title: Characterization of endocrine features and genotype-phenotypes correlations in blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome type 1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Blepharophimosis syndrome (BPES) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition resulting from heterozygous mutations in the FOXL2 gene and clinically characterized by an eyelid malformation associated (type I) or not (type II) with premature ovarian failure. The distinction between the two forms is critical for female patients, as it may allow to predict fertility and to plan an appropriate therapy. Identifying an underlying causative mutation is not always predictive of the clinical type of BPES since genotype-phenotype correlations are not yet fully delineated. Here, we describe the clinical and hormonal phenotypes of three female patients with BPES type 1 from two novel families, correlate their phenotypes with identified mutations, and investigate the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical, biochemical, and genetic evaluation were undertaken in all the patients and genotype-phenotype correlation was analyzed. The effects of substitutive hormonal therapy on secondary sexual characteristics development and induction of menarche were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients presented with primary amenorrhea or other signs of ovarian dysfunction. Two distinct mutations, a missense p.H104R change and an in-frame p.A222_A231dup10 duplication in the FOXL2 gene were identified. Observed phenotypes were not in accordance with the prediction based on the current genotype-phenotype correlations. HRT significantly improved secondary sexual characteristics development, as well as the induction of menarche.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the importance of early recognition of BPES and emphasizes the need of personalized therapy and follow-up in female patients carrying distinct FOXL2 mutations.
authors.affiliation: Unità di Genetica Medica, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuovo
authors.affiliation: Unità di Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina dei Sistemi, Polo Ospedaliero Sant'Eugenio & CTO A. Alesini, Università Tor Vergata, 00145, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passeri
authors.affiliation: Unità di Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina dei Sistemi, Polo Ospedaliero Sant'Eugenio & CTO A. Alesini, Università Tor Vergata, 00145, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.affiliation: Unità di Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina dei Sistemi, Polo Ospedaliero Sant'Eugenio & CTO A. Alesini, Università Tor Vergata, 00145, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calanchini
authors.affiliation: Ginecologia, Consultorio Giovani, ASL RM/H, 00045, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meldolesi
authors.affiliation: U.O.C Anatomia Patologica AOR Ospedale San Carlo, 85100, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Di Giacomo
authors.affiliation: U.O. Ostetricia e Ginecologia AOR Ospedale San Carlo, 85100, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.affiliation: Genetica Medica, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piemontese
authors.affiliation: Genetica Medica, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zelante
authors.affiliation: Unità di Genetica Medica, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.|Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sangiuolo
authors.affiliation: Unità di Genetica Medica, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.|Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.affiliation: Unità di Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Medicina dei Sistemi, Polo Ospedaliero Sant'Eugenio & CTO A. Alesini, Università Tor Vergata, 00145, Rome, Italy. andrea.fabbri@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Unità di Genetica Medica, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy. f.brancati@igenetica.com.|Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Orali e Biotecnologiche, Università D'Annunzio, 66013, Chieti, Italy. f.brancati@igenetica.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brancati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D016569:Blepharophimosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005143:Eyelids / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D000074842:Forkhead Box Protein L2; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D020440:Gene Duplication; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008572:Menarche / Q000187:drug effects; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010375:Pedigree; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012868:Skin Abnormalities / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C421604:FOXL2 protein, human; D000074842:Forkhead Box Protein L2; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors
keywords: Blepharophimosis–ptosis–epicanthus inversus syndrome; FOXL2; Genetic counseling; Genotype–phenotype correlation; Ovarian dysfunction