Algunos desafíos en mucopolisacaridosis tipo I / A few challenges in mucopolysaccharidosis type I

Se describen como desafíos actuales en mucopolisacaridosis I la necesidad de una clasificación adecuada, vinculándola a las indicaciones terapéuticas; el diagnóstico temprano desde la pesquisa neonatal, sus ventajas y dificultades hasta la sospecha clínica de las formas grave y atenuada; el cuidado de la patología espinal y oftalmológica, desde el diagnóstico, el seguimiento y el tratamiento; las reacciones alérgicas por terapia de reemplazo enzimático, su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Por último, la transición hacia el cuidado adulto

Here we describe the current challenges of mucopolysaccharidosis type I: the need for an adequate classification, establishing its relationship to therapeutic indications; an early diagnosis, from neonatal screening, its advantages and barriers, to clinical suspicion of severe and attenuated forms; spinal and eye disease care, from diagnosis to follow-up and treatment; allergic reactions caused by enzyme replacement therapy, their diagnosis and treatment. And lastly, transition to adult care

Open issues in Mucopolysaccharidosis type I-Hurler.

Mucopolysaccharidosis I-Hurler (MPS I-H) is the most severe form of a metabolic genetic disease caused by mutations of IDUA gene encoding the lysosomal α-L-iduronidase enzyme. MPS I-H is a rare, life-threatening disease, evolving in multisystem morbidity including progressive neurological disease, upper airway obstruction, skeletal deformity and cardiomyopathy. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is currently the gold standard for the treatment of MPS I-H in patients diagnosed and treated before 2-2.5 years of age, having a high rate of success. Beyond the child's age, other factors influence the probability of treatment success, including the selection of patients, of graft source and the donor type employed. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with human recombinant laronidase has also been demonstrated to be effective in ameliorating the clinical conditions of pre-transplant MPS I-H patients and in improving HSCT outcome, by peri-transplant co-administration. Nevertheless the long-term clinical outcome even after successful HSCT varies considerably, with a persisting residual disease burden. Other strategies must then be considered to improve the outcome of these patients: one is to pursue early pre-symptomatic diagnosis through newborn screening and another one is the identification of novel treatments. In this perspective, even though newborn screening can be envisaged as a future attractive perspective, presently the best path to be pursued embraces an improved awareness of signs and symptoms of the disorder by primary care providers and pediatricians, in order for the patients' timely referral to a qualified reference center. Furthermore, sensitive new biochemical markers must be identified to better define the clinical severity of the disease at birth, to support clinical judgement during the follow-up and to compare the effects of the different therapies. A prolonged neuropsychological follow-up of post-transplant cognitive development of children and residual disease burden is needed. In this perspective, the reference center must guarantee a multidisciplinary follow-up with an expert team. Diagnostic and interventional protocols of reference centers should be standardized whenever possible to allow comparison of clinical data and evaluation of results. This review will focus on all these critical issues related to the management of MPS I-H.

