Indian Pediatrics 1998;35:1131-1135 

Triple-A Syndrome

Shivananda
Premalatha R.
Raheela
Gayathri P.
 

From the Department of Pediatrics, Vani Vilas Children's Hospital, Bangalore, India.

Reprint requests: Dr. Shivananda, Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, Vani Vilas
Children's Hospital Bangalore, India.

Manuscript Received: February 29, 1998; Initial review completed: April 3, 1998;
Revision Accepted: June 28, 1998

 

Triple-A syndrome describes patients with achalasia, alacrimia and glucocorticoid deficiency with normal mineralocorticoid activity. This form of chronic adrenal insufficiency is characterized by isolated deficiency of glucocorticoid, elevated levels of corticotropin and normal aldosterone production. The salt losing manifestations of most other forms of adrenal insufficiency do not occur, instead patients present primarily with hypoglycemic seizures and pigmentation during the first decade of life. Most patients exhibit achalasia of the bcardia, deficient tear production and other autonomic dysfunction. We describe a child with this syndrome in view of the paucity of documentation on this subject in the Indian literature.

Case Report

A 9-year-old girl from Bangalore, the 3rdchild of a non-consanuinously married couple, born after full term gestation by normal vaginal delivery presented to us with complaints of difficulty in swallowing mainly for solids and vomiting after taking food since 6 months and muscle weakness and clumsiness since 3 months. Her postnatal and infancy period was uneventful. Growth and development was normal. At the age of 3 years she developed blackish pigmentation of gums, lips and tongue, gradually involving the whole body especially' over pressure points and extensor aspects of phalangeal joints. At the age of five, she has undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent attacks of fever and throat pain, The post-operative period was uneventful. There was no history of seizures or salt craving. Absence of tears since infancy was observed by the mother.

Her first brother developed hyper pigmentation at the age of 2 years. He also had deficient tear production since infancy. He expired at the age of 3V:z years following an episode of fever, vomiting and convulsions (probably due to hypoglycemic attack). Her second sibling-a-female child, had deficient tear production since infancy and developed hyper pigmentation at the age' of 2 years. At the age of 5 years, the child developed an attack of convulsion and altered sensorium and expired the same day. History of achalasia was absent in these two children. Both parents were normal and there was no history of any adrenal disorder, swallowing disorder or lack of lacrimation.

Physical examination revealed height of 126 cm (25th percentile) and weight of 21 kg (5th percentile). Pulse rate was 90/min and BP was 100/70 mm of Hg without any evidence of postural hypotension. Hyper- pigmentation was noticed on gums, lips, tongue, pressure points, extensor aspects of phalangeal joints and over palmar creases. Tongue papillae were normal. Numerous fine palmar creases were noticed.' External genitalia were normal. Pupillary size was normal. Child had nasal voice. Pharyngeal reflex was normal. Neurological examination revealed brisk deep tendon reflexes, normal muscle tone with flexor plantar response and clumsy gait. Schirmer test and tear film break-up time we're indicative of deficiency of tear production in both the eyes.

Investigations revealed normal hemogram, urinalysis, renal functions, blood sugar and serum electrolyte levels. ESR was 30 mm at the end of one hour. Urine 17 ketosteroids was 5 mg/24h (normal 6-15 mg/24 h). Cortisol level was low. How- ever, it returned to normal after treatment (Table I). Mantoux test was negative. Plain X-ray of chest and abdomen was normal. Abdominal ultrasound examination was also normal. Barium swallow showed achalasia of cardia (Fig. 1).

The patient was given cortisol replacement therapy and methyl cellulose eye drops. She was on prednisolone 5 mg daily to start with and subsequently the dose was reduced to 2.5 mg on alternate day. With this dose the serum cortisol levels were maintained within normal range. With this treatment, pigmentation of the skin and oral cavity has decreased. Nasal tone has come down and the child is taking food normally. Muscle weakness has reduced.


