Tall stature and poor breast development after estrogen replacement in a hypergonadotrophic hypogonadic patient with a 45,X/46,X,der(X) karyotype with SHOX gene overdosage

Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2008 Nov;52(8):1282-7. doi: 10.1590/s0004-27302008000800013.

Abstract

SHOX is exclusively expressed in the developing distal limb bones of human embryos and in the first and second pharyngeal arches. It works as a promoter for linear growth and as a repressor of growth plate fusion. It was reported, recently, that SHOX overdosage and gonadal estrogen deficiency have led to tall stature due to continued growth. We report, in the present study, a female patient with 45,X/46,X, psu idic(X)(pter-->q21::q21-->pter) karyotype, tall stature, and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism without Turner stigmas. She did not present breast development even after long term therapy with high estrogen doses. Fluorescence in situ hybridization depicted the presence of three copies of SHOX gene. Microsatellite studies showed paternal origin of der(X). Further studies in similarly affected patients will clarify if the absence of breast development, despite previous high-dose estrogen treatment, is associated to triple copy of SHOX gene.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Height / genetics
  • Breast / abnormalities*
  • Breast / growth & development
  • Breast / metabolism
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy*
  • Female
  • Gene Dosage / genetics
  • Growth Disorders / metabolism*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / drug therapy
  • Hypogonadism / genetics*
  • Karyotyping
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Short Stature Homeobox Protein

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • SHOX protein, human
  • Short Stature Homeobox Protein