Enzyme replacement therapy with laronidase (Aldurazyme(®)) for treating mucopolysaccharidosis type I.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I can be classified as three clinical sub-types; Hurler syndrome, Hurler-Scheie syndrome and Scheie syndrome, with the scale of severity being such that Hurler syndrome is the most severe and Scheie syndrome the least severe. It is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase. Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans within the tissues. The clinical manifestations are facial dysmorphism, hepatosplenomegaly, upper airway obstruction, skeletal deformity and cardiomyopathy. If Hurler syndrome is left untreated, death ensues by adolescence. There are more attenuated variants termed Hurler-Scheie or Scheie syndrome, with those affected potentially not presenting until adulthood. Enzyme replacement therapy has been used for a number of years in the treatment of Hurler syndrome, although the current gold standard would be a haemopoietic stem cell transplant in those diagnosed by 2.5 years of age. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in 2013. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treating mucopolysaccharidosis type I with laronidase enzyme replacement therapy as compared to placebo. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Inborn Errors of Metabolism Trials Register, MEDLINE via OVID and Embase.Date of most recent search: 05 October 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled studies of laronidase enzyme replacement therapy compared to placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently screened the identified studies. The authors then appraised and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: One study of 45 patients met the inclusion criteria. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, multinational study looked at laronidase at a dose of 0.58 mg/kg/week versus placebo in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type I. All primary outcomes listed in this review were studied in this study. The laronidase group achieved statistically significant improvements in per cent predicted forced vital capacity compared to placebo, MD 5.60 (95% confidence intervals 1.24 to 9.96) and in the six-minute-walk test (mean improvement of 38.1 metres in the laronidase group; P = 0.039, when using a prospectively planned analysis of covariance). The levels of urinary glycoaminoglycans were also significantly reduced. In addition, there were improvements in hepatomegaly, sleep apnoea and hypopnoea. Laronidase antibodies were detected in nearly all patients in the treatment group with no apparent clinical effect and titres were reducing by the end of the study. Infusion-related adverse reactions occurred in both groups but all were mild and none necessitated medical intervention or infusion cessation. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence demonstrates that laronidase is effective when compared to placebo in the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type I. The included study was comprehensive and of good quality, although there were few participants. The study included all of the key outcome measures we wished to look at. It demonstrated that laronidase is efficacious in relation to reducing biochemical parameters (reduced urine glycosaminoglycan excretion) and improved functional capacity as assessed by forced vital capacity and the six-minute-walk test. In addition glycosaminoglycan storage was reduced as ascertained by a reduction in liver volume. Laronidase appeared to be safe and, while antibodies were generated, these titres were reducing by the end of the study. More studies are required to determine long-term effectiveness and safety and to assess the impact upon quality of life. Enzyme replacement therapy with laronidase can be used pre- and peri-haemopoietic stem cell transplant, which is now the gold standard treatment in those patients diagnosed under 2.5 years of age.

Enzyme replacement therapy with laronidase (Aldurazyme(®)) for treating mucopolysaccharidosis type I.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I can be classified as three clinical sub-types; Hurler syndrome, Hurler-Scheie syndrome and Scheie syndrome, with the scale of severity being such that Hurler syndrome is the most severe and Scheie syndrome the least severe. It is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase. Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans within the tissues. The clinical manifestations are facial dysmorphism, hepatosplenomegaly, upper airway obstruction, skeletal deformity and cardiomyopathy. If Hurler syndrome is left untreated, death ensues by adolescence. There are more attenuated variants termed Hurler-Scheie or Scheie syndrome, with those affected potentially not presenting until adulthood. Enzyme replacement therapy has been used for a number of years in the treatment of Hurler syndrome, although the current gold standard would be a haemopoietic stem cell transplant in those diagnosed by 2.5 years of age. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treating mucopolysaccharidosis type I with laronidase enzyme replacement therapy as compared to placebo. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Inborn Errors of Metabolism Trials Register, MEDLINE via OVID and EMBASE.Date of most recent search: 08 February 2013. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of laronidase enzyme replacement therapy compared to placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently screened the identified trials. The authors then appraised and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: One study of 45 patients met the inclusion criteria. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, multinational trial looked at laronidase at a dose of 0.58 mg/kg/week versus placebo in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type I. All primary outcomes listed in this review were studied in this trial. The laronidase group achieved statistically significant improvements in per cent predicted forced vital capacity compared to placebo, MD 5.60 (95% confidence intervals 1.24 to 9.96) and in the six-minute-walk test (mean improvement of 38.1 metres in the laronidase group; P = 0.039, when using a prospectively planned analysis of covariance). The levels of urinary glycoaminoglycans were also significantly reduced. In addition, there were improvements in hepatomegaly, sleep apnoea and hypopnoea. Laronidase antibodies were detected in nearly all patients in the treatment group with no apparent clinical effect and titres were reducing by the end of the study. Infusion-related adverse reactions occurred in both groups but all were mild and none necessitated medical intervention or infusion cessation. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence demonstrates that laronidase is effective when compared to placebo in the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type I. The included trial was comprehensive and of good quality, although there were few participants. The trial included all of the key outcome measures we wished to look at. It demonstrated that laronidase is efficacious in relation to reducing biochemical parameters (reduced urine glycosaminoglycan excretion) and improved functional capacity as assessed by forced vital capacity and the six-minute-walk test. In addition glycosaminoglycan storage was reduced as ascertained by a reduction in liver volume. Laronidase appeared to be safe and, while antibodies were generated, these titres were reducing by the end of the study. More studies are required to determine long-term effectiveness and safety and to assess the impact upon quality of life. Enzyme replacement therapy with laronidase can be used pre- and peri-haemopoietic stem cell transplant, which is now the gold standard treatment in those patients diagnosed under 2.5 years of age.

