ABSTRACT Objective: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is a rare disease characterized by one or more hormone deficiencies of the pituitary gland. To date, many genes have been associated with CH. In this study, we identified the allelic variant spectrum of 11 causative genes in Turkish patients with CH. Materials and methods: This study included 47 patients [21 girls (44.6%) and 26 boys (55.4%)] from 45 families. To identify the genetic etiology, we screened 11 candidate genes associated with CH using next-generation sequencing. To confirm and detect the status of the specific familial variant in relatives, Sanger sequencing was also performed. Results: We identified 12 possible pathogenic variants in GHRHR, GH1, GLI2, PROP-1, POU1F1, and LHX4 in 11 patients (23.4%), of which six were novel variants: two in GHRHR, two in POU1F1, one in GLI2, and one in LHX4. In all patients, these variants were most frequently found in GLI2, followed by PROP-1 and GHRHR. Conclusion: Genetic causes were determined in only 23.4% of all patients with CH and 63% of molecularly diagnosed patients (7/11) from consanguineous families. Despite advances in genetics, we were unable to identify the genetic etiology of most patients with CH, suggesting the effect of unknown genes or environmental factors. More genetic studies are necessary to understand the etiology of CH.

Wolfram syndrome (DIDMOAD: diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder. Mutations of the WFS1 (wolframin) on chromosome 4 are responsible for the clinical manifestations in majority of patients with Wolfram syndrome. Wolfram syndrome is also accompanied by neurologic and psychiatric disorders, urodynamic abnormalities, restricted joint motility, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal autonomic neuropathy, hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism in males and diabetic microvascular disorders. There are very limited data in the literature regarding cardiac malformations associated in children with Wolfram syndrome. A 5-year-old girl with Wolfram syndrome and tetralogy of Fallot is presented herein.

El síndrome de Wolfram (DIDMAOS: diabetes insípida, diabetes mellitus, atrofia óptica y sordera) esuntrastorno neurodegenerativo raro. Las mutaciones del gen WFS1 (wolframina) en el cromosoma 4 son responsables de las manifestaciones clínicas en la mayoría de los pacientes con síndrome de Wolfram. El síndrome de Wolfram también está acompanado por trastornos psiquiátricos, anomalías urodinámicas, movilidad articular limitada, neuropatía autónoma cardiovascular y gastrointestinal, hipogonadismo hipogonadotrópico en los varones y complicaciones microvasculares de la diabetes. Los datos acerca de las malformaciones cardíacas asociadas en los niños con síndrome de Wolfram disponibles en las publicaciones científicas son muy limitados. En este artículo presentamos el caso de una niña de 5 años con síndrome de Wolfram y tetralogía de Fallot.