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DUOX2/DUOXA2 Mutations Frequently Cause Congenital Hypothyroidism that Evades Detection on Newborn Screening in the United Kingdom.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Peters, Catherine 
Nicholas, Adeline K 
Lyons, Greta 
Langham, Shirley 

Abstract

Background: The etiology, course, and most appropriate management of borderline congenital hypothyroidism (CH) are poorly defined, such that the optimal threshold for diagnosis with bloodspot screening thyrotropin (bsTSH) measurement remains controversial. Dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) mutations may initially cause borderline elevation of bsTSH, which later evolves into significant hypothyroidism on venous blood measurement. It was hypothesized that mutations in both DUOX2 and its accessory protein DUOXA2 may occur frequently, even in patients with borderline bsTSH elevation, such that higher diagnostic thresholds in bsTSH screening may fail to detect such cases, with consequent risk of undiagnosed neonatal hypothyroidism of sufficient magnitude to require thyroxine therapy. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and characteristics of DUOX2 and DUOXA2 mutations in a borderline CH cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with borderline CH was undertaken at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a tertiary British pediatric center. DUOX2 was sequenced in 52 patients with a bsTSH of 6-19.9 mIU/L, venous TSH of >25 mIU/L, and eutopic thyroid gland in situ. DUOXA2 was sequenced in DUOX2 mutation-negative cases, and novel DUOXA2 mutations were functionally characterized. Results: A total of 26 (50%) patients harbored likely pathogenic mutations in DUOX2 (n = 20; 38%) or DUOXA2 (n = 6; 12%), including novel gene variants (DUOX2, n = 3; DUOXA2, n = 7). Two recurrent DUOX2 mutations (p.Q570L, p.F966Sfs*29) occurred frequently in population databases (MAF ≥0.01). Despite bsTSH being <10 mIU/L in 46% of DUOX2 and DUOXA2 mutation-positive cases, venous free thyroxine levels in these patients were in the moderate CH range (M = 9.3 pmol/L, range <3.9-15.8 pmol/L), Conclusions: Targeted DUOX2 and DUOXA2 sequencing in a borderline CH cohort has a high diagnostic yield. These findings might argue for a lowering of bsTSH thresholds, but follow-up studies are required to assess whether cases with borderline bsTSH harboring DUOX2/DUOXA2 mutations will benefit from an early diagnosis and subsequent levothyroxine treatment.

Description

Keywords

congenital hypothyroidism, dyshormonogenesis, gland, Congenital Hypothyroidism, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dual Oxidases, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Membrane Proteins, Mutation, Neonatal Screening, United Kingdom

Journal Title

Thyroid

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1050-7256
1557-9077

Volume Title

29

Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert Inc

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (100585/Z/12/Z)
Wellcome Trust (100574/Z/12/Z)
Wellcome Trust (095564/Z/11/Z)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12012/5)
MRC (MC_UU_00014/5)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_12012)
This work was supported by Wellcome Trust Grant 100585/Z/12/Z and the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centres at Cambridge and Great Ormond Street Hospitals. The Genomics/ Transcriptomics Core Facility is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Disease Unit (MRC_MC_UU_12012/5) and a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (100574/Z/12/Z).