Enzyme replacement therapy with laronidase (Aldurazyme) for treating mucopolysaccharidosis type I.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I can be classified as three clinical sub-types; Hurler syndrome, Hurler-Scheie syndrome and Scheie syndrome, with the scale of severity being such that Hurler syndrome is the most severe and Scheie syndrome the least severe. It is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase. Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans within the tissues. The clinical manifestations are facial dysmorphism, hepatosplenomegaly, upper airway obstruction, skeletal deformity and cardiomyopathy. If Hurler syndrome is left untreated, death ensues by adolescence. There are more attenuated variants termed Hurler-Scheie or Scheie syndrome, with those affected potentially not presenting until adulthood. Enzyme replacement therapy has been used for a number of years in the treatment of Hurler syndrome, although the current gold standard would be a haemopoietic stem cell transplant in those diagnosed by 2.5 years of age. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treating mucopolysaccharidosis type I with laronidase enzyme replacement therapy as compared to placebo. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Inborn Errors of Metabolism Trials Register, MEDLINE via OVID and EMBASE.Date of most recent search: 08 February 2013. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of laronidase enzyme replacement therapy compared to placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently screened the identified trials. The authors then appraised and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: One study of 45 patients met the inclusion criteria. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, multinational trial looked at laronidase at a dose of 0.58 mg/kg/week versus placebo in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type I. All primary outcomes listed in this review were studied in this trial. The laronidase group achieved statistically significant improvements in per cent predicted forced vital capacity compared to placebo, MD 5.60 (95% confidence intervals 1.24 to 9.96) and in the six-minute-walk test (mean improvement of 38.1 metres in the laronidase group; P = 0.66, when using a prospectively planned analysis of covariance). The levels of urinary glycoaminoglycans were also significantly reduced. In addition, there were improvements in hepatomegaly, sleep apnoea and hypopnoea. Laronidase antibodies were detected in nearly all patients in the treatment group with no apparent clinical effect and titres were reducing by the end of the study. Infusion-related adverse reactions occurred in both groups but all were mild and none necessitated medical intervention or infusion cessation. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence demonstrates that laronidase is effective when compared to placebo in the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type I. The included trial was comprehensive and of good quality, although there were few participants. The trial included all of the key outcome measures we wished to look at. It demonstrated that laronidase is efficacious in relation to reducing biochemical parameters(reduced urine glycosaminoglycan excretion) and improved functional capacity as assessed by forced vital capacity and the six-minute walk test. In addition glycosaminoglycan storage was reduced as ascertained by a reduction in liver volume. Laronidase appeared to be safe and, while antibodies were generated, these titres were reducing by the end of the study. More studies are required to determine long-term effectiveness and safety and to assess the impact upon quality of life. Enzyme replacement therapy with laronidase can be used pre- and peri-haemopoietic stem cell transplant, which is now the gold standard treatment in those patients diagnosed under 2.5 years of age.

Capturing phenotypic heterogeneity in MPS I: results of an international consensus procedure.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is traditionally divided into three phenotypes: the severe Hurler (MPS I-H) phenotype, the intermediate Hurler-Scheie (MPS I-H/S) phenotype and the attenuated Scheie (MPS I-S) phenotype. However, there are no clear criteria for delineating the different phenotypes. Because decisions about optimal treatment (enzyme replacement therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) need to be made quickly and depend on the presumed phenotype, an assessment of phenotypic severity should be performed soon after diagnosis. Therefore, a numerical severity scale for classifying different MPS I phenotypes at diagnosis based on clinical signs and symptoms was developed. METHODS: A consensus procedure based on a combined modified Delphi method and a nominal group technique was undertaken. It consisted of two written rounds and a face-to-face meeting. Sixteen MPS I experts participated in the process. The main goal was to identify the most important indicators of phenotypic severity and include these in a numerical severity scale. The correlation between the median subjective expert MPS I rating and the scores derived from this severity scale was used as an indicator of validity. RESULTS: Full consensus was reached on six key clinical items for assessing severity: age of onset of signs and symptoms, developmental delay, joint stiffness/arthropathy/contractures, kyphosis, cardiomyopathy and large head/frontal bossing. Due to the remarkably large variability in the expert MPS I assessments, however, a reliable numerical scale could not be constructed. Because of this variability, such a scale would always result in patients whose calculated severity score differed unacceptably from the median expert severity score, which was considered to be the 'gold standard'. CONCLUSIONS: Although consensus was reached on the six key items for assessing phenotypic severity in MPS I, expert opinion on phenotypic severity at diagnosis proved to be highly variable. This subjectivity emphasizes the need for validated biomarkers and improved genotype-phenotype correlations that can be incorporated into phenotypic severity assessments at diagnosis.

