Identification of NR0B1 Gene Mutation and Analysis of Bone Damages and Drug Treatment Effect in a Big Family With X-linked Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita: a Case Report

Background: X-linked congenital adrenocortical hypoplasia (XL-AHC) is a rare disorder, which is characterized by primary adrenal insufficiency and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. However, the skeletal complications caused by the disease were rarely reported, not to mention the treatment. Case presentation The patient from a big family with XL-AHC was identified carrying a homozygous insertion mutation（p.Thr193GlyfsX13）in DAX-1 gene. The diagnosis of secondary osteoporosis was made after imaging, laboratory and bone mass density examinations. However, he showed a suboptimal response to bisphosphonates during 2 years of follow-up, even suffered from atypical femoral fracture (AFF). Now it had been replaced by menatetrenone, bone healing was satisfactory. Conclusions: We harbored the idea that clinicians should not only focus on typical clinical manifestations of XL-AHC, but also pay attention to the skeletal complications in clinical practice. Conventional anti-osteoporosis drugs may cause side effects such as AFF and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), which was rare in general osteoporosis patients. In other words, anabolic agent may be a better choice.