Swallowing characterization of adult-onset Niemann-Pick, type C1 patients.

BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a rare lysosomal disorder with progressive neurological manifestations, historically recognized as a pediatric disease. However, awareness of the adult-onset (AO) subtype is increasing, often with non-specific symptoms leading to delayed and misdiagnosis. Dysphagia, commonly recognized as a clinical morbidity in NPC1, raises concerns for swallowing safety and aspiration risk. This study aims to characterize swallowing function in AO NPC1, addressing the gap in understanding and clinical management. METHODS: Fourteen AO NPC1 individuals in a prospective natural history study (NCT00344331) underwent comprehensive assessments, including history and physical examinations utilizing the NPC1 severity rating scale, videofluoroscopic swallowing studies with summary interpretive analysis, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection for biomarker evaluation at baseline visit. Descriptive statistics and multivariate statistical modeling were employed to analyze NPC1 disease covariates, along with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measure (ASHA-NOMS) and the NIH Penetration Aspiration Scale (NIH-PAS). RESULTS: Our cohort, comprised of 14 predominately female (n = 11, 78.6%) individuals, had an average age of 43.1 ± 16.7 years at the initial visit. Overall, our AO patients were able to swallow independently with no/minimal cueing, with 6 (43%) avoiding specific food items or requiring more time. Upon risk analysis of aspiration, the cohort demonstrated no obvious aspiration risk or laryngeal aspiration in 8 (57%), minimal risk with intermittent laryngeal penetration and retrograde excursion in 5(36%), and moderate risk (7%) in only one. Dietary modifications were recommended in 7 (50%), particularly for liquid viscosities (n = 6, 43%) rather than solids (n = 3, 21%). No significant correlations were identified between swallowing outcomes and NPC1-related parameters or CSF biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Despite the heterogeneity in NPC1 presentation, the AO cohort displayed functional swallowing abilities with low aspiration risk with some participants still requiring some level of dietary modifications. This study emphasizes the importance of regular swallowing evaluations and management in AO NPC1 to address potential morbidities associated with dysphagia such as aspiration. These findings provide clinical recommendations for the assessment and management of the AO cohort, contributing to improved care for these individuals.

Phenotypic expression of swallowing function in Niemann-Pick disease type C1.

BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by endolysosomal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol with progressive deterioration in swallowing, often leading to premature death. Although documented, the natural history of NPC1 swallowing dysfunction has yet to be delineated systematically. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive characterization of the phenotypic spectrum and progression of swallowing dysfunction in NPC1. METHODOLOGY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) NPC1 natural history study (NCT00344331) enrolled 120 patients, who underwent comprehensive interpretative swallow assessments for swallowing safety, dietary modifications, and aspiration risk. Longitudinal statistical modeling accounted for all outcomes with NPC1 disease covariates (first symptom onset, age at neurological symptom onset, seizure history, duration of neurological symptoms) as well as miglustat use (a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor) and NIH study duration (NIHSD; the length of time an individual participated in the NIH study). Probabilities for disease progression and time to swallowing decline were conducted for the entire cohort. RESULTS: Time to swallowing decline with American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measure (ASHA-NOMS) and the NIH-adapted Penetration Aspiration Scale (NIH-PAS) were identified: [Formula: see text] person-years and [Formula: see text] person-years, respectively. NIHSD and seizure history consistently and significantly were associated with decline (ORNIHSD = 1.34-2.10, 95% CI 1.04-3.4, p = 0.001-0.026; ORSeizure = 3.26-18.22, 1.03-167.79; p = 0.001-0.046), while miglustat use revealed protection (ORMiglustat = 0.01-0.43, 0.007-0.98; p = 0.001-0.044). The probability of decline with NPC1 neurological severity scale and annual severity increment scale were established with the aforementioned covariates, varying amongst subgroups. CONCLUSION: This study represents the most extensive collection of prospective, instrumental swallowing assessments in NPC1 to date with an interpretive analysis providing an improved understanding of NPC1 disease progression with swallowing function-serving as a foundation for clinical management and future NPC1 therapeutics.