Clinical manifestations and treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type I patients in Latin America as compared with the rest of the world.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) comprises a spectrum of clinical manifestations and is divided into three phenotypes reflecting clinical severity: Hurler, Hurler-Scheie, and Scheie syndromes. There may be important variations in clinical manifestations of this genetic disease in patients residing in different regions of the world. METHODS: Using data from the MPS I Registry (as of September 2009), we evaluated patients from Latin America (n = 118) compared with patients from the rest of the world [ROW (n = 727)]. RESULTS: Phenotype distribution differed among patients in Latin America compared to ROW (Hurler 31 vs. 62%, Hurler-Scheie 36 vs. 21%, Scheie 10 vs. 11%, and unknown 22 vs. 6%). The frequency of certain symptoms, such as cardiac valve abnormalities, sleep impairment, and joint contractures, also differed between Latin America and ROW for some phenotypes. Median age at MPS I diagnosis was earlier in the ROW than Latin America for all phenotypes, and age at first treatment for Hurler and Hurler-Scheie patients was also earlier in the ROW. Hurler patients in Latin America showed a gap of 3.1 years between median ages of diagnosis and first treatment compared to only 0.5 years in the ROW. Treatment allocation in Latin America compared to ROW was as follows: enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) only, 80 vs. 45%; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) only, 0.9 vs. 27%; both ERT and HSCT, 0 vs. 16%; and neither treatment, 19 vs. 13%. CONCLUSION: These data highlight important differences in MPS I patients between Latin America and ROW in terms of phenotypic distribution, clinical manifestations, and treatment practices.

Characterization of surgical procedures in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type I: findings from the MPS I Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the extent and chronology of surgical burden in relation to symptom onset and diagnosis in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) as reported in the MPS I Registry, an international observational database. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of surgical data from 544 patients enrolled in the MPS I Registry. Among all patients with at least 1 reported surgery, the number and frequency of procedures, and age at procedure, diagnosis, and symptom onset were collected overall, by patient, and by reported phenotype (Hurler, Hurler-Scheie, Scheie). RESULTS: Overall and by phenotype, approximately 75% of patients in the MPS I Registry reported at least 1 surgery. The most common were myringotomies and related procedures, hernia repair, adenoidectomy/tonsillectomy, and carpal-tunnel release. Median age at first surgery was <5 years. A median of 3 to 4 surgeries was reported per patient. By age 1.5, 4, and 10 years, respectively, 22%, 44%, and 54% of patients reported > or = 2 surgeries. At least 1 surgery preceded diagnosis in 36%, 46%, and 63% of patients with Hurler, Hurler-Scheie, and Scheie, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians and pediatric surgeons need to be aware of the surgical burden of MPS I and be alert to its presenting signs and symptoms in children scheduled for surgery.

Mucopolisacaridosis tipo I: evolución clínica de 2 pacientes tras 30 meses de tratamiento enzimático sustitutivo / Mucopolysaccharidosis type I: clinical courses of two patients after 30 months of enzyme replacement therapy

La mucopolisacaridosis tipo I (MPS I) es una enfermedad lisosomal hereditaria producida por un déficit enzimático de a-Liduronidasa, que da lugar a una acumulación de los glucosaminglucanos (GAG) dermatán y heparán sulfato en los órganos y los tejidos, así como a un aumento de su excreción urinaria. Hay tres subtipos: la enfermedad de Hurler (MPS IH) es la más grave, la enfermedad de Scheie (MPS IS) es la más leve y la enfermedad de Hurler-Scheie (MPS IHS) es la forma intermedia. Es una enfermedad crónica y progresiva, con manifestaciones multisistémicas. La disminución de la capacidad pulmonar y los síntomas de obstrucción de las vías altas (síndrome apnea- hipopnea del sueño), la afectación cardiovascular y los problemas articulares son los que causan mayor morbimortalidad. El trasplante de médula ósea o de células madre hematopoyéticas, junto con el tratamiento enzimático sustitutivo, constituyen los principales pilares del tratamiento. Presentamos 2 casos de MPS I que han recibido tratamiento sustitutivo con enzima recombinante a-L-iduronidasa durante 30 meses y un tercer caso de un paciente que lo ha iniciado hace 3 meses. Ninguno ha presentado complicaciones atribuibles al tratamiento

