Novel c.191C>G (p.Pro64Arg) MPV17 mutation identified in two pairs of unrelated Polish siblings with mitochondrial hepatoencephalopathy.

This study reports clinical, biochemical and histopathological findings associated with a novel homozygous MPV17 mutation in four patients with mitochondrial depletion syndrome. The severe course of the disease, which started in the first weeks of life, was dominated by a failure to thrive, hypotonia and liver dysfunction, with relatively mild neurological involvement. All affected infants died by 1 year of age. Laboratory findings included progressive liver failure (hypertransaminasaemia, icterus, and coagulopathy), recurrent hypoglycaemia, lactic acidaemia, hyperferritinaemia, and increased transferrin saturation. Histological and ultrastructural analyses uncovered significant lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and myocytes. A severe decrease in the mitochondrial/nuclear DNA (mtDNA/nDNA) ratio was found post-mortem in the livers (and in one muscle specimen) of both examined patients. Oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) Western blotting revealed low levels of complexes I, III and IV subunits. The highlights of our findings are as follows: (i) The novel p.Pro64Arg mutation is the second recurrent MPV17 mutation reported. The phenotype associated with the p.Pro64Arg mutation differs from the phenotype of the relatively common p.Arg50Gln mutation, suggesting the existence of a genotype-phenotype correlation. (ii) Tissues collected from patients during autopsy may be useful for both mtDNA/nDNA ratio assessment and OXPHOS Western blotting.

Proton MR Spectroscopy in Patients with Leigh Syndrome.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate MRS findings in patients with Leigh syndrome. We report our results of HMR spectroscopic studies performed in six patients (aged four months to ten years) with clinically proved Leigh syndrome. All examinations were done with 1.5 T scanner using an eight-channel phased array head coil. HMRS data were obtained using 2D-chemical shift imaging (CSI) and SVS sequences with short (30 ms) and long (135 ms) echo time. The MR spectra were acquired in multiple voxel localized in deep gray matter and periventricular white matter. The results were compared to the control group data. In most of our patients we found bilateral lesions in the basal ganglia and brain stem. HMRS data revealed elevated lactate in the affected areas, significantly diminished NAA/Cr ratio. The relatively high Cho/Cr ratio in the gray and white matter was also noted. HMRS is an important tool for non-invasive brain tissue analysis in Leigh syndrome.

SURF1 missense mutations promote a mild Leigh phenotype.

UNLABELLED: SURF1 gene mutations are the most common cause of Leigh syndrome (LS), a rare progressive neurodegenerative disorder of infancy, characterized by symmetric necrotizing lesions and hypervascularity in the brainstem and basal ganglia, leading to death before the age of 4 years. Most of the reported mutations create premature termination codons, whereas missense mutations are rare. The aim of the study was to characterize the natural history of LS patients carrying at least one missense mutation in the SURF1 gene. Nineteen such patients (8 own cases and 11 reported in the literature) were compared with a reference group of 20 own c.845_846delCT homozygous patients, and with other LS(SURF-) cases described in the literature. Disease onset in the studied group was delayed. Acute failure to thrive and hyperventilation episodes were rare, respiratory failure did not appear before the age of 4 years. Dystonia, motor regression and eye movement dissociation developed slowly. The number of patients who survived 7 years of life totaled 9 out of 15 (60%) in the 'missense group' and 1 out of 26 (4%) patients with mutations leading to truncated proteins. IN CONCLUSION: (i) The presence of a missense mutation in the SURF1 gene may correlate with a milder course and longer survival of Leigh patients, (ii) normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, normal blood lactate value, and only mild decrease of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity are not sufficient reasons to forego SURF1 mutation analysis in differential diagnosis.

Sepiapterin reductase deficiency in a 2-year-old girl with incomplete response to treatment during short-term follow-up.

