Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Fumarase Deficiency and Its Effect on Infertility: A Case Series

Authors
1 Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hofstra University, New York, USA
2 Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwell Health Fertility, North Shore University Hospital, New York, USA
3 Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hofstra University, New York, USA; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwell Health Fertility, North Shore Univer
Abstract
Background: Fumarase deficiency is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by severe neurologic abnormalities due to homozygous mutations in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. Heterozygous carriers of FH mutations have increased risk of developing uterine fibroids that can be associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). The association between FH mutations and infertility remains uncertain. The objective of our study was to characterize the infertility diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes in women presenting to a fertility center who were found to be carriers of fumarase deficiency based on the presence of heterozygous FH mutations. Case Presentation: A retrospective case series was conducted including 10 women presenting to an academic fertility center who were found to be FH carriers based on genetic carrier screening. Of the 9 women who were engaged in further workup, 2 had imaging results consistent with uterine fibroids. One woman underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy prior to two courses of ovulation induction with timed intercourse (OI/TIC) followed by one successful cycle of IVF. Of the remaining patients, only 1 woman successfully delivered after a cycle of ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI). Other patients pursuing OI/IUI, OI/TIC, or monitored natural cycles had unsuccessful experiences. Conclusion: Patients with infertility who are offered genetic testing should be screened for FH mutations, as the carriers are at risk of developing HLRCC-associated uterine fibroids, which can influence fertility and pregnancy. Additional research is needed to investigate the impacts of FH mutations on infertility.
Keywords

  1. Coman D, Kranc KR, Christodoulou J. Fumarate Hydratase Deficiency. 2006 Jul 5 [Updated 2020 Apr 23]. In: Adam MP, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1506/
  2. Patel VM, Handler MZ, Schwartz RA, Lambert WC. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome: an update and review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;77(1):149-58.
  3. Shuch B, Li S, Risch H, Bindra RS, McGillivray PD, Gerstein M. Estimation of the carrier frequency of fumarate hydratase alterations and implications for kidney cancer risk in hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cancer. Cancer. 2020;126(16):3657-66.
  4. Marieke P, Susan G, Martijn B, Monique W, Jaap B, Ed J, et al. Fumarase deficiency: a case with a new pathogenic mutation and a review of the literature. J Child Neurol. 2021;36(4):310-23.
  5. Lehtonen HJ, Kiuru M, Ylisaukko‐oja SK, Salovaara R, Herva R, Koivisto PA, et al. Increased risk of cancer in patients with fumarate hydratase germline mutation. J Med Genet. 2006;43(6):523-6.
  6. Toro JR, Nickerson ML, Wei MH, Warren MB, Glenn GM, Turner ML, et al. Mutations in the fumarate hydratase gene cause hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families in north America. Am J Hum Genet. 2003;73(1):95-106.
  7. Whynott RM, Vaught KC, Segars JH. The effect of uterine fibroids on infertility: a systematic review. Semin Reprod Med. 2017;35(6):523-32.
  8. Khaund A, Lumsden MA. Impact of fibroids on reproductive function. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;22(4):749-60.
  9. Giuliani E, As-Sanie S, Marsh EE. Epidemiology and management of uterine fibroids. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2020;149(1):3-9.
  10. Freytag D, Günther V, Maass N, Alkatout I. Uterine fibroids and infertility. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(8):1455.
  11. Zepiridis LI, Grimbizis GF, Tarlatzis BC. Infertility and uterine fibroids. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2016;34:66-73.
  12. Stewart L, Glenn GM, Stratton P, Goldstein AM, Merino MJ, Tucker MA, et al. Association of germline mutations in the fumarate hydratase gene and uterine fibroids in women with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer. Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(12):1584-92.
  13. Harrison WJ, Andrici J, Maclean F, Madadi-Ghahan R, Farzin M, Sioson L, et al. Fumarate hydratase–deficient uterine leiomyomas occur in both the syndromic and sporadic Settings. Am J Surg Pathol. 2016;40(5):599-607.
  14. Schmidt LS, Linehan WM. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma. Int J Nephrol Renovasc Dis. 2014;7:253-60.
  15. Smit DL, Mensenkamp AR, Badeloe S, Breuning MH, Simon MEH, van Spaendonck KY, et al. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer in families referred for fumarate hydratase germline mutation analysis. Clin Genet. 2011;79(1):49-59.
  16. Chan E, Rabban JT, Mak J, Zaloudek C, Garg K. Detailed morphologic and immunohistochemical characterization of myomectomy and hysterectomy specimens from women with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome (HLRCC). Am J Surg Pathol. 2019;43(9):1170-9.
  17. Chayed Z, Kristensen LK, Ousager LB, Rønlund K, Bygum A. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma: a case series and literature review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2021;16(1):34.
  18. Bayley JP, Launonen V, Tomlinson IP. The FH mutation database: an online database of fumarate hydratase mutations involved in the MCUL (HLRCC) tumor syndrome and congenital fumarase deficiency. BMC Med Genet. 2008;9:20.
  19. Rivera-Cruz G, Boyraz B, Petrozza JC. How a woman’s myomectomy saved her father’s life: evidence of fumarate hydratase deficient uterine leiomyoma and early detection of germline variants in fumarate hydratase. F S Rep. 2021;3(1):26-31.
  20. Zhang L, Walsh MF, Jairam S, Mandelker D, Zhong Y, Kemel Y, et al. Fumarate hydratase FH c.1431_1433dupAAA (p.Lys477dup) variant is not associated with cancer including renal cell carcinoma. Hum Mutat. 2020;41(1):103-9.
  21. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Age and Fertility [Internet]. Birmingham: American Society for Reproductive Medicine; 2012 [cited 2021 Sep 10]. Available from: https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets/documents/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets/age-and-fertility/.