Growth hormone deficiency in a child with benign hereditary chorea caused by a de novo mutation of the TITF1/NKX2-1 gene

Abstract

Objectives: Benign Hereditary Chorea (BHC) (MIM 118700) is a rare childhood-onset movements disorder characterized by non-progressive chorea. It is usually caused by variants in the thyroid transcription factor 1 (TITF-1/NKX2-1) gene and it is associated with thyroid dysfunction and pulmonary symptoms in the brain-lung-thyroid syndrome.

Case presentation: We reported the clinical case of a toddler presenting with neurological symptoms (hypotonia, delayed motor milestones, and axial dystonia) and subclinical hypothyroidism in which we found a 'de novo' variant in the NKX2-1 gene.

Conclusions: The peculiarity of our case is that the mild alteration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, hypotonia, and delayed motor milestones were associated with growth hormone deficiency.

Keywords: Benign hereditary chorea; growth hormone deficiency; hypothyroidism.