An unusual manifestation in a pediatric patient with MAFB mutation: Sacroiliitis in multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis syndrome

Multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis (MCTO) syndrome, is typically characterized by progressive bone resorption in especially carpal and tarsal bones, in addition to abnormal facial appearance and proteinuria. This disorder is caused by monoallelic pathogenic MAFB mutations, which result in excessive osteoclastogenesis via aberrant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand activation. Most cases are sporadic with de-novo mutations, and it is still unclear why carpal and tarsal bones are predominantly affected. The early phases of MCTO resemble juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with ankle and wrist swelling and pain, even with inflammatory changes in magnetic resonance imaging. Herein we report a pediatric patient, previously treated with antirheumatic drugs, and eventually diagnosed with MCTO. This case was a descriptive case with exophthalmos, significant proteinuria, and total loss of carpal and tarsal bones at the time of genetic diagnosis. Similar to the literature, our case had typical radiological findings despite methotrexate and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment. However, while arthritis affecting joints other than wrists and ankles has not been reported so far in the literature, our case had bilateral sacroiliitis which completely resolved after adalimumab treatment. We cannot be sure if sacroiliitis was incidental or occurred as a component of the disease, nonetheless, we think that sharing our experience may lead to easy and early recognition of MCTO, with more knowledge on rare manifestations of MCTO, and thus we may be able to clarify the benefits of denosumab, which is the most promising agent in early phases of the disease.