RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Likely pathogenic variants in SLC17A5 results in allelic disorders of free sialic acid metabolism including (1) infantile free sialic acid storage disease with severe global developmental delay, coarse facial features, hepatosplenomegaly, and cardiomegaly; (2) intermediate severe Salla disease with moderate to severe global developmental delay, hypotonia, and hypomyelination with or without coarse facial features, and (3) Salla disease with normal appearance, mild cognitive dysfunction, and spasticity. PATIENT DESCRIPTION: This five-year-old girl presented with infantile-onset severe global developmental delay, truncal hypotonia, and generalized dystonia following normal development during her first six months of life. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed marked hypomyelination and a thin corpus callosum at age 19 months, both unchanged on follow-up at age 28 months. Urine free sialic acid was moderately elevated. Cerebrospinal fluid free sialic acid was marginally elevated. Sequencing of SLC17A5 revealed compound heterozygous likely pathogenic variants, namely, a known missense (c.291G>A) variant and a novel truncating (c.819+1G>A) variant, confirming the diagnosis of Salla disease at age 3.5 years. CONCLUSION: We report a new patient with intermediate severe Salla disease. Normal or marginally elevated urine or cerebrospinal fluid free sialic acid levels cannot exclude Salla disease. In patients with progressive global developmental delay and hypomyelination on brain magnetic resonance imaging, Salla disease should be included into the differential diagnosis.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

KCNQ2 has been reported as a frequent cause of autosomal dominant benign familial neonatal seizures. De novo likely pathogenic variants in KCNQ2 have been described in neonatal or early infantile onset epileptic encephalopathy patients. Here, we report a three-generation family with six affected patients with a novel likely pathogenic variant (c.628C>T; p.Arg210Cys) in KCNQ2. Four family members, three adults and a child, presented with a childhood seizure onset with variability in the severity of seizures and response to treatment, intellectual disability (ID) as well as behavioral problems. The two youngest affected patients had a variable degree of global developmental delay with no seizures at their current age. This three-generation family with six affected members expands the phenotypic spectrum of KCNQ2 associated encephalopathy to KCNQ2 associated ID and or childhood onset epileptic encephalopathy. We think that KCNQ2 associated epileptic encephalopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis of childhood onset epilepsy and early onset global developmental delay, cognitive dysfunction, or ID. Furthermore, whole exome sequencing in families with ID and history of autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with or without seizures, may further broaden the phenotypic spectrum of KCNQ2 associated epileptic encephalopathy or encephalopathy.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BCAP31, encoded by BCAP31, is involved in the export of transmembrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum. Pathogenic variants in BCAP31 results in global developmental delay, dystonia, deafness and dysmorphic features in males, called deafness, dystonia, and cerebral hypomyelination (DDCH) syndrome. We report a new patient with BCAP3-associated encephalopathy, DDCH syndrome, sensorineural hearing loss, generalized dystonia, and choreoathetosis. This 3.5-year-old boy had microcephaly and failure to thrive within the first 3 months of life. His brain MRI showed bilateral increased signal intensity in globus pallidus at age 3 months raising the suspicion of mitochondrial encephalopathy. His muscle biopsy revealed pleomorphic subsarcolemmal mitochondria collection in electron microscopy. Respiratory chain enzyme activities were normal in muscle. He was enrolled to a whole exome sequencing research study, which identified a hemizygous likely pathogenic truncating variant (c.533_536dup; p.Ser180AlafsX6) in BCAP31, inherited from his mother, who had sensorineural hearing loss and normal cognitive functions. We report a new patient with BCAP31-associated encephalopathy, DDCH syndrome, mimicking mitochondrial encephalopathy. We also report a heterozygous mother who has bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. This patient's clinical features, muscle histopathology, brain MRI features, and family history were suggestive of mitochondrial encephalopathy. Whole exome sequencing research study confirmed the diagnosis of BCAP31-associated encephalopathy, DDCH syndrome.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a peroxisomal disorder associated with leukodystrophy, myeloneuropathy and adrenocortical insufficiency. We performed a retrospective cohort study to evaluate long-term outcome of patients with X-ALD. METHOD: All patients with X-ALD diagnosed between 1989 and 2012 were included. Electronic patient charts were reviewed for clinical features, biochemical investigations, molecular genetic testing, neuroimaging, long-term outcome and treatment. