Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 - Medtick

Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1

What is it?

A rare and complex recessively inherited disorder of immune-cell dysfunction with multiple autoimmunities.

  • It occurs when antibodies and immune cells are launched by the body against one or several antigens of its own tissues.

  • this conditions tends to cluster in certain homogenous populations, including certain groups of Finns, Iranian Jews, and Sardinians.
  • However, it can be found in numerous populations and among multiple ethnic. groups

Cause

  • Changes (mutations) in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene.
  • APS-1 is caused by mutations in the AIRE gene. To date, more than 60 mutations in the AIRE gene have been identified in people with APS-1.
  • The AIRE gene is responsible for the production of a protein called ‘autoimmune regulator’ which is highly expressed in the thymus gland, and generates thymus derived or T lymphocytes. If there is a deficiency of this protein, then those T-cells which have receptors capable of interacting with self-antigens can escape into the circulation (instead of being destroyed in the thymus and not released) and result in autoimmunities. For reasons that are still unclear, defects of the autoimmune regulator protein seem to mostly affect endocrine (hormone-producing) glands.
  • HLA-DR/DQ genes also play a role in predisposing to which of the component autoimmune disease the patient actually develops.
  • APS-1 is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits an abnormal gene from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one abnormal gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the abnormal gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier, like the parents, is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.

National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Symptoms

(symptoms can vary though normally person will have two of the three of the following:

  • Long term fungal conditions including skin, nappy rash, anal , genitals (thrush) and fungal nail infection?
  • Hypoparathyroidism (lack of parathyroid hormone and/or medical conditions in releasing parathyroid hormone and/or resistance by end organs to accept the parathyroid hormone) approx 75% are affected before the age of 10 years old?
  • Adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison’s disease)?

Other symptoms include:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Septicaemia (patient is prone to as they have underdeveloped and malfunctioning  spleens)
  • Pneumonia

This condition is associated with:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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