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I is an inherited lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme a-L-iduronidase that leads to a progressive accumulation of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfato glycosaminoglycans in organs and tissues and to increased urinary excretion. There are three clinical syndromes in decreasing order of severity: Hurler (MPS IH), Hurler-Scheie (MPS IHS) and Scheie (MPS IS). Mucopolysaccharidosis I is a chronic, progressive, multisystemic disease. Respiratory insufficiency and sleep apnea- hypopnea syndrome, together with cardiovascular compromise and joint problems, are the main causes of morbidity and mortality. Bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) are the mainstays of treatment of these patients. We report the clinical courses of two patients who have been treated with recombinant human a-L-iduronidase (laronidase) for 30 months and a third patient who began ERT 3 months ago. None of these patients has presented adverse events related to ERT

[Mucopolysaccharidosis type I in the Cuban population]. / Mucopolisacaridosis tipo I en la población cubana.

INTRODUCTION: Of all the innate errors of the metabolism, the mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), a kind of lysosomal disease, are especially significant because of the serious clinical features they give rise to and the therapeutic difficulties they entail. Diagnosis of the index case is essential so that families can gain access to the preventive benefits of genetic counselling. To date, seven types of MPS and 11 enzyme deficiencies have been described. AIMS: Patients with a clinical diagnosis that leads the clinician to suspect they may be suffering from some type of MPS are referred to the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery to determine the possible enzyme deficiencies that will provide us with the key to a successful diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 588 patients who were clinically suspected of suffering from MPS, in whom 1,502 enzyme analyses were performed in order to classify the type of MPS they were suffering from. The MPS under examination are MPS I, MPS IIIB, MPS IVB, MPS VI and MPS VII. RESULTS: MPS I, or alpha-L-iduronidase deficiency, is the most commonly found with 23 cases (4.08% of the patients studied); 13 were females and the other 10 were males. Of the 23 cases, 10 presented the severe Hurler phenotype with mental retardation, five had the Scheie phenotype with preserved intelligence and eight displayed the intermediate Hurler-Scheie phenotype. Diagnosis was reached before the end of the first year in eight patients, between 1 and 5 years in nine of them and between 6 and 10 years in two cases. Enzyme activity in leucocytes was significantly lower in patients as compared to a control group and with respect to the parents (heterozygotes), and even comparing these to the control group, with a slight and expected overlap. CONCLUSION: The biochemical methodology used allows us, then, to reach a sure biochemical diagnosis and to offer the families the benefits of genetic counselling.

Follow-up of nine patients with Hurler syndrome after bone marrow transplantation.

We report our experience in nine patients with Hurler syndrome (six with a severe and three with an intermediate phenotype) who successfully engrafted after bone marrow transplantation. The donor was a human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling in six cases, the human leukocyte antigen-identical father in one case, and an unrelated donor in two cases. One patient with Hurler syndrome and an intermediate phenotype received two successive grafts from the same donor. There was a beneficial effect of bone marrow transplantation on visceral features (hepatosplenomegaly, obstruction of the upper airway, and coarse facies); however, dysostosis multiplex worsened. All patients but one required surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. Visual acuity was low because of corneal clouding, and two patients had glaucoma several years after the graft. Five patients had normal hearing before the graft that remained normal, and four had hearing impairment that improved. All patients had learning difficulties, but none had severe mental retardation (IQ ranging from 75 to 103). The follow-up of patients with severe Hurler syndrome engrafted for more than 10 years emphasizes the limits and benefits of bone marrow transplantation.

