Disorders of sexual development: an overview of 18 years experience in the pediatric Endocrinology Department of Ankara University

Clinical profile and management challenges of disorders of sex development in Africa: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To review the published literature regarding disorders of sex development (DSD) in Africa which will highlight clinical characteristics, and challenges of evaluation and treatment of DSD.

CONTENT

We performed systematic review of articles published on DSD in Africa between January 2001 and December 2020.

SUMMARY

Eighteen studies involving 1980 patients from nine countries were analyzed. Overall mean age at presentation was 9.3 years (range 1 day-33 years) with 52.5 and 45.1% reared as females and males, respectively, prior to presentation. Following evaluation however, 64% were assigned female sex, 32.1% were assigned male sex, and 21.8% of the cases required sex reassignment. Only 7 (38.9%) of the publications reported medical treatment of DSD, 4 (22.2%) reported on psychosocial management and 5 (27.8%) documented multidisciplinary team management. Barring regional variations, the documented challenges of management include delayed presentation, loss to follow up, financial challenges, and lack of facilities for care of DSD. Comparison of the cases managed in the last decade (2011-2020) with those managed in the earlier decade (2001-2010) showed a trend towards earlier presentation and reduced rate of sex reassignment in the last decade. However, the challenges persisted.

OUTLOOK

Barring regional differences, a high proportion of DSD in Africa may have delayed presentation with inappropriate sex of rearing, inadequate evaluation and need for sex reassignment. Specific efforts to improve time to diagnosis, patient evaluation, improvement of healthcare funding, and collaboration with more developed countries may improve the care of patients with DSD in Africa.

Ambiguous genitalia: clinical management of adult female with male assigned gender: a case report

BACKGROUND

Disorders of sex development are anomalies in which the development of urogenital ridge is undifferentiated for the male and female child. Imaging plays a vital role in investigating the gross anatomy and associated anomalies. Ultrasonography, such as genitography and magnetic resonance, is the primary modality for demonstrating internal gonads and genitalia. Early multidisciplinary approach in the management of ambiguous genitalia including early surgical intervention is the predominant practice, with few current considerations on deferral of genital reconstruction until adolescent age.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the rare case of a 24-year-old adult female from a majority ethnic group of the Volta region, Ghana who was diagnosed and raised as male, now requiring surgical restoration to the female gender. The surgical team decided to assign external genitalia to correspond with the already intact internal organs, thus constructing the vulva. Consent was given by the client and her family members for management and surgical intervention. The surgery was scheduled and duly performed with a successful outcome. Understanding and consent was sought from the patient for the purpose of using her images for teaching, scientific publication, and demonstrations.

CONCLUSION

The advantages of deferring surgical reconstruction with psychological counseling after early assessment need to be considered to prevent inappropriate gender assignment.

A large cohort of disorders of sex development and their genetic characteristics: 6 novel mutations in known genes

INTRODUCTION

Disorders of sex development (DSD) constitutes a group of congenital conditions that affect urogenital differentiation and are associated with chromosomal, gonadal and phenotypic sex abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical and genetic features of childhood DSD cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DSD patients followed up between the years of 2002-2018 were evaluated in terms of their complaints, demographic, clinical features and genetic diagnoses.

RESULTS

Out of 289 patients, 143(49.5%) were classified as 46XY DSD, 62(21.5%) as 46XX DSD and 84(29%) as sex chromosomal DSD. Genetic diagnosis was achieved in 150 patients (51.9%). The distribution of the molecular diagnosis of the 46XY DSD patients were; 12 (26.6%) SRD5A2, 10 (22.2%) AR, 7 (15.5%) HSD17B3, 3 (6.6%) WT-1, 2 (4.4%) AMHR2, 2 (4.4%) AMH, 2 (4.4%) LHCGR, 2 (4.4%) HSD3B2, 1 (2.2%) NR5A1, 1 (2.2%) CYP17A1 and 1 (2.2%) SRY mutation. Fifty (80.6%) of the 46XX DSD patients received a diagnosis with clinical and laboratory findings. Twenty-four (38.7%) of them were 21-hydroxylase deficiency, 9(14.5%) Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome, 4 (6.5%) 11-β hydroxylase deficiency, 3 (4.8%) gonadal dysgenesis and 2 (3.2%) aromatase deficiency. In 46XX group pathogenic mutations were detected in 21(33.8%) of the patients. Eighty-four (29%) patients were diagnosed as sex chromosomal disorder. Of these 66 (78.5%) were Turner Syndrome, 6 (7.2%) Klinefelter Syndrome and 10 (11.9%) mix gonadal dysgenesis. Gender re-assignment was decided in 11 patients. Malignant and pre-invasive lesions was diagnosed in 8 (2.7%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Many of DSD's are clinically similar and etiology of numerous of them still cannot be established. A multi-disciplinary approach and new rapid genetic diagnostic methods are needed in the process from diagnosis to gender assignment and follow-up.

