Publications by authors named "Zita Halasz"

Background: Disordered thyroid hormone transport, due to mutations in the SLC16A2 gene encoding monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), is characterised by intellectual and motor disability resulting from cerebral hypothyroidism and chronic peripheral thyrotoxicosis. We sought to systematically assess the phenotypic characteristics and natural history of patients with MCT8 deficiency.

Methods: We did an international, multicentre, cohort study, analysing retrospective data from Jan 1, 2003, to Dec 31, 2019, from patients with MCT8 deficiency followed up in 47 hospitals in 22 countries globally.

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Experimental and clinical data suggest a complex interaction between the endocrine and immune systems. However, only few epidemiological studies are available dealing with endocrine complications in different types of primary immunodeficiency diseases. It is well documented that there is a close association between immunodeficiency syndromes and the development of autoimmune disorders.

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Article Synopsis
  • Recent research on mice suggests that sex determination in mammals results from competing male and female regulatory systems, but the pathways for ovary development are less understood.
  • A study sequenced genetic data from 79 individuals with unexplained virilization or disorders of sex development and found mutations in the NR2F2 gene in three children, which were linked to several congenital conditions.
  • The study highlights COUP-TF2 as a key "pro-ovary" factor in human ovaries, contrasting with its role in mice, suggesting differing roles for nuclear receptors in human and mouse sex determination.
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Developmental disorders affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary system can result in pituitary hormone deficiency showing a diverse clinical presentation. A significant majority of these disorders are closely linked to defects in transcription factor genes which play a major role in pituitary development. Those affecting the early phase of organogenesis typically lead to complex conditions affecting the pituitary as well as structures in the central nervous system.

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Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of genetic diseases due to the disablement of 7 genes; one of them is steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The genes of congenital adrenal hyperplasia encode enzymes taking part in the steroidogenesis of adrenal gland. Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations of the steroid 21-hydroxylase gene.

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Introduction: The isolated haploinsufficiency of the SHOX gene is one of the most common cause of short stature determined by monogenic mutations. The heterozygous deviation of the gene can be detected in 2-15% of patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS), in 50-90% of patients with Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis syndrome (LWS), and in almost 100% of patients with Turner syndrome.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of SHOX gene haploinsufficiency in children with ISS, LWS and in patients having Turner syndrome phenotype (TF), but normal karyotype, and to identify the dysmorphic signs characteristic for SHOX gene deficiency.

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In this work I analysed the outcome of growth hormone replacement treatment in patients with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and examined diseased-causing mutations of pituitary transcription factor genes which may underlie this disorder. The results showed that after treatment for a longer than 7-year period with a growth hormone preparation available under well-controlled distribution, the mean height of children with growth hormone deficiency reached the normal national reference range adjusted for age and sex. After establishment of clinical criteria for screening PROP1 gene mutations, I performed mutational analysis of all coding exons of this gene in 35 patients with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency.

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Objective: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS I) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder characterized by chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, multi-organ autoimmunity and ectodermal dysplasia. Autoantibodies to parathyroid and adrenal glands and type I interferons (IFN) are hallmarks of APS I, which results from mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. We wished to study clinical, immunological and genetic features of APS I in Hungarian patients, and to correlate anti-IFN-omega serum concentration with APS I and other multi-organ autoimmune diseases.

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A 33-year-old primagravida with a history of polycystic ovary syndrome was referred because of symptoms of moderate hyperandrogenism. Serum hormone levels, measured regularly from the 7th week of pregnancy until delivery, showed very high increases of testosterone, androstenedione and estradiol. Ultrasound showed no evidence of adrenal or ovarian masses.

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Combined pituitary hormone deficiency is characterized by the impaired production of pituitary hormones, commonly including growth hormone. The pathomechanism of the childhood-onset form of this disorder may involve germline mutations of genes encoding pituitary transcription factors, of which PROP1 gene mutations have been studied most extensively. However, controversy exists about the significance of PROP1 gene mutations, as both low and high frequencies have been reported in these patients.

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Objective: To support the clinical diagnosis of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), we performed mutational analysis of the androgen receptor gene.

Design: Clinical, hormonal and molecular genetic data of ten undervirilized genetic male patients living in Hungary were recorded.

Methods: PCR-based single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was used to study the whole coding region of the androgen receptor gene.

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