Identification of mutations in the alpha-L-iduronidase gene (IDUA) that cause Hurler and Scheie syndromes.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS-I) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal glycosidase alpha-L-iduronidase. Hurler (severe), Scheie (mild), and Hurler/Scheie (intermediate) syndromes are clinical subtypes of MPS-I, but it is difficult to distinguish between these subtypes by biochemical measurements. Mutation analysis was undertaken to provide a molecular explanation for the clinical variation seen in MPS-I. Using chemical cleavage and direct PCR sequencing, we have defined four previously undescribed mutations for MPS-I (delG1702, 1060 + 2t-->c, R89Q, and 678-7g-->a). R89Q and 678-7g-->a were found to be present in 40% of Scheie syndrome alleles. Expression of R89Q demonstrated reduced stability and activity of the mutant protein. The deleterious effect of R89Q may be potentiated by a polymorphism (A361T) to produce an intermediate phenotype. 678-7g-->a was found to be a mild mutation, since it was present in an index Scheie syndrome patient in combination with a severe allele (W402X). This mutation appears to allow a very small amount of normal mRNA to be produced from the allele which is likely to be responsible for the mild clinical phenotype observed. Both the 5' and 3' splice site mutations (1060 + 2t-->c and 678-7g-->a, respectively) result in high proportions of mature mRNAs containing introns, which has not been observed for other splicing mutations. The frameshift mutation (delG1702) and the 5' splice site mutation (1060 + 2t-->c) are both thought to be associated with severe MPS-I. The identification of these MPS-I mutations begins to document the expected genetic heterogeneity in MPS-I and provides the first molecular explanations for the broad range of clinical phenotypes observed.

[Clinical features and X-ray manifestations of mucopolysaccharidosis-II-B].

Mucopolysaccharidosis-II (MPS-II) and MPS-I are both characterized by gargoylist dwarfism. MPS-II is of X-linked recessive heredity. Five cases of MPS-II-B in our series were followed up for ten years. Corneal opacity and dysmnesia were not found in all of them. Although MPS-II possessed many radiologic similarities to MPS-I, the former presented certain characteristic features such as butterfish-like vertebra, and small triangular malformation of carpal bones and tarsal scaphoid etc.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I subtypes. Presence of immunologically cross-reactive material and in vitro enhancement of the residual alpha-L-iduronidase activities.

The enzymatic and immunologic properties of the defective residual alpha-L-iduronidase activities were investigated in fibroblast extracts from the three subtypes of mucopolysaccharidosis type I, Hurler (MPS IH), Scheie (MPS IS), and Hurler-Scheie (MPS IH-S) diseases. Using 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-L-iduronide (4MU-alpha-Id), the activities in fibroblast extracts from all three subtypes were less than 0.1% of normal. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis with monospecific rabbit anti-human alpha-L-iduronidase polyclonal antibodies, as well as immunoblots using a monoclonal antibody, revealed the presence of cross-reactive immunologic material (CRIM) in extracts prepared from each subtype. When the samples were equalized for beta-hexosaminidase A activity, 38-105% of normal enzyme protein was detected. The sequential addition of cystamine, MgCl2 and pyridoxal phosphate increased the residual 4MU-alpha-Id activities in subtype extracts up to about 35% of normal mean fibroblast activity. Cystamine, MgCl2 or pyridoxal phosphate alone enhanced the residual activities two- to fourfold, whereas the sequential addition of all three compounds was required for maximal effect. Of the six B6 vitamers evaluated, only the negatively charged forms, pyridoxamine (PLN), pyridoxamine phosphate (PNP), and pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), stimulated the residual activities. The addition of dermatan sulfate or heparan sulfate to the subtype extracts, followed by treatment with the effector compounds, similarly inhibited both the normal and enhanced MPS I activities. Heat inactivation experiments confirmed the fact that the mutant iduronidase activity was reconstituted and that the observed increase in enzymatic activity was not an artifact of the fluorogenic assay. These results suggest that the presence of certain thiol reducing agents, divalent cations and negatively charged B6 vitamers can alter the conformation of the mutant alpha-L-iduronidase in vitro such that the hydrolysis of 4MU-alpha-Id is enhanced into the heterozygote range.

Hurler-Scheie phenotype: a report of two pairs of inbred sibs.

Four cases from two families with dermatan sulfate mucopolysacchariduria who lack alpha-L-iduronidase in peripheral leukocytes are described. The clinical and roentgenographic features of these cases represent an intermediate phenotype between Hurler's syndrome and Scheie's syndrome, and both parents in each family are first cousins. In the presence of parental consanguinity, a phenotypic variation or a third mutant allele at the iduronidase locus seems to be a more reasonable explanation for these cases than a genetic compound.

Hurler's syndrome: deficiency of a specific beta galactosidase isoenzyme.

A marked deficiency of a specific thermolabile beta-galactosidase isoenzyme (pH optimum 3 to 5) was found in liver and kidney tissues of five patients with the Hurler's syndrome (types 1 to 3).