Hidden etiology of cerebral palsy: genetic and clinical heterogeneity and efficient diagnosis by next-generation sequencing.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that causes movement and postural disabilities. Recent research studies focused on genetic diagnosis in patients with CP of unknown etiology. The present study was carried out in 20 families with one family member affected with idiopathic CP. Chromosomal microarray and exome sequencing techniques were performed in all patients. Chromosomal microarray analysis did not show any pathological or probable pathological structural variant. However, the next-generation sequencing study showed a high diagnostic yield. We report 11/20 patients (55%) with different pathogenic or potentially pathogenic variants detected by exome sequencing analysis: five patients with mutations in genes related to hereditary spastic paraplegia, two with mutations in genes related to Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, three with mutations in genes related to developmental/epileptic encephalopathies, and one with a mutation in the PGK1 gene. The accurate and precise patients' selection, the use of a high-throughput genetic platform, the selection of adequate target genes, and the application of rigorous criteria for the clinical interpretation are the most important elements for a good diagnostic performance. Based on our findings, next-generation sequencing should be considered in patients with cryptogenic CP as the first line of genetic workup. IMPACT: Sequencing techniques in CP of uncertain etiology provides a diagnostic yield of 55%. The appropriate selection of cases optimizes the diagnostic yield. NGS facilitate better understanding of new phenotypes of certain genetic diseases.

Secuelas neurológicas en pacientes con infección congénita por citomegalovirus / Neurological sequelae in patients with congenital citomegalovirus

INTRODUCCIÓN: La infección por citomegalovirus es la infección congénita más frecuente en los países desarrollados y una de las principales causas de retraso psicomotor y sordera neurosensorial de origen infeccioso. El presente estudio tiene como objetivos describir las características clínico-analíticas y de neuroimagen de los pacientes con secuelas neurológicas secundarias a la infección congénita por citomegalovirus y compararlas con el grupo de pacientes con infección congénita por citomegalovirus que no presentaron clínica neurológica durante su seguimiento. Material y MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo, observacional. Se incluyeron todos los casos de infección congénita por citomegalovirus desde 2003 hasta 2018 y se evaluaron las secuelas neurológicas a corto-medio plazo. Se compararon datos prenatales, perinatales y posnatales de los pacientes con secuelas neurológicas frente a los que no las presentaron. RESULTADOS: En el periodo descrito se registraron 60 pacientes con infección congénita por citomegalovirus: un 65% presentó afectación neurológica durante su periodo de seguimiento (retraso psicomotor 62,2%; microcefalia 61,5%, hipoacusia 46,2%; trastornos motores 27,8%; epilepsia 20,5% y coriorretinitis 5,6%). En el grupo de pacientes que presentó secuelas, la presencia de clínica en el periodo neonatal así como las alteraciones en el estudio de neuroimagen fueron más frecuentes y ambas fueron estadísticamente significativas respecto al grupo asintomático. Los pacientes con afectación neurológica también presentaron mayor puntuación en la escala de neuroimagen según Noyola et al. CONCLUSIONES: La sintomatología al nacimiento y ciertos hallazgos en la neuroimagen, como la presencia de alteraciones de la sustancia blanca o trastornos de la migración neuronal, podrían predecir las secuelas neurocognitivas en los pacientes con infección congénita por citomegalovirus

INTRODUCTION: The infection due to cytomegalovirus is the most common congenital infection in developed countries, and on of the main causes of psychomotor impairment and neurosensory hearing loss of infectious origin. The present study has its objectives to describe the clinical-analytical and neuroimaging of patients with secondary neurological sequelae secondary to the congenital cytomegalovirus infection and then compare them with the group of patients with a congenital cytomegalovirus infection that did not have neurological symptoms during their follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational, cohort study was conducted that included all the cases of congenital cytomegalovirus infection from 2003 until 2018 and the short-medium term neurological sequelae were evaluated. Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal data of patients with neurological sequelae were compared against those that did not present with any. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients with congenital cytomegalovirus infection were recorded during the study period, with 65% having neurological involvement during their follow-up period (62.2% with psychomotor impairment, 61.5% with microcephaly, 46.2% loss of hearing, 27.8% motor disorders, 20.5% epilepsy, and 5.6% with chorioretinitis). In the patient group that had sequelae, the presence of clinical symptoms during the neonatal period, as well as changes in the neuroimaging study, were the most common, with both being statistically significant compared to the asymptomatic group. The patients with neurological involvement also had a higher score on the Noyola et al. neuroimaging scale. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms at birth, and certain findings in the neuroimaging, like the changes in the white matter or neuronal migration disorders, could predict neurocognitive sequelae in patients with congenital cytomegalovirus infection

[Neurological sequelae in patients with congenital cytomegalovirus]. / Secuelas neurológicas en pacientes con infección congénita por citomegalovirus.

