Skip to main content
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

4th A in a triple A syndrome – A rare case report

  • , and EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: June 24, 2020

Abstract

Objectives

AAA (Allgrove) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by cardinal features of adrenal insufficiency, achalasia, and alacrimia.

Case presentation

A 21 year girl of known case of Triple A syndrome was referred for the evaluation of autonomic function. She was born full term with developmental delay and abnormal gait. Esophageal manometry study by pneumatic balloon dilatation revealed the presence of achalasia cardia. She had signs of peripheral neuropathy and had episodes of fainting and suspected orthostatic hypotension. Cardiovascular autonomic function and heart rate variability tests were conducted as per Ewing protocol, revealed that the patient had sympathovagal imbalance and sympathetic dominance.

Conclusions

The presence of autonomic dysfunction adds the 4th A to the Triple A syndrome (Adrenal insufficiency, Achalasia, Alacrimia and Autonomic dysfunction). Noninvasive autonomic function tests are recommended for Triple A syndrome patients to reduce the morbidity associated with autonomic dysfunction.


Corresponding author: Dr. Padmavathi Ramaswamy, MD, Ph.D., Associate Dean - PG studies & Professor, Department of Physiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research(SRIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, E-mail: .

  1. Research funding: No funding has been involved.

  2. Author contributions: All the authors have made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; participated in drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; gave final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

  3. Competing interests: No conflict of interests exists.

  4. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from the patient included in the study.

  5. Ethical approval: Ethical approval for the present was obtained from the host institution ethics committee.

References

1. Allgrove, J, Clayden, GS, Grant, DB, Macaulay, JC. Familial glucocorticoid deficiency with achalasia of the cardia and deficient tear production. The Lancet 1978;311:1284–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(78)91268-0.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

2. Tullio-Pelet, A, Salomon, R, Hadj-Rabia, S, Mugnier, C, de Laet, MH, Chaouachi, B, et al. Mutant WD-repeat protein in triple-A syndrome. Nat Genet 2000;26:332. https://doi.org/10.1038/81642.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

3. Huebner, A, Kaindl, AM, Knobeloch, KP, Petzold, H, Mann, P, Koehler, K. The triple A syndrome is due to mutations in ALADIN, a novel member of the nuclear pore complex. Endocr Res 2004;30:891–9. https://doi.org/10.1081/erc-200044138.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Wallace, I, Cunningham, S, Lindsay, J. The diagnosis and investigation of adrenal insufficiency in adults. Ann Clini Biochem 2009;46:351–67. https://doi.org/10.1258/acb.2009.009101.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

5. Brooks, BP, Kleta, R, Stuart, C, Tuchman, M, Jeong, A, Stergiopoulos, SG, et al. Genotype heterogeneity and clinical phenotype in triple A syndrome. Clin Genet 2005;68:215–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.2005.00482.x.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

6. Sanyal, D, Bhattacharjee, S. A case of late-onset allgrove syndrome presenting with predominant autonomic dysfunction. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16:266. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.112494.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

7. Maheshkumar, K, Dilara, K, Maruthy, KN, Sundareswaren, L. Validation of PC-based sound card with biopac for digitalization of ECG recording in short-term HRV analysis. N Am J Med Sci 2016;8:307. https://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.187150.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

8. Kimber, J, McLean, BN, Prevett, M, Hammans, SR. Allgrove or 4 “A” syndrome: an autosomal recessive syndrome causing multisystem neurological disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:654–7. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.74.5.654.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

9. Sanyal, D, Bhattacharjee, S. A case of late-onset Allgrove syndrome presenting with predominant autonomic dysfunction. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16:266–68. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.112494.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2019-10-19
Accepted: 2020-03-03
Published Online: 2020-06-24

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Downloaded on 19.4.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/jbcpp-2019-0293/html
Scroll to top button