Bilateral Adrenal Hyperplasia: Pathogenesis and Treatment

Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia is a rare cause of Cushing’s syndrome. Micronodular adrenal hyperplasia, including the primary pigmented micronodular adrenal dysplasia (PPNAD) and the isolated micronodular adrenal hyperplasia (iMAD), can be distinguished from the primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) according to the size of the nodules. They both lead to overt or subclinical CS. In the latter case, PPNAD is usually diagnosed after a systematic screening in patients presenting with Carney complex, while for PBMAH, the diagnosis is often incidental on imaging. Identification of causal genes and genetic counseling also help in the diagnoses. This review discusses the last decades’ findings on genetic and molecular causes of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, including the several mechanisms altering the PKA pathway, the recent discovery of ARMC5, and the role of the adrenal paracrine regulation. Finally, the treatment of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia will be discussed, focusing on current data on unilateral adrenalectomy

TRα receptor mutations extend the spectrum of syndromes of reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormone

International audienceSince 2012, eight different abnormalities have been described in the THRA gene (encoding the TRα1 thyroid hormone receptor) of 14 patients from 9 families. These mutations induce a clinical phenotype (resistance to thyroid hormone type α) associating symptoms of untreated mild congenital hypothyroidism and a near-normal range of free and total thyroid hormones and TSH (the T4/T3 ratio is nevertheless usually low). The phenotype can diversely include short stature (due to growth retardation), dysmorphic syndrome (face and limb extremities), psychoneuromotor disorders, constipation and bradycardia. The identified genetic abnormalities are located within the ligand-binding domain and result in defective T3 binding, an abnormally strong interaction with corepressors and a dominant negative activity against still functional receptors. The identification of patients with consistent phenotypes and the underlying mutations are warranted to better delineate the spectrum of the syndromes of reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormone

ARMC5 mutation in a Portuguese family with primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) Learning points

International audienceSUMMARY:PBMAH is a rare etiology of Cushing syndrome (CS). Familial clustering suggested a genetic cause that was recently confirmed, after identification of inactivating germline mutations in armadillo repeat-containing 5 (ARMC5) gene. A 70-year-old female patient was admitted due to left femoral neck fracture in May 2014, in Orthopedics Department. During hospitalization, hypertension (HTA) and hypokalemia were diagnosed. She presented with clinical signs of hypercortisolism and was transferred to the Endocrinology ward for suspected CS. Laboratory workup revealed: ACTH <5 pg/mL; urinary free cortisol (UFC), 532 µg/24 h (normal range: 20-90); failure to suppress the low-dose dexamethasone test (0.5 mg every 6 h for 48 h): cortisol 21 µg/dL. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed enlarged nodular adrenals (right, 55 × 54 × 30 mm; left, 85 × 53 × 35 mm), and she was submitted to bilateral adrenalectomy. In 2006, this patient's 39-year-old daughter had been treated by one of the authors. She presented with severe clinical and biological hypercortisolism. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed massively enlarged nodular adrenals with maximal axis of 15 cm for both. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. In this familial context of PBMAH, genetic study was performed. Leucocyte DNA genotyping identified in both patients the same germline heterozygous ARMC5 mutation in exon 1 c.172_173insA p.I58Nfs*45. The clinical cases herein described have an identical phenotype with severe hypercortisolism and huge adrenal glands, but different ages at the time of diagnosis. Current knowledge of inheritance of this disease, its insidious nature and the well-known deleterious effect of hypercortisolism favor genetic study to timely identify and treat these patients.LEARNING POINTS:PBMAH is a rare etiology of CS, characterized by functioning adrenal macronodules and variable cortisol secretion.The asymmetric/asynchronous involvement of only one adrenal gland can also occur, making disease diagnosis a challenge.Familial clustering suggests a genetic cause that was recently confirmed, after identification of inactivating germline mutations in armadillo repeat-containing 5 (ARMC5) gene.The insidious nature of this disease and the well-known deleterious effect of hypercortisolism favor genetic study of other family members, to diagnose and treat these patients timely.As ARMC5 is expressed in many organs and recent findings suggest an association of PBMAH and meningioma, a watchful follow-up is required

