Clinical assessment of blood pressure in 60 girls with Turner syndrome compared to 1888 healthy Danish girls

OBJECTIVE

Hypertension contributes to increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with Turner syndrome (TS). Our objective was to evaluate blood pressure (BP) in girls with TS followed longitudinally through childhood and adolescence compared to a newly established BP reference material.

DESIGN

Cohort study with data collected from 1991 to 2019 consisting of a population-based reference cohort and a group of girls with TS followed at a single tertiary centre.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

Reference population of 1888 healthy girls with 4890 BP recordings and 60 girls with TS with 365 BP recordings.

MEASUREMENTS

Difference in diastolic BP (DBP) and systolic BP (SBP), expressed in standard deviation scores (SDS), between girls with TS and the reference population, unadjusted and adjusted for BMI. Difference in BP (SDS) between TS subgroups (karyotype, oestrogen treatment, cardiac diagnosis).

RESULTS

The girls with TS had significantly higher DBP (mean ± SD, 0.72 SDS ± 0.95; p < .001) and SBP (0.53 SDS ± 1.11; p = .001) than the reference population. Adjusted for BMI, girls with TS had significantly higher DBP (mean ± SE, 0.71 SDS ± 0.12; p < .001) but not SBP (0.17 SDS ± 0.16; p = .29). There was no significant difference in DBP (median, IQR: 0.97 SDS, 0.30-1.58 vs. 0.76 SDS, 0.10-1.20; p = .31) or SBP (0.51 SDS, 0.15-1.30 vs. 0.57 SDS, -0.30 to 1.05; p = .67) between individuals with or without a cardiac diagnosis. In the TS population, 55% (31/56) had at least one BP recording above the hypertension threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that standardised longitudinal routine monitoring of BP in girls with TS already in childhood is of utmost importance.

Non-invasive prenatal testing for the prenatal screening of sex chromosome aneuploidies: A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies

Background

There is little evidence on the performance of non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the detection of fetal sex chromosomal imbalances. In this review, we aimed to appraise and synthesize the literature on the performance of NIPT for the prenatal detection of fetal sex chromosome aneuploidies.

Methods

We performed our literature search in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CADTH. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently. There were no restrictions on the study population. Meta‐analyses were performed with “R” software. Pooled sensitivities and specificities with their 95% CI were estimated using a random‐effects model. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by a Q test.

Results

Based on 11 studies in high prior risk pregnancies, including 116 affected fetuses in aggregate, Massively Parallel Shotgun Sequencing (MPSS) had a sensitivity of 93.9% (95% CI 84.1%, 97.8%) and a specificity of 99.6% (95% CI 98.7%, 99.9%) for the detection of 45,X. Based on four studies in high‐risk pregnancies, with 83 affected fetuses in aggregate, Targeted Massively Parallel Sequencing (TMPS) had a sensitivity of 83.2% (95% CI 49.6%, 96.2%) and specificity was 99.8% (95% CI 98.3%, 100%) for the detection of 45,X. In mixed‐risk pregnancies, the sensitivity of TMPS for the detection of 45,X was 90.9% (2 studies; 95% CI 70%, 97.7%) and specificity 99.9% (2 studies; 95% CI 99.4%, 100%); MPSS data were not available in such pregnancies. Based on smaller numbers of studies, and small numbers of affected fetuses in either high‐risk or mixed‐risk pregnancies (using either MPSS or TMPS), the sensitivities and specificities were equal to or greater than 76.2% for 47,XXX, 47,XXY and 47, XYY. The test failures for SCAs were 0.2% (95% CI 0%, 13.6%) for MPSS and 5.6% (95% CI 3.7%, 8.4%) for TMPS.

Conclusion

High‐quality studies are still desirable in order to estimate the performance of NIPT for the detection of sex chromosome imbalances.

Androgen Treatment Effects on Motor Function, Cognition, and Behavior in Boys with Klinefelter Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of early low-dose androgen on motor, cognitive, and behavioral function in prepubertal boys with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY).

STUDY DESIGN

Double-blind trial of 84 boys, ages 4-12 years, randomized to oxandrolone (Ox; 0.06?mg/kg daily; n?=?43) or placebo (Pl; n?=?41) for 24 months. Standardized assessments were performed at baseline and every 12 months for 24 months evaluating motor, cognitive, and behavioral function.

RESULTS

The 24-month outcomes were better in the Ox vs. Pl group on 1 of 5 primary endpoints (motor function/strength): Bruininks Visual-Motor scale (P?=?.005), without significant differences between the 2 groups for the other 4 components. Secondary analyses suggested improvement in the Ox vs. Pl group in the anxiety/depression (P?=?.03) and social problems (P?=?.01) scales on the Child Behavior Checklist, anxiety (P?=?.04) on the Piers Harris Self Concept Scale, and interpersonal problems (P?=?.02) on the Children's Depression Inventory, without significant differences in hyperactive or aggressive behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

This double-blind, randomized trial demonstrates that 24 months of childhood low-dose androgen treatment in boys with Klinefelter syndrome benefited 1 of 5 primary endpoints (visual-motor function). Secondary analyses demonstrated positive effects of androgen on aspects of psychosocial function (anxiety, depression, social problems), without significant effects on cognitive function, or hyperactive or aggressive behaviors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00348946.

Anatomical and clinical aspects of Klinefelter's syndrome

Klinefelter's syndrome, the most common sex disorder associated with chromosomal aberrations, is characterized by a plethora of clinical features. Parameters for diagnosis of the syndrome are constantly expanding as new anatomical and hormonal abnormalities are noted, yet Klinefelter's remains underdiagnosed and underreported. This review outlines the key anatomical characteristics associated with the syndrome, which are currently used for clinical diagnosis, or may provide means for improving diagnosis in the future. Clin. Anat. 29:606-619, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

48,XXYY in a General Adult Psychiatry Department

The 48,XXYY syndrome is a distinct clinical and genetic entity, with an incidence of 1:17,000 to 1:50,000 newborns. Patients often access mental healthcare services due to behavior problems, such as aggressiveness and impulsiveness, and are frequently intellectually disabled. We report a case of a patient with 48,XXYY syndrome treated in a general adult psychiatry department.A 23-year-old man was frequently admitted to our inpatient psychiatric unit (14 admissions in five years) due to disruptive behavior, including self harm, aggression to objects and animals, and fire-setting behavior, in a context of dysphoric mood and marked impulsivity. Upon observation, the patient had mild intellectual disability, with prominent impulsive and aggressive features and very low tolerance to frustration. His physical examination revealed hypertelorism, increased thickness of neck, acne, sparse body hair, triangular pubic hair distribution, fifth digit clinodactyly, small testicles and penis, and gynecoid pelvis. Laboratory analysis revealed endocrine abnormalities (low plasma testosterone and subclinical hypothyroidism). Cardiac Doppler sonogram was normal. Electroencephalogram revealed only a diffuse slowing electrogenesis, with no etiological specificity. Clinical suspicion of a chromosomal disorder was confirmed by a 48,XXYY karyotype. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging detected discrete bilateral reduction of the hippocampal formations, possibly related to temporal dysgenesia. Psychopharmacological treatment options met moderate success, with lack of adherence. Other psychosocial treatment interventions ensued, including family therapy and psychoeducation. We underscore the need to be alert for chromosomal disorders, even in a general adult psychiatry department, as a minority of patients may reach adult care without proper diagnosis.