The Clinical and Molecular Spectrum of GM1 Gangliosidosis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical presentation of patients with GM1 gangliosidosis and to determine whether specific clinical or biochemical signs could lead to a prompt diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, biochemical, and genetic data of 22 patients with GM1 gangliosidosis from 5 metabolic centers in Germany and Austria. RESULTS: Eight patients were classified as infantile, 11 as late-infantile, and 3 as juvenile form. Delay of diagnosis was 6 ± 2.6 months in the infantile, 2.6 ± 3.79 years in the late-infantile, and 14 ± 3.48 years in the juvenile form. Coarse facial features, cherry red spots, and visceromegaly occurred only in patients with the infantile form. Patients with the late-infantile and juvenile forms presented with variable neurologic symptoms. Seventeen patients presented with dystonia and 14 with dysphagia. Laboratory analysis revealed an increased ASAT concentration (13/20), chitotriosidase activity (12/15), and pathologic urinary oligosaccharides (10/19). Genotype analyses revealed 23 causative or likely causative mutations in 19 patients, 7 of them being novel variants. In the majority, a clear genotype-phenotype correlation was found. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of GM1 gangliosidosis often is delayed, especially in patients with milder forms of the disease. GM1 gangliosidosis should be considered in patients with progressive neurodegeneration and spastic-dystonic movement disorders, even in the absence of visceral symptoms or cherry red spots. ASAT serum concentrations and chitotriosidase activity may be of value in screening for GM1 gangliosidosis.