Frasier Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Refractory Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome

Frasier syndrome is a rare disease that affects the kidneys and genitalia. Patients who have Frasier syndrome develop nephrotic syndrome (NS) featuring focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) that is resistant to steroid treatment in early childhood. Male patients can have female external genitali...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yung-Chieh Huang, Ming-Chin Tsai, Chi-Ren Tsai, Lin-Shien Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/617
Description
Summary:Frasier syndrome is a rare disease that affects the kidneys and genitalia. Patients who have Frasier syndrome develop nephrotic syndrome (NS) featuring focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) that is resistant to steroid treatment in early childhood. Male patients can have female external genitalia (pseudo-hermaphroditism) at birth and develop gonado-blastoma in their adolescence. Frasier syndrome is caused by mutations in the splice donor site at intron 9 of the Wilms’ tumor <i>WT1</i> gene; these mutations result in an imbalanced ratio of WT1 protein isoforms and affect the development of the urogenital tract, podocyte function, and tumor suppression. Here, we report on a patient with long-term refractory NS who developed a malignant mixed germ cell tumor arising in a gonado-blastoma of the ovary 8 years after the onset of proteinuria.
ISSN:2227-9067