Genetic and clinical characteristics of children with mody: insights into novel HNF4A variants and genotype-phenotype correlation.

backgroundMaturity-onset diabetes of the youth (MODY) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of diseases and is often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

aimsThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics, phenotype-genotype relationship, and the effects of diagnosis on the treatment in patients genetically diagnosed with MODY.

methodsPatients aged 0-18 years with a molecular diagnosis of MODY who were followed up in Bursa Uludağ University Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic between January 2014 and June 2024 were included in the study. Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up data were evaluated.

resultsThirty cases from 26 different families were included. Twenty-three cases (76%) were diagnosed as GCK MODY, two as HNF1A MODY, two as HNF4A MODY, two as HNF1B MODY, and one as ABCC8 MODY. The novel variants (c.737G > A, c.961delG) were identified in the HNF4A gene. To evaluate genotype-phenotype correlation in HNF4A MODY cases, a total of 25 variants previously reported in the literature have been systematically recorded and analyzed.

conclusionsThe molecular diagnosis of MODY is essential in determining the most suitable treatment plan, establishing a follow-up strategy for addressing long-term complications, and providing genetic counseling. When we review the literature about clinical presentations of the HNF4A variants, it is revealed that variants in the same exons or functional domains have been linked to both monophasic (MODY alone) and biphasic presentations (MODY with transient neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia), hence it is difficult to establish a certain genotype-phenotype correlation.