title: [Carney complex].
abstract: Carney complex (CNC) is an autosomal dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by spotty skin pigmentation, cardiac and cutaneous myxoma, and endocrine overactivity. Skin pigmentation includes lentigines and blue nevi. Myxomas may occur in breast, skin and heart. Cardiac myxomas may be multiple and occur in any cardiac chamber, and are more prone to recurrence. The most common endocrine gland manifestation is an ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome due to primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD). PPNAD may occur isolated, with no other signs of CNC. Pituitary and thyroid glands and gonads are also involved. The PRKAR1A gene, located in 17 q22-24, encodes type 1A regulatory subunit of protein kinase A. Inactivating germline mutations of this gene are found in 70% of patients with CNC. PRKAR1A is a key component of the c-AMP signaling pathway that has been implicated in endocrine tumorigenesis. Many different mutations have been reported in the PRKAR1A gene. In almost all cases the sequence change was predicted to lead to a premature stop codon and the resultant mutant mRNA was subject to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. There is no clear genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with CNC. Genetic analysis should be performed in all CNC index cases. All affected patients should be monitored for clinical signs of CNC at least once a year. Genetic diagnosis allows for more effective preparation of more appropriate and effective therapeutic strategies and genetic counseling for patients and gene carriers, and to avoid unnecessary tests to relatives not carrying the gene.
authors.affiliation: Sección Endocrinología, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Can Misses, Ibiza, Islas Baleares, España. eladiolosada@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Eladio José
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Losada Grande
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al Kassam Martínez
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González Boillos
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000209:etiology; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056733:Carney Complex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D054756:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase RIalpha Subunit / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D009232:Myxoma / Q000235:genetics*; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000235:genetics; D017354:Point Mutation; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D054756:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase RIalpha Subunit; C517834:PRKAR1A protein, human; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006854:Hydrocortisone