Reversal of a Blunted Follicle-Stimulating Hormone by Chemotherapy in an Inhibin B–Secreting Adrenocortical Carcinoma

International audienceAdrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are revealed in 60% of cases by steroid hypersecretion. Alternatively, it is uncommon to observe a paraneoplastic syndrome due to a peptide oversecretion

PRKACB variants in skeletal disease or adrenocortical hyperplasia: effects on protein kinase A

Genetic variants in components of the protein kinase A (PKA) enzyme have been associated with various defects and neoplasms in the context of Carney complex (CNC) and in isolated cases, such as in primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD), cortisol-producing adrenal adenomas (CPAs), and various cancers. PRKAR1A mutations have been found in subjects with impaired cAMP-dependent signaling and skeletal defects; bone tumors also develop in both humans and mice with Prkar1a abnormalities. We studied the PRKACB gene in 148 subjects with PPNAD and related disorders, who did not have other PKA-related defects and identified two subjects with possibly pathogenic PRKACB gene variants and unusual bone and endocrine phenotypes. The first presented with bone and other abnormalities, and carried a de novo c.858_860GAA (p.K286del) variant. The second subject carried the c.899 C>T (p.T300M) variant and had a PPNAD-like phenotype. Both variants are highly conserved in the PRKACB gene. In functional studies, the p.K286del variant affected PRKACB protein stability and led to increased PKA signaling. The p.T300M variant did not affect protein stability or response to cAMP and its pathogenicity remains uncertain. We conclude that PRKACB germline variants are uncommon but may be associated with phenotypes that resemble those of other PKA-related defects. However, detailed investigation of each variant is needed as PRKACB appears to be only rarely affected in these conditions, and variants such as p.T300M maybe proven to be clinically insignificant, whereas others (such as p.K286del) are clearly pathogenic and may lead to a novel skeletal syndrome phenotype

Improved Urinary Cortisol Metabolome in Addison's disease : a Prospective Trial of Dual-Release Hydrocortisone

CONTEXT: Oral once-daily dual-release hydrocortisone (DR-HC) replacement therapy has demonstrated an improved metabolic profile compared to conventional 3-times-daily (TID-HC) therapy among patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. This effect might be related to a more physiological cortisol profile, but also to a modified pattern of cortisol metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To study cortisol metabolism during DR-HC and TID-HC. DESIGN: Randomized, 12-week, crossover study. INTERVENTION AND PARTICIPANTS: DC-HC and same daily dose of TID-HC in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (n=50) versus healthy subjects (n=124) as control. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urinary corticosteroid metabolites measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry on 24-hour urinary collections. RESULTS: Total cortisol metabolites decreased during DR-HC compared to TID-HC (P &lt; 0.001) and reached control values (P = 0.089). During DR-HC, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) activity measured by tetrahydrocortisol+5α-tetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio was reduced compared to TID-HC (P &lt; 0.05), but remained increased versus controls (P &lt; 0.001). 11β-HSD2 activity measured by urinary free cortisone/free cortisol ratio was decreased with TID-HC versus controls (P &lt; 0.01) but normalized with DR-HC (P = 0.358). 5α- and 5β-reduced metabolites were decreased with DR-HC compared to TID-HC. Tetrahydrocortisol/5α-tetrahydrocortisol ratio was increased during both treatments, suggesting increased 5β-reductase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The urinary cortisol metabolome shows striking abnormalities in patients receiving conventional TID-HC replacement therapy with increased 11β-HSD1 activity that may account for the unfavorable metabolic phenotype in primary adrenal insufficiency. Its change towards normalization with DR-HC may mediate beneficial metabolic effects. The urinary cortisol metabolome may serve as a tool to assess optimal cortisol replacement therapy

