Diagnosis of skeletal fragility due to Loeys-Dietz syndrome and treatment with romosozumab followed by denosumab

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant, inherited connective tissue disorder caused by a pathogenic variant in TGF-β signaling-related genes. LDS is associated with a high risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) and fractures. We present a case report of a 43-year-old premenopausal woman with skeletal fragility who was diagnosed with LDS type 4 due to a large heterozygous deletion in the <i>TGFB2</i> gene. Upon initial referral, she was evaluated for secondary osteoporosis. Although mild abnormalities in calcium metabolism, menstrual irregularities, and lack of exercise were observed, they were not associated with this condition. However, a thorough family history and physical examination raised the suspicion of Marfan syndrome and related disorders, which were subsequently confirmed using genetic testing. Treatment with romosozumab for 1 year increased the lumbar spine BMD from 0.750 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -2.1) to 0.881 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -1.0) and the femoral neck BMD from 0.407 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score - 3.0) to 0.428 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score - 2.6), with a slight increase in total hip BMD from 0.525 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -2.6) to 0.527 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -2.4). Subsequent therapy with denosumab for 1 year further improved the lumbar spine BMD to 0.939 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score, -0.5), femoral neck BMD to 0.496 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score, -2.0), and total hip BMD to 0.552 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score, -2.2). To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an improvement in BMD with romosozumab, followed by denosumab, for skeletal fragility due to LDS. Our findings suggest that this treatment regimen may be an effective therapeutic option for the management of skeletal fragility in patients with LDS.

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Journal
Bone Reports
Published
2025-05-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bonr.2025.101849
Primary Topic
Connective tissue disorders research
Type
article
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article

Diagnosis of skeletal fragility due to Loeys-Dietz syndrome and treatment with romosozumab followed by denosumab

Hayato Fukumitsu, Wataru Ogawa, Yasutaka Tsujimoto, Hironori Bando et al.
Bone Reports
Connective tissue disorders research
article

Diagnosis of skeletal fragility due to Loeys-Dietz syndrome and treatment with romosozumab followed by denosumab

Hayato Fukumitsu, Wataru Ogawa, Yasutaka Tsujimoto, Hironori Bando, Takahiro Niikura, Masaaki Yamamoto, Miwako Nagasaka, Naoki Yamamoto, Mika Yamauchi, Naoya Morisada, Keiko Tanaka, Hidenori Fukuoka, Keisuke Oe
article en

Abstract

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant, inherited connective tissue disorder caused by a pathogenic variant in TGF-β signaling-related genes. LDS is associated with a high risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) and fractures. We present a case report of a 43-year-old premenopausal woman with skeletal fragility who was diagnosed with LDS type 4 due to a large heterozygous deletion in the <i>TGFB2</i> gene. Upon initial referral, she was evaluated for secondary osteoporosis. Although mild abnormalities in calcium metabolism, menstrual irregularities, and lack of exercise were observed, they were not associated with this condition. However, a thorough family history and physical examination raised the suspicion of Marfan syndrome and related disorders, which were subsequently confirmed using genetic testing. Treatment with romosozumab for 1 year increased the lumbar spine BMD from 0.750 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -2.1) to 0.881 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -1.0) and the femoral neck BMD from 0.407 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score - 3.0) to 0.428 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score - 2.6), with a slight increase in total hip BMD from 0.525 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -2.6) to 0.527 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (<i>Z</i>-score -2.4). Subsequent therapy with denosumab for 1 year further improved the lumbar spine BMD to 0.939 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score, -0.5), femoral neck BMD to 0.496 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score, -2.0), and total hip BMD to 0.552 g/cm<sup>2</sup> (Z-score, -2.2). To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an improvement in BMD with romosozumab, followed by denosumab, for skeletal fragility due to LDS. Our findings suggest that this treatment regimen may be an effective therapeutic option for the management of skeletal fragility in patients with LDS.

Bone ReportsVol. 25
Kobe University Hospital (JP), Ono Pharmaceutical (Japan) (JP), Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya Hospital (JP), Takatsuki General Hospital (JP), Kobe University (JP)
Openalex Percentile: Top 89%
Connective tissue disorders research
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