 

TABLE I

Sem1ll Cortisol Levels (pg/dl)

Time of the day	Observed (Range)	After treatment
Morning	0.2 (7-31)	12.7
Evening	0.5(4-14.5)	10.8

Figures in parenthesis indicates normal values.

 

Fig. 1. Barium swallow showing achalasia of cardia.

Discussion

The syndrome of familial glucocorticoid deficiency first described by Shepard et al.(1) is characterized by the onset in early childhood of recurrent hypoglycemia, skin pigmentation and impaired cortisol synthesis. Familial glucocorticoid deficiency associated with achalasia of cardia and deficient tear production was described in 1978 by Allgrove et al.(2).

In a series of 20 patients with glucocorticoid deficiency associated with achalasia of cardia and deficient tear production, cortisol deficiency was documented in all cases(3). The age at which symptoms of adrenal insufficiency began ranged from 1.0 day to 8 years 3 months. The initial symptoms were related to hypoglycemia associated with increased skin pigmentation. Ninteen of the patients had alacrimia since early infancy necessitating use of artificial tears to avoid discomfort. In the present case also, the patient had alacrimia since infancy. Evidence of hypoglycemia was not seen in the present case because of the absence of severe illness which precipitates this metabolic event. Increased skin pigmentation was noticed at the age of 3 years in the present case. Achalasia of cardia is a relatively rare problem in children. In a series of 35 children with achalasia of cardia(4), only one case had alacrimia and cortisol deficiency. There is a considerable variation in the ages at which symptoms of achalasia develop (6 months to 16 years). Some of them may require Heller's operation. In the present case achalasia developed at the age of 8th years.

Skin changes commonly seen are hyperkeratosis of palms with multiple fine fissures and cutisanserina, pigmentation of gums, lips, pressure points and extensor aspects of phalangeal joints. This girl had hyperpigmentation and fine palmar creases.

festations reported in this syndrome involve both central and peripheral neurons. The most common findings were hyper- reflexia, increased limb tone, extensor plantar response, muscle weakness and wasting. Dysarthria, nasal speech, ataxia, clumsiness, sensory impairment and optic atrophy have also been reproted. Usually the neurological manifestations are noted around 10 years of age. Many of these manifestations are subtle and picked on clinical examination if one is aware of these findings in Triple A syndrome. In the present case, the child had hyper-reflexia, nasal speech and clumsy walking suggestive of upper motor neurone lesions. Even though some degree of intellectual impairment has been reported(4), this girl did not have any intellectual impairment. The common autonomic disturbances reported are postural hypotension, unequal pupils, absent or reduced sweating, abnormal histamine test and abnormal methacholin test(4).

The etiology of familial glucocorticoid deficiency is not known. The disorder occurs in siblings born to apparently healthy parents and occurs in both sexes with relatively even sex ratio. This could be due to an autosomal recessive inherited defect within the adrenal gland causing primary unresponsiveness to ACTH or to an inherited progressive degenerative process. Histologically there is marked adrenocorticol atrophy with relative sparing of Zona glomerulosa. It has been suggested that the unresponsiveness of adrenal cortex may be due to failure of membrane attachment or to failure of activation of adenyl cyclase by corticotropin. Abnormality of mineralocorticoid function has been described indicating progressive degenerative process involving the adrenal gland(5).

Other manifestations of Triple-A Syndrome are neurological involvement and' The natural course of familial glucocor-autonomic disturbance. Neurological maniticoid deficiency is not completely understood. Achalasia of the cardia may be the first symptom, other symptoms unfold as the age advances. Some of the patients may develop mineralocorticoid deficiency later. The present case may have a comparitively better prognosis because of the absence of hypoglycemia and the fact that her symptoms have reduced with treatment. It is worth assessing the adrenal function in any child who presents with achalasia especially if associated with alacrimia(6). Early recognition of familial glucocorticoid deficiency will prevent hypoglycemic convulsions, neurological sequalae and death.

 

 References