patients, a third r-hαGalA infusion during dialysis with a high-flux membrane was followed.ResultsThe rise in plasma concentrations of r-hαGalA during infusion and the steady-state levels reached were comparable for enzyme administrations with or without dialysis. The trend for the somewhat higher activities during hemodialysis was explained by volume contraction due to ultrafiltration. With the use of a high-flux dialyzer, the plasma r-hαGalA activities were identical to those that were observed during low-flux dialysis.ConclusionsAdministration of r-hαGalA during hemodialysis is not associated with a reduced activity of r-hαGalA therapy in patients with Fabry disease. Replacement therapy with r-hαGalA may therefore be performed during hemodialysis without apparent loss of enzyme into the dialysate

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families referred for fumarate hydratase germline mutation analysis

Heterozygous fumarate hydratase (FH) germline mutations cause hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC), an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by multiple cutaneous piloleiomyomas, uterine leiomyomas and papillary type 2 renal cancer. The main objective of our study was to evaluate clinical and genetic data from families suspected of HLRCC on a nationwide level. All families referred for FH mutation analysis in the Netherlands were assessed. We performed FH sequence analysis and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Families with similar FH mutations were examined for haplotype sharing. In 14 out of 33 families, we identified 11 different pathogenic FH germline mutations, including 4 novel mutations and 1 whole-gene deletion. Clinical data were available for 35 FH mutation carriers. Cutaneous leiomyomas were present in all FH mutation carriers older than 40 years of age. Eleven out of 21 female FH mutation carriers underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas at an average of 35 years. Two FH mutation carriers had papillary type 2 renal cancer and Wilms' tumour, respectively. We evaluated the relevance of our findings for clinical practice and have proposed clinical diagnostic criteria, indications for FH mutation analysis and recommendations for management

Mutations in ABCC6 cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue. PXE patients frequently experience visual field loss and skin lesions, and occasionally cardiovascular complications. Histopathological findings reveal calcification of the elastic fibres and abnormalities of the collagen fibrils. Most PXE patients are sporadic, but autosomal recessive and dominant inheritance are also observed. We previously localized the PXE gene to chromosome 16p13.1 (refs 8,9) and constructed a physical map. Here we describe homozygosity mapping in five PXE families and the detection of deletions or mutations in ABCC6 (formerly MRP6) associated with all genetic forms of PXE in seven patients or familie