Diagnosis and Management of children with Alstrom syndrome

Timothy BarrettSchool of Clinical and Experimental Medicine

College of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Birmingham, UK

t.g.barrett@bham.ac.ukMarch 2012

Summary

• Case studies

• System assessments

Child A: White European family

• Healthy baby • Photophobia, retinal dystrophy in infancy• Obesity from infancy• Deafness• Struggled at school• Diagnosed at 7 years• Fatty Liver disease and glucose intolerance• 13 years insulin resistant diabetes• Heterozygous mutations in ALMS1

Children B and C (S Asian, parents first cousins) • Healthy babies, obese in infancy• Diabetes at 6 months treated with tablets• Rod-cone dystrophy but no photophobia• Profound sensorineural deafness• Seen in Alstrom clinic aged 8 and 10 years

– Not obese, not diabetic• Sideroblastic anaemia in Sara aged 11 years• Mutations in SLC19A2 gene (Rogers syndrome)

Child D (South Asian, parents first cousins)

• Photophobia in first 3 months• Cardiomyopathy• Severe developmental delay with microcephaly• Sensorineural deafness• Slim, feeding difficulties• Now aged 6 years, attends Alstrom clinic• Homozygous ALMS1 mutation; probable co-

inheritance of microcephaly

Child E: (South Asian, parents first cousins)

• Obesity onset in infancy• Retinal dystrophy in childhood, loss of night vision• Mild learning difficulties• Flat feet• Extra digits removed at birth, when questioned • Hyperechogenic kidneys on antenatal scan, now

normal • Homozygous mutation in BBS1

Child F: boy, white European parents • Normal birth, failed hearing test: sensorineural loss

at high frequencies, now hearing aids• BMI: overweight but not obese • No eye problems noted as a baby, no nystagmus• Now aged 5 poor visual acuity, sunlight hurts eyes• Mild learning difficulty• Family history of diabetes on Mother’s side• On examination, possible dental enamel problem• Initial Alstrom screen negative

Who gets genetic testing? DD Alstrom, Bardet Biedl, TRMA, Lowe’s, others

? Add photophobia

Consider co-inherited diseases

Who gets genetic testing in childhood?

Infancy onset retinal dystrophy with photophobia

Infancy onset cardiomyopathy

Relative with Alstrom syndrome

What needs to be offered at MDT annual clinics?

EndocrineOphthalmology

CounsellingDietetics

Genetics

AS-UK

CNS

Cardiology

Paediatric cardiology

• Annual ECG: look for heart strain, abnormal rhythm• Annual Echocardiogram: wall movement

abnormalities• ? Blood test for brain natiuretic peptide• ? Cardiac MRI• Decision on whether/when to add in medicines

Vision assessment

• Ophthalmology referral usually done locally. We will offer at BCH if local provision inadequate. – Progressive loss of vision over childhood– Potential for cataracts but significance?

• Low vision aids• Early development of low vision skills• Preparation for college for the blind:

– Career counselling

Dietetics

• Annual BMI, body composition by bioimpedance• Completion of food diary• Dietetic advice

– Healthy eating; protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals to allow healthy growth

– Calorie intake to same age child of average weight • Exercise advice

– Within limits of mobility, vision• ? Does fat mass reduction help insulin resistance?

Clinical psychology support

• Identifying emotional or behavioural issues• Both child and parents• Need for CAMHS referral?• Need to liaise with SENCO at school?• Follow-up: local children ongoing care• Follow-up other children: Liaise with local clinical

psychology services

Physiotherapy

• Assessment of mobility, posture• Teaching posture and exercises

– Mostly positional upper spine kyphosis, correctable with posture training

– Occasional kyphoscoliosis– No clear enthesitis in children

Hearing assessment

• Audiometry– Classically high tone sensorineural deafness– Progressive – Hearing aids in school

– ? Repeated every 2 years– Mostly done locally but we do offer at BCH if not

done within last 2 years

Diabetes mellitus

• Progression of insulin resistance to type 2 diabetes• Screen from puberty (10yrs) with HbA1c, fasting

glucose. • If abnormal, then home blood glucose monitoring.

• ? Should we do glucose tolerance tests?

Endocrine/metabolic

• Puberty: look for delayed puberty: >14yrs girls, >16yrs boys

• Thyroid: Baseline at diagnosis.• Liver function: annually • Fasting lipids and cholesterol: annually

• ? Should we screen for thyroid disease more frequently?

Renal

• Annual renal function: urea, creatinine• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring• Early morning urine for albumin creatinine ratio

– If raised, then repeat x 2.

• ? Need to audit ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Bladder function

• History of bedwetting, accidents – First optimize glucose control– Exclude or treat infections, ? diabetes insipidus

• Urodynamic assessment– Bladder volumes, detrusor muscle instability

Other

• Respiratory? • Dermatology• ENT

Thankyou!

• Lead paediatric service: Timothy Barrett• Clinic administrator: Lesley Porter• Paediatric cardiologist: Ashish Chikermane• Paediatric diabetes specialist nurse: Kirsty Mobberley• Paediatric Dietician: Hazel Riggall• Clinical Psychologist: Jenny Allman• Physiotherapy: Liz Wright, Gemma Mears• Genetics: Denise Williams