Leprechaunism / Donohue syndrome - Animation
Channel: Dr.G Bhanu Prakash Animated Medical Videos
Date: 2019-05-24

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General Discussion
Leprechaunism is an extremely rare disorder characterized by abnormal resistance to insulin that results in a variety of distinguishing characteristics, including growth delays and abnormalities affecting the endocrine system (i.e., the system of glands that secrete hormones into the blood system). Affected infants may also have distinctive characteristics of the head and face (craniofacial region), low birth weight, skin abnormalities, and enlargement of the breast and clitoris in females and the penis in males. Leprechaunism is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
Signs & Symptoms
Leprechaunism is characterized by growth delays, as well as abnormalities of the head and face (craniofacial region) and of the endocrine system. Many of the symptoms associated with leprechaunism are present at birth (congenital). The range and severity of symptoms and physical characteristics may vary from person to person.

Most infants with leprechaunism exhibit delayed growth before and after birth (pre- and postnatal growth deficiency), delayed bone age or maturation. Affected infants tend to have a low birth weight, may fail to gain weight or grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive), and may become abnormally thin (emaciated). They often lack muscle mass.

Infants with leprechaunism have distinctive facial features, including abnormally large, low-set and poorly developed ears; an unusually flat bridge of the nose; large, thick lips; an abnormally large mouth (macrostomia); and widely spaced eyes (hyptertelorism). Affected infants may also have an abnormally small head (microcephaly).

Leprechaunism is associated with abnormal darkening and thickening of patches of skin in certain areas of the body (acanthosis nigricans), unusual thickening of the skin (pachyderma), excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and malformation (dysplasia) of the nails. In addition, infants with leprechaunism exhibit absence of most of the body fat under the skin (subcutaneous adipose tissue).

Leprechaunism is also characterized by abnormalities of the endocrine system (i.e., the system of glands that secrete hormones into the blood system). Such abnormalities include excessive secretion of the hormone insulin (hyperinsulinemia). Insulin regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels by promoting the movement of glucose into bodily cells. Infants with leprechaunism fail to use insulin effectively (insulin resistant). Because of this, they may experience abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) after eating a meal (postprandial) and abnormally low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) when not eating.

Additional abnormalities resulting from improper function of the endocrine system include abnormal enlargement of the breast and clitoris in females and the penis in males. In some cases, cysts have formed in the ovaries. 

Infants with leprechaunism may have additional abnormalities, including intellectual disability, abnormally large hands and feet, an unusually widened (dilated) or enlarged (distended) stomach, abnormal amounts of iron in the liver, and/or stoppage of the flow of bile (cholestasis) from the liver. In addition, affected infants may experience protrusion of portions of the large intestine through an abnormal opening in musculature lining the abdominal cavity in the area of the groin (inguinal hernia) or protrusion of part of the intestine through the abdominal wall near the navel (umbilical hernia). Affected infants are also more susceptible to repeated infections.

Causes
Leprechaunism may be caused by disruption or changes (mutations) of the insulin receptor gene. Due to the mutation in the insulin receptor gene, individuals with leprechaunism are unable to use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that plays an important role in the absorption of sugar (glucose) into muscle cells. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy. Some symptoms associated with leprechaunism, including growth deficiencies and hyperglycemia, develop as a result of severe insulin resistance of affected individuals.

Leprechaunism 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.