Skip to main content
Log in

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy: two siblings with prolonged survival

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In generalized arterial calcification of infancy (OMIM no. 208000), calcification of the media and proliferation of the intima lead to arterial stenoses. Most affected patients present with untreatable arterial hypertension and die within the first months of life. The disease has recently been linked to mutations in ENPP1. We report two siblings with prolonged survival, both of whom carry the compound heterozygous ENPP1 mutations c.913C>A and c.1164+2T>A. In both siblings, spontaneous regression of arterial calcifications occurred, and antihypertensive treatment could be tapered off gradually. In some patients, the natural course of GACI may be more favourable than previously assumed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GACI:

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy

E-NPP1:

Ecto-Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1

PPi :

Inorganic Pyrophosphate

TmP/GFR:

Maximal tubular phosphate reabsorption per glomerular filtration rate

References

  1. Bird T (1974) Idiopathic arterial calcification in infancy. Arch Dis Child 49:82–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ciana G, Colonna F, Forleo V, Brizzi F, Benettoni A, de Vonderweid U (1997) Idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy: effectiveness of prostaglandin infusion for treatment of secondary hypertension refractory to conventional therapy: a case report. Pediatr Cardiol 18:67–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eronen M, Pohjavuori M, Heikkila P (2001) Fatal outcome of two siblings with idiopathic arterial calcification diagnosed in utero. Pediatr Cardiol 22:167–169

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Marrott PK, Newcombe KD, Becroft DMO, Friedlander DH (1984) Idiopathic infantile arterial calcification with survival to adult life. Pediatr Cardiol 5:119–122

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Matos V, van Melle G, Boulat O, Markert M, Bachmann C, Guignard JP (1996) Urinary phosphate/creatinine ratio, calcium/creatinine, and magnesium/creatinine ratios in a healthy pediatric population. J Pediatr 131:252–257

    Google Scholar 

  6. Meradji M, de Villeneuve VH, Huber J, de Bruijn WC, Pearse RG (1978) Idiopathic arterial calcification in siblings: radiologic diagnosis and successful treatment. J Pediatr 92:401–405

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Moran JJ (1975) Idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy, a clinicopathological study. Pathol Annu 10: 393–417

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nagar AM, Hanchate V, Tandon A, Thakkar H, Chauybal NG (2003) Antenatal detection of idiopathic arterial calcification with hydrops fetalis. J Ultrasound Med 22:653–659

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Payne RB (1998) Renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TmP/GFR): indications and interpretations. Ann Clin Biochem 35:201–206

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ruf N, Uhlenberg B, Terkeltaub R, Nürnberg P, Rutsch F (2005) The mutational spectrum of ENPP1 as arising after the analysis of 23 unrelated patients with generalized arterial calcification of infancy. Hum Mutat 25:98

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rutsch F, Schauerte P, Kalhoff H, Petrarulo M, August C, Diekmann L (2000) Low levels of urinary inorganic pyrophosphate indicating systemic pyrophosphate deficiency in a boy with idiopathic infantile arterial calcification. Acta Paediatr 89:1265–1269

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Rutsch F, Vaingankar S, Johnson K, Goldfine I, Maddux B, Schauerte P, Kalhoff H, Sano K, Boisvert WA, Superti-Furga A, Terkeltaub R (2001) PC1-nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase deficiency in idiopathic arterial calcification. Am J Pathol 158:543–554

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rutsch F, Ruf N, Vaingankar S, Toliat MR, Suk A, Höhne W, Schauer G, Lehmann M, Roscioli T, Schnabel D, Epplen JT, Knisely A, Superti-Furga A, McGill JH, Filippone M, Sinaiko AR, Vallance H, Hinrichs B, Smith W, Ferre M, Terkeltaub R, Nürnberg P (2003) Mutations in ENPP1 are associated with ‘idiopathic’ infantile arterial calcification. Nat Genet 34:379–381

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sholler GF, Bale PM, Celermajer JM, Kozlowski K (1984) Generalized arterial calcification of infancy: three case reports, including spontaneous regression with long term survival. J Pediatr 105:257–260

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stuart G, Wren C, Bain H (1990) Idiopathic arterial calcification in two siblings: failure of treatment with diphosphonate. Br Heart J 64:156–159

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Thiaville A, Smets A, Clercx A, Perlmutter N (1994) Idiopathic infantile arterial calcification: a surviving patient with renal artery stenosis. Pediatr Radiol 24:506–508

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Van Dyck M, Proesmans W, Van Hollebeke E, Marchal G, Moerman P (1989) Idiopathic infantile arterial calcification with cardiac, renal and central nervous involvement. Eur J Pediatr 148:374–377

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Van Reempts PJ, Boven KJ, Spitaels SE, Roodhooft AM, Vercruyssen EL, Van Acker KJ (1991) Idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy. Calcif Tissue Int 48:1–6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

F.R. is supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank Rutsch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ciana, G., Trappan, A., Bembi, B. et al. Generalized arterial calcification of infancy: two siblings with prolonged survival. Eur J Pediatr 165, 258–263 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-005-0035-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-005-0035-6

Keywords

Navigation