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients from 18 unrelated families were included (15 females; 33 males). Seventeen patients were symptomatic at the time of the biochemical diagnosis including 14 with neurocognitive dysfunction and 3 with Addison disease only. Thirty-one asymptomatic individuals were identified by positive family history of X-ALD. During follow-up, eight individuals developed childhood cerebral X-ALD (CCALD), one individual developed adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), six individuals developed Addison disease only, and five individuals remained asymptomatic. Direct sequencing of ABCD1 confirmed the genetic diagnosis in 29 individuals. Seven patients with CCALD underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Nine patients lost the follow-up. There was no correlation between clinical severity score, Loes score and elevated degree of elevated very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) levels in CCALD. CONCLUSION: Our study reports forty-eight new patients with X-ALD and their long-term outcome. Only 35% of the patients presented with neurological features or Addison disease. The remaining individuals were identified due to positive family history. Close monitoring of asymptomatic males resulted in early HSCT to prevent progressive lethal neurodegenerative disease. Identification of patients with X-ALD is important to improve neurodevelopmental outcome of asymptomatic males.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The PRUNE1 gene encodes a member of the phosphoesterases (DHH) protein superfamily that is highly expressed in the human fetal brain and involved in the regulation of cell migration. Homozygous or compound heterozygous PRUNE1 mutations were recently identified in five individuals with brain malformations from four families. We present a case of a 2-year-old male with a complex neurological phenotype and abnormalities on brain MRI. Re-annotation of clinical whole-exome sequencing data revealed a homozygous likely pathogenic variant in PRUNE1 (c.521-2A>G). These results further delineate a new PRUNE1-related syndrome, and highlight the importance of periodic data re-annotation in individuals who remain without a diagnosis after undergoing genome-wide testing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are inborn defects of glycan metabolism. They are multisystem disorders. Analysis of transferrin isoforms is applied as a screening test for CDG type I (CDG-I) and type II (CDG-II). We performed a retrospective cohort study to determine spectrum of phenotype and genotype and prevalence of the different subtypes of CDG-I and CDG-II. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with CDG-I and CDG-II evaluated in our institution's Metabolic Genetics Clinics were included. Electronic and paper patient charts were reviewed. We set-up a high performance liquid chromatography transferrin isoelectric focusing (TIEF) method to measure transferrin isoforms in our Institution. We reviewed the literature for the rare CDG-I and CDG-II subtypes seen in our Institution. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included: 9 with PMM2-CDG and 6 with non-PMM2-CDG (one ALG3-CDG, one ALG9-CDG, two ALG11-CDG, one MPDU1-CDG and one ATP6V0A2-CDG). All patients with PMM2-CDG and 5 patients with non-PMM2-CDG showed abnormal TIEF suggestive of CDG-I or CDG-II pattern. In all patients, molecular diagnosis was confirmed either by single gene testing, targeted next generation sequencing for CDG genes, or by whole exome sequencing. CONCLUSION: We report 15 new patients with CDG-I and CDG-II. Whole exome sequencing will likely identify more patients with normal TIEF and expand the phenotypic spectrum of CDG-I and CDG-II.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

We report treatment outcome of eleven patients with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy caused by pathogenic variants in ALDH7A1 (PDE-ALDH7A1). We developed a clinical severity score to compare phenotype with biochemical features, genotype and delays in the initiation of pyridoxine. Clinical severity score included 1) global developmental delay/ intellectual disability; 2) age of seizure onset prior to pyridoxine; 3) current seizures on treatment. Phenotype scored 1-3 = mild; 4-6 = moderate; and 7-9 = severe. Five patients had mild, four patients had moderate, and two patients had severe phenotype. Phenotype ranged from mild to severe in eight patients (no lysine-restricted diet in the infantile period) with more than 10-fold elevated urine or plasma α-AASA levels. Phenotype ranged from mild to moderate in patients with homozygous truncating variants and from moderate to severe in patients with homozygous missense variants. There was no correlation between severity of the phenotype and the degree of α-AASA elevation in urine or genotype. All patients were on pyridoxine, nine patients were on arginine and five patients were on the lysine-restricted diet. 73% of the patients became seizure free on pyridoxine. 25% of the patients had a mild phenotype on pyridoxine monotherapy. Whereas, 100% of the patients, on the lysine-restricted diet initiated within their first 7 months of life, had a mild phenotype. Early initiation of lysine-restricted diet and/or arginine therapy likely improved neurodevelopmental outcome in young patients with PDE-ALDH7A1.