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Case Reports
. 1994 Oct 20;331(16):1056-61.
doi: 10.1056/NEJM199410203311604.

Estrogen resistance caused by a mutation in the estrogen-receptor gene in a man

E P Smith  1 , J Boyd, G R Frank, H Takahashi, R M Cohen, B Specker, T C Williams, D B Lubahn, K S Korach
Affiliations
Free article
Case Reports

Estrogen resistance caused by a mutation in the estrogen-receptor gene in a man

E P Smith et al. N Engl J Med. .
Free article

Erratum in

  • N Engl J Med 1995 Jan 12;332(2):131

Abstract

Background and methods: Mutations in the estrogen-receptor gene have been thought to be lethal. A 28-year-old man whose estrogen resistance was caused by a disruptive mutation in the estrogen-receptor gene underwent studies of pituitary-gonadal function and bone density and received transdermal estrogen for six months. Estrogen-receptor DNA, extracted from lymphocytes, was evaluated by analysis of single-strand-conformation polymorphisms and by direct sequencing.

Results: The patient was tall (204 cm [80.3 in.]) and had incomplete epiphyseal closure, with a history of continued linear growth into adulthood despite otherwise normal pubertal development. He was normally masculinized and had bilateral axillary acanthosis nigricans. Serum estradiol and estrone concentrations were elevated, and serum testosterone concentrations were normal. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone concentrations were increased. Glucose tolerance was impaired, and hyperinsulinemia was present. The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine was 0.745 g per square centimeter, 3.1 SD below the mean for age-matched normal women; there was biochemical evidence of increased bone turnover. The patient had no detectable response to estrogen administration, despite a 10-fold increase in the serum free estradiol concentration. Conformation analysis of his estrogen-receptor gene revealed a variant banding pattern in exon 2. Direct sequencing of exon 2 revealed a cytosine-to-thymine transition at codon 157 of both alleles, resulting in a premature stop codon. The patient's parents were heterozygous carriers of this mutation, and pedigree analysis revealed consanguinity.

Conclusions: Disruption of the estrogen receptor in humans need not be lethal. Estrogen is important for bone maturation and mineralization in men as well as women.

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Comment in

  • Life without estrogen.
    Federman DD. Federman DD. N Engl J Med. 1994 Oct 20;331(16):1088-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199410203311611. N Engl J Med. 1994. PMID: 8090171 No abstract available.

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