Sepiapterin reductase (SR) catalyses the last step in the tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis pathway; it converts 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin (6-PTP) to BH(4) in an NADPH-dependent reaction. SR deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder with normal phenylalanine (Phe) concentration in blood and diagnostic abnormalities are detected in CSF. We present a 16-month-old girl with SR deficiency. From the newborn period she presented with an adaptation regulatory disorder. At the age of 3 months, abnormal eye movements with dystonic signs and at 4.5 months psychomotor retardation were noticed. Since that time axial hypotonia with limb spasticity (or rather delayed reflex development), gastro-oesophageal reflux and fatigue at the end of the day has been observed. Brain MRI was normal; EEG was without epileptiform discharges. Analysis of biogenic amine metabolites in CSF at the age of 16 months showed very low HVA and 5-HIAA concentrations. Analysis of CSF pterins revealed strongly elevated dihydrobiopterin (BH(2)), slightly elevated neopterin and elevated sepiapterin levels. Plasma and CSF amino acids concentrations were normal. A phenylalanine loading test showed increased Phe after 1 h, 2 h and 4 h and very high Phe/Tyr ratios. SR deficiency was confirmed in fibroblasts and a novel homozygous g.1330C>G (p.N127K) SPR mutation was identified. On L-dopa and then additionally 5-hydroxytryptophan, the girl showed slow but remarkable progress in motor and intellectual ability. Now, at the age of 3 years, she is able to sit; expressive speech is delayed (to 1 1/2 years), passive speech is well developed. Her visual-motor skills, eye-hand coordination and social development correspond to the age of 2 1/2 years.

Ophthalmological abnormalities in children with congenital disorders of glycosylation type I.

BACKGROUND: Children with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) type Ia frequently present with ocular involvement and visual loss. Little is known, however, about the occurrence of ophthalmological abnormalities in other subtypes of CDG syndrome. METHODS: We evaluated 45 children sequentially diagnosed with CDG type I for the presence of ocular abnormalities at the time of the diagnosis and during follow-up. We compared the various ophthalmic findings in the different CDG subgroups. RESULTS: Of the 45 patients, 22 had CDG type Ia, nine had CDG type Ic and 14 had a so-far undiagnosed biochemical background (CDG type Ix). We found ocular anomalies in 28 of the 45 children. Three had unique findings, including congenital cataract, retinal coloboma and glaucoma. A few CDG type Ia patients showed a sequential occurrence of symptoms, including retinitis pigmentosa or cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic findings are frequent in CDG syndrome involving both the anterior and posterior segment of the eye. The disorder might lead to abnormal development of the lens or the retina, cause diminished vision, alter ocular motility and intraocular pressure. We suggest routine screening and follow-up for ophthalmological anomalies in all children diagnosed with CDG syndrome to provide early treatment and adequate counselling.

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosylotransferase deficiency--the spectrum of Polish mutations.

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; EC 2.4.2.8) deficiency (OMIM 308000) is an inborn error of purine metabolism. The defect causes three overlapping clinical syndromes: Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND; OMIM 300322), HPRT-related hyperuricaemia with neurologic dysfunction (HRND) and hyperuricaemia alone (HRH; OMIM 300322). During the period 1977-2007, 18 patients belonging to 12 Polish families and one Latvian family with HPRT deficiency have been identified. The majority of patients had a typical LND phenotype, three patients were classified as HRH and one patient as an intermediate phenotype (HRND). Genetic analysis revealed 12 different HPRT1 mutations, five of them being unique. In two typical Lesch-Nyhan families a novel single-base substitution, c.220T>G (p.Phe74Val), and a deletion of seven nucleotides, c.395_401del7 (p.Ile132LysfsX3), were found. Another novel single-base substitution, c.295T>G (p.Phe99Val), was identified in a patient with severe partial deficiency of HPRT with neurological dysfunction. In patients belonging to the HRH group, two transitions were detected: c.481G>A (p.Ala161Thr) and c.526C>T (p.Pro176Ser). Other mutations identified in Polish patients, c.131A>G (p.Asp44Gly), c.222C>A (p.Phe74Leu), c.385-1G>A (p.Asn129_Glu134del), c.482C>A (p.Ala161Glu), c.508C>T (p.Arg170Ter) and c.569G>A (p.Gly190Glu), have been reported previously in unrelated patients and are located within one of the clusters of hot spots of the HPRT1 gene (exons 3, 7 and 8). Patients with partial phenotypes presented mutations predicted to permit some degree of residual enzyme function (single-base substitutions). All mutations, except c.508C>T (p.Arg170Ter), were found in single families only, indicating the lack of any common mutation causing HPRT deficiency in Poland.

Congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ix: review of clinical spectrum and diagnostic steps.

Congenital disorder of glycosylation type I (CDG I) represent a rapidly growing group of inherited multisystem disorders with 13 genetically established subtypes (CDG Ia to CDG Im), and a high number of biochemically unresolved cases (CDG Ix). Further diagnostic effort and prognosis counselling are very challenging in these children. In the current study, we reviewed the clinical records of 10 CDG Ix patients and compared the data with 13 CDG Ix patients published in the literature in search for specific symptoms to create clinical subgroups. The most frequent findings were rather nonspecific, including developmental delay and axial hypotonia. Several features were found that are uncommon in CDG syndrome, such as elevated creatine kinase or arthrogryposis. Distinct ophthalmological abnormalities were observed including optic nerve atrophy, cataract and glaucoma. Two subgroups could be established: one with a pure neurological presentation and the other with a neurological-multivisceral form. The first group had a significantly better prognosis. The unique presentation of microcephaly, seizures, ascites, hepatomegaly, nephrotic syndrome and severe developmental delay was observed in one child diagnosed with CDG Ik. Establishing clinical subgroups and increasing the number of patients within the subgroups may lead the way towards the genetic defect in children with a so far unsolved type of the congenital disorders of glycosylation. Raising awareness for less common, non-CDG specific clinical features such as congenital joint contractures, movement disorders or ophthalmological anomalies will encourage clinicians to think of CDG in its more unusual presentation. Clinical grouping also helps to determine the prognosis and provide better counselling for the families.

Defining the phenotype in an autosomal recessive cutis laxa syndrome with a combined congenital defect of glycosylation.

Autosomal recessive cutis laxa is a genetically heterogeneous condition. Its molecular basis is largely unknown. Recently, a combined disorder of N- and O-linked glycosylation was described in children with congenital cutis laxa in association with severe central nervous system involvement, brain migration defects, seizures and hearing loss. We report on seven additional patients with similar clinical features in combination with congenital disorder of glycosylation type IIx. On the basis of phenotype in 10 patients, we define an autosomal recessive cutis laxa syndrome. The patients have a complex phenotype of neonatal cutis laxa, transient feeding intolerance, late closure of the fontanel, characteristic facial features including down-slanting palpebral fissures, short nose and small mouth, and developmental delay. There is a variable degree of the central nervous system involvement and variable systemic presentation. The biochemical analysis using transferrin isoelectric focusing gives false negative results in some of the youngest patients. Analysis of the apolipoprotein C-III isoelectric focusing, however, is diagnostic in all cases.

Light and electron microscopy characteristics of the muscle of patients with SURF1 gene mutations associated with Leigh disease.

AIMS: Leigh syndrome (LS) is characterised by almost identical brain changes despite considerable causal heterogeneity. SURF1 gene mutations are among the most frequent causes of LS. Although deficiency of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is a typical feature of the muscle in SURF1-deficient LS, other abnormalities have been rarely described. The aim of the present work is to assess the skeletal muscle morphology coexisting with SURF1 mutations from our own research and in the literature. METHODS: Muscle samples from 21 patients who fulfilled the criteria of LS and SURF1 mutations (14 homozygotes and 7 heterozygotes of c.841delCT) were examined by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Diffuse decreased activity or total deficit of COX was revealed histochemically in all examined muscles. No ragged red fibres (RRFs) were seen. Lipid accumulation and fibre size variability were found in 14 and 9 specimens, respectively. Ultrastructural assessment showed several mitochondrial abnormalities, lipid deposits, myofibrillar disorganisation and other minor changes. In five cases no ultrastructural changes were found. Apart from slight correlation between lipid accumulation shown by histochemical and ultrastructural techniques, no other correlations were revealed between parameters investigated, especially between severity of morphological changes and the patient's age at the biopsy. CONCLUSION: Histological and histochemical features of muscle of genetically homogenous SURF1-deficient LS were reproducible in detection of COX deficit. Minor muscle changes were not commonly present. Also, ultrastructural abnormalities were not a consistent feature. It should be emphasised that SURF1-deficient muscle assessed in the light and electron microscopy panel may be interpreted as normal if COX staining is not employed.