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem disorder caused by mutations in DNAJC19. We present a new patient with a novel pathogenic variant in DNAJC19 with novel neuroimaging finding of progressive cerebellar atrophy. PATIENT DESCRIPTION AND RESULTS: We describe a new patient with dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome presenting with global developmental delay, hypotonia, ataxia, and dilated cardiomyopathy. During follow-up, her cardiac phenotype improved but she exhibited progressive cerebellar atrophy and developed bilateral increased T2 signal intensities in the thalami, parietal lobes, and pons on magnetic resonance imaging. Dilated cardiomyopathy and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria in her urine organic acid analysis also improved. CONCLUSIONS: This child with dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome developed progressive cerebellar atrophy, a novel feature of this syndrome. In individuals with global developmental delay, hypotonia, ataxia, the dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome should be considered even in the differential diagnosis in the absence of cardiomyopathy or 3-methylglutaconic aciduria.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

We report a new patient with refractory epilepsy associated with a novel pathogenic homozygous MED23 variant. This 7.5-year-old boy from consanguineous parents had infantile onset global developmental delay and refractory epilepsy. He was treated with the ketogenic diet at 2.5 years of age and became seizure free on the first day. He had microcephaly and truncal hypotonia. His brain MRI showed delayed myelination and thin corpus callosum. He was enrolled in a whole exome sequencing research study, which identified a novel, homozygous, likely pathogenic (c.1937A>G; p.Gln646Arg) variant in MED23. MED23 is a regulator of energy homeostasis and glucose production. Liver-specific Med23-knockout mice showed reduced liver gluconeogenesis and lower blood glucose levels compared to control mice. This is the first patient with documented refractory epilepsy caused by a novel homozygous pathogenic variant in MED23 expanding the phenotypic spectrum. Identification of the underlying genetic defect in MED23 sheds light on the possible mechanism of complete response to the ketogenic diet in this child. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Glutamatergic neurotransmission governs excitatory signaling in the mammalian brain, and abnormalities of glutamate signaling have been shown to contribute to both epilepsy and hyperkinetic movement disorders. The etiology of many severe childhood movement disorders and epilepsies remains uncharacterized. We describe a neurological disorder with epilepsy and prominent choreoathetosis caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in FRRS1L, which encodes an AMPA receptor outer-core protein. Loss of FRRS1L function attenuates AMPA-mediated currents, implicating chronic abnormalities of glutamatergic neurotransmission in this monogenic neurological disease of childhood.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is caused by mutations in ALDH7A1 (PDE-ALDH7A1), which encodes α-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase in the lysine catabolic pathway, resulting in accumulation of α-aminoadipic-acid-semialdehyde. PATIENT DESCRIPTION AND RESULTS: We present a three-year treatment outcome of a child with PDE-ALDH7A1 on pyridoxine (started at age three weeks of age), lysine-restricted diet (started at age seven months), and arginine supplementation therapy (started at age 26 months). He had a markedly elevated urinary α-aminoadipic-acid-semialdehyde (39.6 mmol/mol of creatinine; reference range = 0 to 2) and compound heterozygous mutations in ALDH7A1 (c.446C>A and c.919C>T). He has been seizure free since the age three weeks. He achieved normal cognitive function at age 3.5 years. He exhibited gross motor delay after the age 13 months. Tryptophan supplementation was added for the mild cerebral serotonin deficiency at the thirteenth month of therapy. Arginine supplementation was added to achieve further decrease in the cerebrospinal fluid α-aminoadipic-acid-semialdehyde levels at the 26th month of therapy. His cerebrospinal fluid α-aminoadipic-acid-semialdehyde levels were markedly decreased on this combined therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment was well tolerated. Mild cerebral serotonin deficiency was the only biochemical effect with no clinical features. Despite excellent compliance and strict treatment regimen, cerebrospinal fluid α-aminoadipic-acid-semialdehyde levels did not normalize.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Arginine-glycine amidinotransferase (GATM) deficiency is an autosomal-recessive disorder caused by pathogenic variants in GATM. Clinical features include intellectual disability, hypotonia, and myopathy. Due to normal neurodevelopment in asymptomatic individuals on creatine monotherapy, GATM deficiency is a good candidate for newborn screening. To determine the carrier frequency of GATM deficiency, we performed functional characterization of rare missense variants in GATM reported as heterozygous in the Exome Variant Server database. To assess phenotype and genotype correlation, we developed a clinical severity scoring system. Two patients with mild phenotype had a nonsense missense variant. Severe phenotype was present in patients with missense as well as truncating variants. There seems to be no phenotype and genotype correlation. We cloned a novel GATM transcript. We found seven missense variants retaining 0% of wild-type GATM activity indicating putative pathogenicity. Based on our study results, high Genomic Evolutionary Rate Profiling conservation score, conserved amino acid substitution in species, and low allele frequency in exome databases would be the most sensitive in silico analysis tools to predict pathogenicity of missense variants. We present first study of the functional characterization of missense variants in GATM as well as clinical severity score of patients with GATM deficiency.