Dicamillo Paul,  Berlin Sheila,  Vasavada Pauravi

Final Pr. ID: Poster #: CR-010

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare, often fatal disease due to cardiovascular sequellae (cyanosis, respiratory distress, hypertension and cardiomegaly) from widespread arterial calcification and/or narrowing of medium and large diameter vessels. Other findings can include periarticular calcification, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, hearing loss, intestinal ischemia, rickets and hypo/hyperphasphatemia. A database of worldwide cases implicates genes ENPP1 and ABCC6.

Our patient presented late in gestation. Although a 20 week fetal ultrasound was unremarkable, a 36 week ultrasound showed polyhydramnios, moderate pericardial effusion and moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation; these findings prompted a C-section delivery. Early in his course, the patient developed biventricular dysfunction, systemic and pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventillation. Splenic calcifications, left pelvicaiectasis and lenticulostriate vasculopathy was documented in first week of life. The thoracic aorta, pulmonary artery and coronary artery were echogenic and thickened. Etidronate therapy, a treatment used for the first months to years of life to block bone mineralization until the arterial calcifications resolve, was started within 24 hours of life. However, this therapy can and did result in the development of rickets. Genetic testing revealed two mutations in the ABCC6 gene as can be seen in early onset GACI, a subtype with risk of pseudoxanthoma elasticum; our patient did exhibit hypermobile lower extremity joints. The patient's hypertension was eventually controlled with Amlodipine. Bulging fontenelles developed, likely due to ricket-impared skull growth. Calcification/narrowing of the bilateral carotids was seen. Additional complications included chronic pulmonary disease shown to be combination of chronic aspiration, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and mild pulmonary arterial hypertensive changes. Rickets-related rib fractures further complicated the lung disease. Failure to thrive resulted in enteric feeding. Because of the severity of our patient's disease in which 6 month mortality can be as high as 85%, the treatment has aimed to prevent progression. Significant reduction in the arterial calcium burden has not yet been achieved, however the patient survived one year of treatment. Read More

Authors:  Dicamillo Paul , Berlin Sheila , Vasavada Pauravi

Keywords:  genetics, diphosphonate, hypertension