Disorders of sexual development with XY karyotype and female phenotype: clinical findings and genetic background in a cohort from a single centre

PURPOSE

46, XY disorders (or differences) of sex development (DSD) are a group of clinical conditions with variable genetic background; correct diagnosis is often difficult, but it permits to optimize the management. The aim of this study is to identify clinical and genetics features of a group of women with 46, XY DSD to define some issues characterizing people with 46, XY DSD in Italy.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of girls and women with 46, XY DSD and female phenotype evaluated between year 2000 and 2016, performed by anonymised database, focusing on the clinical features and management, including presentation, first diagnostic suspect, gonadal surgery and molecular diagnostic delay.

RESULTS

A total of 84 records were collected (mean age at clinical presentation: 9.1 ± 7.9 years; mean age at definitive diagnosis: 20.1 ± 15.0 years). Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome was the most common diagnosis (60%). Only 12 patients (14.3%) did not receive a molecular diagnosis. Early misdiagnoses frequently occurred; diagnostic delay was 10.2 ± 11.2 years, being reduced in patients presenting from 2007 to 2016. The discordance between genotypic and phenotypic sex during pregnancy or at birth determined early reason for referral in a considerable percentage (4.9%).

CONCLUSION

Misdiagnosis and long diagnostic delays are present in females with 46, XY DSD in Italy, but the new genetic techniques permit faster right diagnoses in the last years. The centralization in dedicated third level units permits to reduce the number of patients without a molecular diagnosis, allowing better clinical management and appropriate genetic counselling.

Gender Identity and Assignment Recommendations in Disorders of Sex Development Patients: 20 Years’ Experience and Challenges

OBJECTIVE

Gender assignment in infants and children with disorders of sex development (DSD) is a stressful situation for both patient/families and medical professionals.

METHODS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of gender assignment recommendations in children with DSD in our clinic from 1999 through 2019.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 226 patients with DSD at the time of first admission were 3.05±4.70 years. 50.9% of patients were 46,XY DSD, 42.9% were 46,XX DSD and 6.2% were sex chromosome DSD. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (majority of patients had 21-hydroxylase deficiency) was the most common etiological cause of 46,XX DSD. In 46,XX patients, 87 of 99 (89.7%) were recommended to be supported as a female, 6 as a male, and 4 were followed up. In 46,XY patients, 40 of 115 (34.8%) were recommended to be supported as a female, and 70 as male (60.9%), and 5 were followed up. In sex chromosome DSD patients, 3 of 14 were recommended to be supported as a female, 9 as a male. The greatest difficulty in making gender assignment recommendations were in the 46,XY DSD group.

CONCLUSION

In DSD gender assignment recommendations, the etiologic diagnosis, psychiatric gender orientation, expectation of the family, phallus length and Prader stage were effective in the gender assignment in DSD cases, especially the first two criteria. It is important to share these experiences among the medical professionals who are routinely charged with this difficult task in multidisciplinary councils.

Frequency of Ambiguous Genitalia in 14,177 Newborns in Turkey

CONTEXT

Limited data are available on the exact incidence of disorders of sex development (DSD) with genital ambiguity at birth.

OBJECTIVE

To determine frequency of ambiguous genitalia in newborns.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter study.

SETTING

Three tertiary care hospitals.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

All 14,177 babies born during the study period were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All newborns were examined at birth; data on weeks of gestation, birth weight, and length were collected. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Quigley and Prader scales were used for phenotypic grading. Clinical and genetic investigations were performed.

RESULTS

Eighteen babies with ambiguous genitalia were found among 14,177 newborns (1.3/1000). Fifteen newborns had 46,XY DSD, one had 46,XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and one had 45,X/46,XY mixed gonadal dysgenesis. Karyotype analysis was not done in one baby who died in the neonatal period. The ratio of prematurity was higher in the DSD group (44% vs 11%; P < 0.001) and the ratio of small for gestational age was also higher in the DSD group (22% vs 5%; P = 0.007). Eight babies with DSD had mothers who had additional medical conditions, such as preeclampsia, depression, insulin resistance, and gestational diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of ambiguous genitalia was higher than in previous studies, but, as with any experiment, the finding should be met with caution because this study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals. In addition, lower birth weight in the DSD group supports the hypothesis that early placental dysfunction might be important in the etiology of male genital anomalies.