INTRODUCTION: The infection due to cytomegalovirus is the most common congenital infection in developed countries, and on of the main causes of psychomotor impairment and neurosensory hearing loss of infectious origin. The present study has its objectives to describe the clinical-analytical and neuroimaging of patients with secondary neurological sequelae secondary to the congenital cytomegalovirus infection and then compare them with the group of patients with a congenital cytomegalovirus infection that did not have neurological symptoms during their follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational, cohort study was conducted that included all the cases of congenital cytomegalovirus infection from 2003 until 2018 and the short-medium term neurological sequelae were evaluated. Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal data of patients with neurological sequelae were compared against those that did not present with any. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients with congenital cytomegalovirus infection were recorded during the study period, with 65% having neurological involvement during their follow-up period (62.2% with psychomotor impairment, 61.5% with microcephaly, 46.2% loss of hearing, 27.8% motor disorders, 20.5% epilepsy, and 5.6% with chorioretinitis). In the patient group that had sequelae, the presence of clinical symptoms during the neonatal period, as well as changes in the neuroimaging study, were the most common, with both being statistically significant compared to the asymptomatic group. The patients with neurological involvement also had a higher score on the Noyola et al. neuroimaging scale. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms at birth, and certain findings in the neuroimaging, like the changes in the white matter or neuronal migration disorders, could predict neurocognitive sequelae in patients with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Síndrome HaNDL en una niña de 12 años / HaNDL syndrome in a 12-year-old girl

Introducción: El síndrome HaNDL (headache and neurologic deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis) es una entidad autolimitada y benigna que cursa, como su nombre indica, con aparición de episodios de déficits neurológicos transitorios de naturaleza motora, sensitiva o afásica, y menos frecuentemente visual, de varias horas de duración, acompañados o seguidos de cefalea moderada-grave y linfocitosis del líquido cefalorraquídeo. Su incidencia es baja en la edad adulta, y casi excepcional en la edad pediátrica. La recurrencia de los episodios suele producirse en los primeros tres meses. El pronóstico es excelente. Caso clínico: Mujer de 12 años con cefalea frontal intensa que inicia en el décimo día, de forma brusca, clínica de disartria y hemiparesia derecha con posterior afasia e hipotonía generalizada. Tras descartarse mediante exploraciones complementarias y evolución clínica otras entidades, fue finalmente diagnosticada de síndrome HaNDL, ya que cumplía los criterios clínicos de la Sociedad Internacional de Cefaleas (IHS). Conclusiones: La paciente reunió los criterios de la IHS para el diagnóstico de síndrome HaNDL. Se analizan los principales datos históricos, epidemiológicos y clínicos, y se expone el diagnóstico diferencial del síndrome HaNDL en la edad pediátrica

Introduction: HaNDL (headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis) syndrome is a self-limiting benign condition which, as its name suggests, causes episodes of transient neurological deficits of a motor, sensory, aphasic and, less frequently, visual nature lasting several hours, accompanied or followed by moderate-to-severe headache and lymphocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid. Its incidence is low in adulthood, and it is extremely uncommon in the paediatric age. Recurrence of episodes usually occurs in the first three months. It has an excellent prognosis. Case report: A 12-year-old female with intense frontal headache that suddenly begins on the tenth day, with clinical signs and symptoms of dysarthria and right hemiparesis with subsequent aphasia and generalised hypotonia. After ruling out other conditions by means of complementary examinations and the clinical course, the patient was finally diagnosed with HaNDL syndrome, since it fulfilled the clinical criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS). Conclusions: The patient met the criteria established by the IHS for the diagnosis of HaNDL syndrome. The main historical, epidemiological and clinical data are analysed and the differential diagnosis of HaNDL syndrome in the paediatric age is described