Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy (SMA-PME): three new cases and review of the mutational spectrum.

BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) could be classified as 5q and non-5q, based on the chromosomal location of causative genes. A rare form of non-5q SMA is an autosomal-recessive condition called spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (SMA-PME), phenotypically characterized by myoclonic and generalized seizures with progressive neurological deterioration. SMA-PME is a clinically heterogeneous disorder that arises from biallelic pathogenic variants in ASAH1 gene. METHODS: Following clinical and primary laboratory assessments, whole-exome sequencing was performed to detect the disease-causing variants in three cases of SMA-PME from different families. Also, Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was employed for determining the copy numbers of SMN1 and SMN2 genes to rule out 5q SMA. RESULTS: Exome sequencing revealed two different homozygous missense mutations (c.109 C > A [p.Pro37Thr] or c.125 C > T [p.Thr42Met]) in exon 2 of the ASAH1 gene in the affected members of the families. Sanger sequencing of the other family members showed the expected heterozygous carriers. In addition, no clinically relevant variant was identified in patients by MLPA. CONCLUSION: This study describes two different ASAH1 mutations and the clinical picture of 3 SMA-PME patients. In addition, previously reported mutations have been reviewed. This study could help to fortify the database of this rare disease with more clinical and genomic data.

The First Report of Iranian Registry of Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient amounts of survival motor neuron protein is leading to one of the most disabling neuromuscular diseases, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Before the current study, the detailed characteristics of Iranian patients with SMA had not been determined. OBJECTIVE: To describe the key demographic, clinical, and genetic characteristics of patients with SMA registered in the Iranian Registry of SMA (IRSMA). METHODS: IRSMA has been established since 2018, and the demographic, clinical, and genetic characteristics of patients with SMA were recorded according to the methods of treat neuromuscular disease (TREAT-NMD) project. RESULTS: By October 1, 2022, 781 patients with 5q SMA were registered. Of them, 164 patients died, the majority of them had SMA type 1 and died during the first 20 months of life. The median survival of patients with type 1 SMA was 23 months. The consanguinity rate in 617 alive patients was 52.4%, while merely 24.8% of them had a positive family history. The most common type of SMA in live patients was type 3. Morbidities were defined as having scoliosis (44.1%), wheelchair dependency (36.8%), tube feeding (8.1%), and requiring mechanical ventilation (9.9%). Most of the registered patients had a homozygous deletion of SMN1, while the frequency of patients with higher copy numbers of SMN2, was less in more severe types of the disease. Earlier onset of the disease was significantly seen in patients with lower copy numbers of SMN2. The neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene deletion was associated with a higher incidence of more severe types of SMA, higher dependency on ventilators, tube feeding, and earlier onset of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The IRSMA is the first established Iranian nationwide registry of patients with SMA. Using this registry, decision-makers, researchers, and practitioners can precisely understand the epidemiology, characteristics, and genetics of patients with SMA in Iran.

Survival of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: An Experience in Developing Country.

Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the highest potential treatment for long-term survival as post-remission therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of this study was to estimate the overall survival (OS) of patients with AML after allo-SCT and to identify the factors affecting them as a prognostic factor for the survival of patients. Material and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data of patients with AML who underwent allo-SCT at Taleghani bone marrow transplantation and cell therapy center in Tehran, Iran, from May 2009 to September 2016 were used. A total of 101 patients were enrolled and death time was considered as a failure event for them. Kaplan-Meier method, log-Rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard model were used to evaluate OS and to identify the risk factors of patient's survival. The SPSS software version 21 was used for the analysis of data and P<0.05 was considered as a significant level. Results: Of 101 patients with AML, 49 (48.5%) were males. The median age at allo-SCT was 32.76 years and 42 patients (41.6%) died. The 5-year OS and disease-free survival (DFS) was 56% (95%CI: 51-61%) and 52% (95%CI: 57-47%), respectively. Multivariate analysis by Cox regression indicated that OS has a significant relationship with primary WBC count and relapse (P=0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that allo-SCT has nearly the same outcome in developing countries and the WBC count and relapse are effective factors on the chance of survival in AML patients after allo-SCT.

Clinical and Para clinical Manifestations of Tuberous Sclerosis: A Cross Sectional Study on 81 Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disease that presents with dermatological, neurological, cardiac, renal and ocular symptoms. We described the variable clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings, Age and sex distribution of tuberous sclerosis in a group of 81 patients referred to our clinic. MATERIALS & METHODS: Based on the diagnostic criteria, totally 81 tuberous sclerosis patients with sufficient data were enrolled into the study. These children were referred by child neurologists. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 52 months (range, 7-180 months). There were 28 girls and 53 boys. A positive familial history of TSC was seen in 29.6% of the patients. Hypo pigmented macules were the most common manifestation (82.7%). Facial angiofibroma, shagreen patches, café-au-lait lesions and seizure were observed in 32.1%, 12.3%, 7.4%. and 74.1% of the studied cases, respectively. Infantile spasm was present in the clinical course of 32.1 % of the patients. Cortical tubers were the most common MRI finding which were seen in 21 cases (25.9%). Subepandymal giant cell astrocytoma was seen in four (4.9%) patients and intracranial calcification (detected by CT scan) was observed in 18 (22.2%) of the patients. CONCLUSION: Dermatological and neurological findings were the most common symptoms in tuberous sclerosis with a significant correlation between them. Thus, careful skin examination is necessary in epileptic patients for detection of the mentioned lesions.

Zinc status in patients with major beta-thalassemia.

To determine the zinc status in patients with major beta-thalassemia and its effect on their growth, the authors studied 64 thalassemic patients in comparison with 64 healthy matched individuals. Demographic and anthropometric data and history of the therapies were collected. Serum zinc level in both groups and ferritin in the thalassemic group were assigned. Interestingly, mean serum zinc level was significantly higher in the thalassemic group. No significant correlation between serum zinc level and short stature, serum ferritin level, desferrioxamine dose, initiating time of blood transfusion, and chelation therapy was found. The study indicates zinc deficiency in thalassemic patients who are on regular blood transfusion is rare and it seems that routine zinc supplementation is not necessary.

Griscelli syndrome: a case report.

A 10-year-old boy presented with partial albinism and typical clinical features of a macrophage activation syndrome (hepatosplenomegaly, fever, and pancytopenia), suggesting the diagnosis of Griscelli syndrome. The diagnosis was confirmed by light microscopic evaluation of hair that showed characteristic large aggregates of pigment granules irregularly distributed along the hair shaft. Immunosuppressive therapy controlled his macrophage activation syndrome successfully. Since early diagnosis is life saving and simple methods confirm the diagnosis, finding of partial albinism in children should alert clinicians to consider Griscelli syndrome.