Ambiguous genitalia: An overview of 7 years experience at the Children's Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan

Objective:

To determine the classification and etiological diagnosis of children presented with ambiguous genitalia/atypical genitalia according to the newer classification system of Disorder of Sex Development (DSD).

Methods:

This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at The Children’s Hospital &Institute of Child Health, Lahore from January, 2007 to December; 2014. Files of all the children with ambiguous genitalia were retrospectively analyzed and relevant data was retrieved. All the information was recorded on predesigned proforma and analyzed accordingly.

Results:

A total of 300 cases of ambiguous genitalia classified according to the new DSD classification. 46, XX DSD were 54.3% (n=163), 46, XY DSD were 43.7% (n=131), sex chromosome DSD were 2% (n=6). Among 46, XX DSD cases, the most common cause was congenital adrenal hyperplasia (97%, n=158). However, in 46, XY DSD partial androgen insensitivity/5α-reductase deficiency (62%. n=81) constituted the most commonest disorder. Other causes of 46XY DSD include testosterone synthesis defect(23%), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH,12%), testis regression syndrome (1.5%) and persistent mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS,1.5%). Sex chromosome disorder constituted one case of iso-chromosome X turner syndrome, mixed gonadal dysgenesis (n=3), ovotesticular DSD/chimerism (n=2).

Conclusion:

Ambiguous genitalia have varied etiologies, 46; XXDSD found being the commonest of all, showing predominance of CAH especially salt loosing type. The early detection and prompt treatment of cases of ambiguous genitalia plays a pivotal role in the management of acute life threatening condition and gender assignment.

Clinical review of 95 patients with 46,XX disorders of sex development based on the new Chicago classification

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to determine the etiologic distribution of 46,XX disorder of sexual development (DSD) according to the new DSD classification system and to evaluate the clinical features of this DSD subgroup in our patient cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

The evaluation criteria and clinical findings of 95 46,XX patients were described by clinical presentation, gonadal morphology, genital anatomy, associated dysmorphic features, presence during prenatal period with/without postnatal virilization, hormonal characteristics, and presence or absence of steroidogenic defects among 319 patients with DSD.

RESULTS

Types and ratios of each presentation of our 95 patients with 46,XX DSD were as follows: 82 had androgen excess (86.3%): (74 had classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 2 had CAH variant possibility of P450-oxidoreductase gene defect), 6 had disorders of ovarian development (6.3%): (1 patient had gonadal dysgenesis with virilization at birth with bilateral streak gonad, 4 patients had complete gonadal dysgenesis, and 1 patient had ovotesticular DSD) and 7 had other 46,XX DSD. Two sisters, who had 46,XX complete gonadal dysgenesis,were diagnosed with Perrault Syndrome with ovarian failure due to streak gonads and associated with sensorineural deafness.

CONCLUSION

46,XX DSD are usually derived from intrauterine virilization and CAH is the most common cause of 46,XX DSD due to fetal androgen exposure.

Disorders of sex development in a developing country: perspectives and outcome of surgical management of 39 cases

OBJECTIVE

Improvements in diagnostic testing and genital repair have significantly advanced the management of disorders of sex development (DSD). Challenges however, still exist in the management of DSD. This study evaluated the types, challenges of surgical management, and outcome of DSD in south-east Nigeria.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 39 children with DSD managed from January 2005 to December 2013 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.

RESULTS

Types of DSD were: 46, XX DSD in 17 (43.6 %) cases; 46, XY DSD 16 (41 %); Ovotesticular DSD 5 (12.8 %); and one (2.6 %) 46, XY Ovotesticular DSD. Median age at definitive gender assignment was 3 years (range 2 months-14 years). Gender assignment was female for 20 (51.3 %; all 46, XX DSD, one each of 46, XY DSD, Ovotesticular DSD and 46, XY Ovotesticular DSD), and male for 19 (48.7 %; 15 of 46, XY DSD, 4 of Ovotesticular DSD). Eight cases reared as male before presentation required gender reassignment after evaluation and counselling. Genital repair was undertaken at mean age of 4.1 years (range 6 months-14 years). After average follow-up of 22.5 months (range 1 month-7 years), a total of eleven (28.2 %) developed procedure-related complications. Challenges were delayed diagnosis, inadequate diagnostic facilities, and need for gender reassignment.