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The system of assigning locus symbols to specify chromosomal regions that are associated with a familial disorder has a number of problems when used as a reference list of genetically determined disorders,including (I) erroneously assigned loci, (II) duplicated loci, (III) missing symbols or loci, (IV) unconfirmed loci and genes, (V) a combination of causative genes and risk factor genes in the same list, and (VI) discordance between phenotype and list assignment. In this article, we report on the recommendations of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force for Nomenclature of Genetic Movement Disorders and present a system for naming genetically determined movement disorders that addresses these problems. We demonstrate how the system would be applied to currently known genetically determined parkinsonism, dystonia, dominantly inherited ataxia, spastic paraparesis, chorea, paroxysmal movement disorders, neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, and primary familial brain calcifications. This system provides a resource for clinicians and researchers that, unlike the previous system, can be considered an accurate and criterion-based list of confirmed genetically determined movement disorders at the time it was last updated.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in childhood. Epilepsy associated with global developmental delay and cognitive dysfunction is defined as epileptic encephalopathy. Certain inherited metabolic disorders presenting with epileptic encephalopathy can be treated with disease specific diet, vitamin, amino acid or cofactor supplementations. In those disorders, disease specific therapy is successful to achieve good seizure control and improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. For this reason, intractable epilepsy with global developmental delay or history of developmental regression warrants detailed metabolic investigations for the possibility of an underlying treatable inherited metabolic disorder, which should be undertaken as first line investigations. An underlying genetic etiology in epileptic encephalopathy has been supported by recent studies such as array comparative genomic hybridization, targeted next generation sequencing panels, whole exome and whole genome sequencing. These studies report a diagnostic yield up to 70%, depending on the applied genetic testing as well as number of patients enrolled. In patients with epileptic encephalopathy, a stepwise approach for diagnostic work-up will help to diagnose treatable inherited metabolic disorders quickly. Application of detailed genetic investigations such as targeted next generation sequencing as second line and whole exome sequencing as third line testing will diagnose underlying genetic disease which will help for genetic counseling as well as guide for prenatal diagnosis. Knowledge of underlying genetic cause will provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of epileptic encephalopathy and pave the ground towards the development of targeted neuroprotective treatment strategies to improve the health outcome of children with epileptic encephalopathy.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The standard of care for first-tier clinical investigation of the etiology of congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders is chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) for copy number variations (CNVs), often followed by gene(s)-specific sequencing searching for smaller insertion-deletions (indels) and single nucleotide variant (SNV) mutations. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has the potential to capture all classes of genetic variation in one experiment; however, the diagnostic yield for mutation detection of WGS compared to CMA, and other tests, needs to be established. In a prospective study we utilized WGS and comprehensive medical annotation to assess 100 patients referred to a paediatric genetics service and compared the diagnostic yield versus standard genetic testing. WGS identified genetic variants meeting clinical diagnostic criteria in 34% of cases, representing a 4-fold increase in diagnostic rate over CMA (8%) (p-value = 1.42e-05) alone and >2-fold increase in CMA plus targeted gene sequencing (13%) (p-value = 0.0009). WGS identified all rare clinically significant CNVs that were detected by CMA. In 26 patients, WGS revealed indel and missense mutations presenting in a dominant (63%) or a recessive (37%) manner. We found four subjects with mutations in at least two genes associated with distinct genetic disorders, including two cases harboring a pathogenic CNV and SNV. When considering medically actionable secondary findings in addition to primary WGS findings, 38% of patients would benefit from genetic counseling. Clinical implementation of WGS as a primary test will provide a higher diagnostic yield than conventional genetic testing and potentially reduce the time required to reach a genetic diagnosis.

