The clinical utility in hospital-wide use of growth differentiation factor 15 as a biomarker for mitochondrial DNA-related disorders.

Clinical recognition of primary mitochondrial disorders (PMD) is difficult due to the clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Whereas lactate has low sensitivity and specificity, in structured clinical studies growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has shown promise with elevations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-related PMD, but its specificity has been questioned. In a tertiary care hospital-wide study, medical records were retrospectively reviewed from 418 cases where GDF15 levels were obtained by clinicians.

Connective Tissue Nevi: A Review of the Literature.

Connective tissue nevi (CTN) are hamartomas of the dermis, with the 3 main components being collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans. Each subtype can present as a solitary lesion or multiple lesions. They could present as part of systemic diseases or inherited disorders.