CONCLUSION

There is a wide spectrum of DSD in our setting. Time to diagnosis, evaluation, and outcome may be improved by public enlightenment initiative, focused education of healthcare personnel and provision of relevant diagnostic facilities through enhanced funding and collaboration.

Management of children with disorders of sex development: 20-year experience in southern Thailand

BACKGROUND

Disorders of sex development (DSD) is a group of sexual differentiation disorders resulting in genital anomalies with defects in gonadal hormone synthesis and/or incomplete genital development. These conditions result in problems concerning the sex assignment of the child. This study aims to describe the clinical features, diagnosis and management of children with DSD in southern Thailand.

METHODS

The medical records of 117 pediatric patients diagnosed with DSD during the period of 1991-2011 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Disorders of sex development were categorized into 3 groups: sex chromosome abnormalities (53.0%), 46,XX DSD (29.9%) and 46,XY DSD (17.1%). The two most common etiologies of DSD were Turner syndrome (36.8%) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (29.9%). Ambiguous genitalia/intersex was the main problem in 46,XX DSD (94%) and 46,XY DSD (100%). Sex reassignment was done in 5 children (4.3%) at age of 3-5 years: from male to female in 4 children (1 patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 1 patient with 45,X/46,XY DSD, and 2 patients with 46,XX ovotesticular DSD) and from female to male in 1 patient with 46,XX ovotesticular DSD. Of the total 20 children with 46,XY DSD, 16 (80%) were raised as females.

CONCLUSION

Management of DSD children has many aspects of concern. Sex assignment/reassignment depends on the phenotype (phallus size) of the external genitalia rather than the sex chromosome.

The clinical and genetic heterogeneity of mixed gonadal dysgenesis: does "disorders of sexual development (DSD)" classification based on new Chicago consensus cover all sex chromosome DSD?

Clinical findings illustrate the wide spectrum of the phenotypic manifestations of 45,X/46,XY mosaicism in the sex chromosome disorders of sex differentiation (DSD). The objective of study is to evaluate the characteristics of 45,X/46,XY patients and questioning of their place within the DSD categorization. The clinical findings of 11 patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism are described including the presentation, gonadal morphology, genital anatomy, and the hormone levels among 285 patients with DSD evaluated. Sixty-seven patients were diagnosed with sex chromosome DSD (50 Turner, three Klinefelter, ten 45,X/46,XY gonadal disgenesis, one 45X/46,XY ovotesticular DSD, one 47,XYY ovotesticular DSD, and two 46,XX/46,XY ovotesticular DSD). The type and the percentage of patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism were as follows: Four cases of mix gonadal dysgenesis, four cases of partial gonadal dysgenesis, two cases of complete gonadal dysgenesis, one case of ovotesticular DSD. On the other hand, another patient that has 45,X/46,XX mosaicism was diagnosed with MGD with the presence of the streak gonad on the right side and the testis on the other side.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that sex chromosome DSD categorization can include 45,X/46,XY PGD and 45,X/46,XY CGD. Mixed gonadal dysgenesis may be also placed among the disorders of testicular differentiation of 46,XY DSD subdivision.

Update on the management of disorders of sex development

A number of factors have contributed to a sharp increase in the number of publications related to disorders of sex development (DSD) in the past 5 years, namely: the establishment of a consensus in 2006 about nomenclature, investigations and the need to treat these patients in a multidisciplinary setting; increase of the knowledge base about genetic mechanisms of normal and abnormal sex development; critical appraisal about the timing and nature of genital surgery in patients with DSD. Herein, the authors present a comprehensive review with up-to-date data about the approach to the newborn with ambiguous genitalia as well as the diagnosis and management of the most common DSD.

Current concepts in disorders of sexual development

Disorders of sex development (DSD) with or without ambiguous genitalia require medical attention to reach a definite diagnosis. Advances in identification of molecular causes of abnormal sex, heightened awareness of ethical issues and this necessitated a re-evaluation of nomenclature. The term DSD was proposed for congenital conditions in which chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex is atypical. In general, factors influencing sex determination are transcriptional regulators, whereas factors important for sex differentiation are secreted hormones and their receptors. The current intense debate on the management of patients with intersexuality and related conditions focus on four major issues: 1) aetiological diagnosis, 2) assignment of gender, 3) indication for and timing of genital surgery, 4) the disclosure of medical information to the patient and his/her parents. The psychological and social implications of gender assignment require a multidisciplinary approach and a team which includes ageneticist, neonatologist, endocrinologist, gynaecologist, psychiatrist, surgeon and a social worker. Each patient should be evaluated individually by multidisciplinary approach.