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Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics 10/2013

01-10-2013 | Original Article

A familial WT1 mutation associated with incomplete Denys–Drash syndrome

Authors: Chunhua Zhu, Fei Zhao, Weizhen Zhang, Hongmei Wu, Ying Chen, Guixia Ding, Aihua Zhang, Songming Huang

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 10/2013

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Abstract

Denys–Drash syndrome (DDS) is a rare disorder characterized by nephropathy, male pseudohermaphroditism, and wilms tumor. Cases are thought to arise sporadically through a de novo mutation in the wilms tumor suppressor gene (WT1), which encodes a zinc finger protein that not only acts as a tumor suppressor but is essential for normal gonadogenesis, nephrogenesis, and development of the urogenital tract. In this report, we describe a family with the well-known missense mutation in exon 9 of the WT1 gene, 1180C>T (R394W), causing incomplete DDS and no symptoms in their father. The proband, a boy with 46, XY karyotype, was born with ambiguous genitalia, penoscrotal hypospadias, and bilateral inguinal hernias. At 2 years of age, he has proteinuria and diffuse mesangial sclerosis, but no wilms tumor has been detected. The elder sister of the proband, at 3 years of age, has normal genitalia, proteinuria, focal mesangial sclerosis but no wilms tumor. The WT1 mutation was detected in both patients, who have suspected DDS, and their father, who is phenotypically normal. Conclusion: This case is unusual in that the 1180C>T mutation, which has been found in approximately 50 % of patients with complete DDS, has been inherited and is causing mild or no symptoms of DDS.
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Metadata
Title
A familial WT1 mutation associated with incomplete Denys–Drash syndrome
Authors
Chunhua Zhu
Fei Zhao
Weizhen Zhang
Hongmei Wu
Ying Chen
Guixia Ding
Aihua Zhang
Songming Huang
Publication date
01-10-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 10/2013
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-2004-9

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