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: Glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome is an autosomal, dominantly inherited neurometabolic disorder caused by mutations in the SLC2A1 gene. Decreased glucose transport into the brain results in seizures and cognitive dysfunction. The ketogenic diet is the treatment of choice, but complicated with compliance problems. Stabilization of blood glucose levels by low glycemic index diet and modified high amylopectin cornstarch would provide steady-state glucose transport into the brain to prevent seizures and cognitive dysfunction in patients with glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome as an alternative treatment. PATIENT: We report a new glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome patient (c.988C>T; p. Arg330X in the SLC2A1) treated with modified high amylopectin cornstarch (Glycosade) and low glycemic index diet because of compliance problems with the ketogenic diet. She was diagnosed at 11.5 years of age and was treated with the ketogenic diet between ages 12 and 18 years. RESULTS: She was started on modified high amylopectin cornstarch at bedtime and low glycemic index diet with meals and snacks every 3-4 hours. Within the first 6 months of therapy, she improved in her seizures and cognitive functions, but experienced compliance problems afterwards. Neuropsychological assessment was stable at 12 months of therapy. CONCLUSION: This diet was easy to apply compared with the ketogenic diet and resulted in stable neuropsychological functioning of this glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome patient. Modified high amylopectin cornstarch and low glycemic index diet might be an alternative treatment in glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome patients with compliance problems to the ketogenic diet treatment, but additional patients should be treated to prove usefulness of this new treatment.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency is a neurodegenerative disease. Although no symptomatic patients on treatment achieved normal neurodevelopment, three asymptomatic newborns were reported with normal neurodevelopmental outcome on neonatal treatment. GAMT deficiency is therefore a candidate for newborn screening programs, but there are no studies for the carrier frequency of this disease in the general population. To determine carrier frequency of GAMT deficiency, we studied the variants in the GAMT gene reported in the Exome Variant Server database and performed functional characterization of missense variants. We used previously cloned GAMT transcript variant 1 (7 missense variants) and cloned a novel GAMT transcript variant 2 (5 missense variants). The latter was used in Exome Variant Server database according to recommendations of the Human Genome Variation Society. There were 4 missense variants (1 previously reported and 3 novel) with low GAMT enzyme activity indicating pathogenicity. Additionally, there was one novel frameshift and one novel nonsense variant likely pathogenic. There was no measurable GAMT enzyme activity in the wild type of GAMT transcript variant 2. We concluded that GAMT transcript variant 2 is not involved in GAMT protein synthesis. For this reason, Human Genome Variation Society should use mutation nomenclature according to the coding region of the GAMT transcript variant 1. The carrier frequency of GAMT deficiency was 0.123 % in the general population. As early diagnosis results in normal neurodevelopmental outcome, GAMT deficiency should be included in newborn screening programs to diagnose individuals at the asymptomatic stage of the disease to prevent permanent neurodevelopmental disability.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Creatine transporter deficiency (CRTR-D) is an X-linked inherited disorder of creatine transport. All males and about 50% of females have intellectual disability or cognitive dysfunction. Creatine deficiency on brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and elevated urinary creatine to creatinine ratio are important biomarkers. Mutations in the SLC6A8 gene occur de novo in 30% of males. Despite reports of high prevalence of CRTR-D in males with intellectual disability, there are no true prevalence studies in the general population. To determine carrier frequency of CRTR-D in the general population we studied the variants in the SLC6A8 gene reported in the Exome Variant Server database and performed functional characterization of missense variants. We also analyzed synonymous and intronic variants for their predicted pathogenicity using in silico analysis tools. Nine missense variants were functionally analyzed using transient transfection by site-directed mutagenesis with In-Fusion HD Cloning in HeLa cells. Creatine uptake was measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for creatine measurement. The c.1654G>T (p.Val552Leu) variant showed low residual creatine uptake activity of 35% of wild type transfected HeLa cells and was classified as pathogenic. Three variants (c.808G>A; p.Val270Met, c.942C>G; p.Phe314Leu and c.952G>A; p.Ala318Thr) were predicted to be pathogenic based on in silico analysis, but proved to be non-pathogenic by our functional analysis. The estimated carrier frequency of CRTR-D was 0.024% in females in the general population. We recommend functional studies for all novel missense variants by transient transfection followed by creatine uptake measurement by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry as fast and cost effective method for the functional analysis of missense variants in the SLC6A8 gene.

Asunto(s)