@article{VogtGirschickSchweitzeretal.2020, author = {Vogt, Marius and Girschick, Hermann and Schweitzer, Tilmann and Benoit, Clemens and Holl-Wieden, Annette and Seefried, Lothar and Jakob, Franz and Hofmann, Christine}, title = {Pediatric hypophosphatasia: lessons learned from a retrospective single-center chart review of 50 children}, series = {Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases}, volume = {15}, journal = {Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases}, doi = {10.1186/s13023-020-01500-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230505}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the ALPL gene that encodes the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase TNAP (ORPHA 436). Its clinical presentation is highly heterogeneous with a remarkably wide-ranging severity. HPP affects patients of all ages. In children HPP-related musculoskeletal symptoms may mimic rheumatologic conditions and diagnosis is often difficult and delayed. To improve the understanding of HPP in children and in order to shorten the diagnostic time span in the future we studied the natural history of the disease in our large cohort of pediatric patients. This single centre retrospective chart review included longitudinal data from 50 patients with HPP diagnosed and followed at the University Children's Hospital Wuerzburg, Germany over the last 25 years. Results The cohort comprises 4 (8\%) perinatal, 17 (34\%) infantile and 29 (58\%) childhood onset HPP patients. Two patients were deceased at the time of data collection. Diagnosis was based on available characteristic clinical symptoms (in 88\%), low alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity (in 96\%), accumulating substrates of AP (in 58\%) and X-ray findings (in 48\%). Genetic analysis was performed in 48 patients (31 compound heterozygous, 15 heterozygous, 2 homozygous mutations per patient), allowing investigations on genotype-phenotype correlations. Based on anamnestic data, median age at first clinical symptoms was 3.5 months (min. 0, max. 107), while median time to diagnosis was 13 months (min. 0, max. 103). Common symptoms included: impairment of motor skills (78\%), impairment of mineralization (72\%), premature loss of teeth (64\%), musculoskeletal pain and craniosynostosis (each 64\%) and failure to thrive (62\%). Up to now 20 patients started medical treatment with Asfotase alfa. Conclusions Reported findings support the clinical perception of HPP being a chronic multi-systemic disease with often delayed diagnosis. Our natural history information provides detailed insights into the prevalence of different symptoms, which can help to improve and shorten diagnostics and thereby lead to an optimised medical care, especially with promising therapeutic options such as enzyme-replacement-therapy with Asfotase alfa in mind.}, language = {en} } @article{GerhardHartmannWiegeringBenoitetal.2021, author = {Gerhard-Hartmann, Elena and Wiegering, Verena and Benoit, Clemens and Meyer, Thomas and Rosenwald, Andreas and Maurus, Katja and Ernestus, Karen}, title = {A large retroperitoneal lipoblastoma as an incidental finding: a case report}, series = {BMC Pediatrics}, volume = {21}, journal = {BMC Pediatrics}, doi = {10.1186/s12887-021-02628-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260173}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Lipoblastoma is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm of infancy that most commonly occurs on the extremities and trunk but can arise at variable sites of the body. Retroperitoneal lipoblastomas are particularly rare but can grow to enormous size, and preoperative diagnosis is difficult with diverse, mostly malignant differential diagnoses that would lead to aggressive therapy. Since lipoblastoma is a benign tumor that has an excellent prognosis after resection, correct diagnosis is crucial. Case presentation A case of a large retroperitoneal tumor of a 24-month old infant that was clinically suspicious of a malignant tumor is presented. Due to proximity to the right kidney, clinically most probably a nephroblastoma or clear cell sarcoma of the kidney was suspected. Radiological findings were ambiguous. Therefore, the mass was biopsied, and histology revealed an adipocytic lesion. Although mostly composed of mature adipocytes, in view of the age of the patient, the differential diagnosis of a (maturing) lipoblastoma was raised, which was supported by molecular analysis demonstrating a HAS2-PLAG1 fusion. The tumor was completely resected, and further histopathological workup led to the final diagnosis of a 13 cm large retroperitoneal maturing lipoblastoma. The child recovered promptly from surgery and showed no evidence of recurrence so far. Conclusion Although rare, lipoblastoma should be included in the differential diagnoses of retroperitoneal tumors in infants and children, and molecular diagnostic approaches could be a helpful diagnostic adjunct in challenging cases.}, language = {en} }