Activating PRKACB somatic mutation in cortisol-producing adenomas

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Evaluation of the occurrence of the manifestations of Carney complex in a french cohort of 70 patients during a three years standardized follow-up

International audienceIntroductionThe Carney Complex is a multiple endocrine and non endocrine neoplasia mostly due to PRKAR1A mutations. Spectrum of manifestations and genotypephenotype correlations have been previously described by retrospective studies. A prospective study evaluating the occurrence of the different manifestations was needed to precise the optimum follow-up.MethodsMulti-center national prospective study (Clinical Trials NCT00668291) including 70 patients mutated or wild-type for PRKAR1A followed prospectively during 3years with screening of the different manifestations by annual clinical, biological and radiological evaluation.ResultsThe cohort was compound of 50 females and 20 males with a mean age at 35.4years C/K16.7. Prevalence of cardiac myxomas at the end of the follow-up was 22.9% with newly diagnosis during the study period for 3 patients. Fortyfour% of patients with myxomas had related stroke attack and 56% had recurrences. Median delay between recurrences was 3.8years (minimummaximum: 0.8–24). Primary pigmented adrenal nodular disease was diagnosed in 57.1%. Skin manifestations, abnormal somatotroph hormonal tests and thyroid tumors were observed respectively in 58.6, 21.4 and 12.9%. Four% had melanotic shwannomas confirmed by histology. Spinal magnetic resonance imagery revealed lesions for 8.6%. Characteristic multiples calcified tumors on testicular ultrasonography were present in 35% of male patients. Ten% of female patients had surgery for breast myxoma or adenofibroma. Forty% had lesions classified ACR2-3 at mammography. Interestingly, four patients (8%) had breast adenocarcinomas (11.1% of female older than 30years). Eighty-three% of patients had PRKAR1A mutations. Patients carrying the mutation c.709-7del6 (34% of the cohort) had no manifestation or phenotype restricted to adrenal, lentigines and abnormal somatotroph test.ConclusionThe penetrance of the disease is high after screening except for patient carrying the c.709-7del6 mutation. This study highlights the importance of an annual follow-up, with especially annual cardiac imaging for patients with history of cardiac myxomas and earlier and regular senologic evaluation.DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.49.GP12

Activating PRKACB somatic mutation in cortisol-producing adenomas

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Systematic thyroid screening in myotonic dystrophy: link between thyroid volume and insulin resistance.

International audienceMyotonic dystrophy (DM1), a neuromuscular disease related to DMPK gene mutations, is associated to endocrine disorders and cancer. A routine endocrine work-up, including thyroid ultrasound (US), was conducted in 115 genetically-proven DM1 patients in a neuromuscular reference center. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the causes of US thyroid abnormalities in DM1.In the whole population (age 45.1 ± 12.2 years, 61.7% female), palpable nodules or goiters were present in 29.2%. The percentage of US goiter (thyroid volume > 18 mL) and US nodules were, respectively, 38.3 and 60.9%. Sixteen of the 115 patients had a thyroidectomy, after 22 fine-needle aspiration cytology guided by thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) classification. Six micro- (1/6 pT3) and 3 macro-papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTCs) (2/3 intermediate risk) were diagnosed (7.9% of 115). Thyroid US led to the diagnosis of 4 multifocal and 2 unifocal (including 1 macro-PTC) non-palpable PTCs. Ultrasound thyroid volume was positively correlated to body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.015) and parity (p = 0.036), and was inversely correlated to TSH (p < 0.001) and vitamin D levels (p = 0.023). The BMI, the frequencies of glucose intolerance and PTC were significantly higher in UsGoiter versus non-UsGoiter groups.In this systematically screened DM1 cohort, the frequency of UsGoiter, mainly associated to BMI, was about 40%, US nodules 60%, thyroidectomies 13-14%, and PTCs 8%, two-thirds of them being micro-PTCs with good prognosis. Therefore, a systematic screening remains debatable. A targeted US screening in case of clinical abnormality or high BMI seems more appropriate