Trial of erythropoietin treatment in a boy with glutathione synthetase deficiency.

We report a 3-year-old boy with glutathione synthetase deficiency, who in the newborn period developed severe persistent haemolytic anaemia. Treatment with erythropoietin was introduced with good clinical and haematological response.

Seventeen novel mutations that cause profound biotinidase deficiency.

We report 17 novel mutations that cause profound biotinidase deficiency. Six of the mutations are due to deletions, whereas the remaining 11 mutations are missense mutations located throughout the gene and encode amino acids that are conserved in mammals. Our results increase the total number of different mutations that cause biotinidase deficiency to 79. These additional mutations will undoubtedly be helpful in identifying structure/function relationships once the three-dimensional structure of biotinidase is determined.

X-linked hypophosphatemia in Polish patients. 2. Analysis of clinical features and genotype-phenotype correlation.

Clinical and molecular data of 59 affected persons from 36 unrelated families with XLH (36 probands and 23 members of their families) were analysed. Characteristic phenotypic features (degree of leg deformities, growth failure, tooth abnormalities, tubular reabsorption of phosphate, serum phosphate and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations, head length and hearing defect in some cases) were assessed in relation to the type and localisation of 29 different PHEX gene mutations. The severity of clinical symptoms did not strictly depend upon the type and localisation of the PHEX gene mutation. A hearing defect was correlated with mutations in the beginning fragment, while tooth abnormalities and increased head length with the mutations in the beginning and the terminal fragment of the gene. Phosphate and vitamin D3 supplementation usually slowed progressive growth retardation and leg bowing. Our results point to the probability that alternative splicing occurs in the PHEX gene, producing several active forms of the PHEX protein. Some of them might be involved in bone turnover and dentin formation, others in renal phosphate uptake and vitamin D3 metabolism.

Clinical ascertainment of Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) and prevalence of the major mutation, 657del5, in three Slav populations.

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a chromosomal instability disorder, clinically characterised by microcephaly, immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity and a very high predisposition to lymphoid malignancy. Recently, it was demonstrated that mutations in the NBS1 gene are responsible for NBS. Most of the NBS patients known so far are of Slav origin and carry a major founder mutation 657del5 in exon 6 of the NBS1 gene. In this study we estimated the prevalence of the 657del5 mutation in the Czech Republic, Poland and the Ukraine. We found an unexpectedly high carrier frequency of the 657del5 mutation (1/177) in the three Slav populations, a factor that may contribute to cancer frequency in those countries. In addition, we show that NBS patients are often diagnosed late and therefore receive inappropriate therapy.

Partial biotinidase deficiency is usually due to the D444H mutation in the biotinidase gene.

Newborn screening for biotinidase deficiency has identified children with profound biotinidase deficiency (<10% of mean normal serum activity) and those with partial biotinidase deficiency (10%-30% of mean normal serum activity). Children with partial biotinidase deficiency and who are not treated with biotin do not usually exhibit symptoms unless they are stressed (i.e., prolonged infection). We found that 18 of 19 randomly selected individuals with partial deficiency have the transversion missense mutation G1330>C, which substitutes a histidine for aspartic acid444 (D444H) in one allele of the biotinidase gene. We have previously estimated that the D444H mutation results in 48% of normal enzyme activity for that allele and occurs with an estimated frequency of 0.039 in the general population. The D444H mutation in biotinidase deficiency is similar to the Duarte variant in galactosemia. The D444H mutation in one allele in combination with a mutation for profound deficiency in the other allele is the common cause of partial biotinidase deficiency.