Survivorship Issues in Adult Patients With Histiocytic Neoplasms.

Adult-onset histiocytoses (AOH), primarily Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD), and adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis (ALCH), are a group of related histiocytic neoplastic disorders featuring multisystemic manifestations. The disorders are largely incurable, and are essentially chronic neoplastic diseases with a variable prognosis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is important to prevent debilitating and even life-threatening complications. Survivorship issues abound in AOH, due to their multisystemic manifestations and the sometimes recalcitrant chronic inflammation, which can lead to other debilitating complications such as fatigue, weakness, and pain. Because these disorders are rare, few healthcare professionals are proficient in their management; therefore the aim of these guidelines is to offer guidance on how to manage patients, and how to create survivorship care plans through the efforts of an interdisciplinary team.

Association of Miglustat With Swallowing Outcomes in Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C1.

Importance: Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a progressive neurovisceral disease with no US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy. Miglustat, a drug used off-label in the United States for the treatment of NPC1, appears to stabilize neurologic disease progression. Several prospective trials suggest that miglustat stabilizes oropharyngeal swallowing function; however, its effect on dysphagia and aspiration risk has not been demonstrated instrumentally. Objective: To determine if miglustat therapy is associated with stabilized swallowing dysfunction in individuals with NPC1. Design, Setting, and Participants: Patients with confirmed NPC1 diagnoses were evaluated in a single-center cohort study of NPC1 from April 1997 to November 2019. Longitudinal data from individuals with neurologic disease onset prior to age 15 years were analyzed. The study population was divided into those with neurologic disease onset in early childhood (age <6 years) and late childhood (age ≥6 years and <15 years). Analysis began September 2019. Exposures: Oral miglustat at baseline and at follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures: Oropharyngeal swallowing function was assessed with videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. Overall swallowing ability and aspiration risk were evaluated using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System swallowing domain and an adapted Rosenbek aspiration-penetration scale, respectively. Results: Overall, 50 participants were evaluated at baseline (median [interquartile range] age, 9.4 [3.4-16.4] years; 26 [52%] female). The median (interquartile range) duration of follow-up was 3.0 (1.1-4.4) years. Miglustat use was associated with decreased odds of worse American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System swallowing domain outcomes in all 3 subsets (overall: odds ratio [OR], 0.09 [95% CI, 0.02-0.36); P < .001; early childhood: OR, 0.17 [95% CI, 0.04-0.67]; P = .01; late childhood: OR, 0.05 [95% CI, 0.01-0.29]; P = .001). Miglustat use was associated with decreased odds of worse Rosenbek aspiration-penetration scale outcomes in the overall cohort (OR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.08-0.95]; P = .04) but not in each subgroup (early childhood: OR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.06-1.22]; P = .09; late childhood: OR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.06-2.33]; P = .29). Conclusions and Relevance: These data suggest that miglustat use is associated with stabilized swallowing function and reduced aspiration risk in NPC1, thus supporting its use in this population. In addition, these data demonstrate that a quantification of swallowing dysfunction can be used as a clinically relevant, functional outcome measure in future therapeutic trials in NPC1.

Efficacy and safety of dutasteride in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor, which results in ligand-dependent toxicity. Animal models have a neuromuscular deficit that is mitigated by androgen-reducing treatment. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the 5α-reductase inhibitor dutasteride in patients with SBMA, and to identify outcome measures for use in future studies of the disease. METHODS: We undertook a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-site clinical trial in ambulatory, symptomatic men with genetically confirmed SBMA. Participants were assigned by random number table to receive dutasteride (0·5 mg per day) or placebo orally for 24 months. Patients and investigators were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome measure was quantitative muscle assessment (QMA). The final efficacy analysis included all patients who were compliant with study treatment at 24 months. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00303446. FINDINGS: 50 men were randomly assigned to treatment groups (25 dutasteride, 25 placebo), and 44 were included in the efficacy analysis (21 dutasteride, 23 placebo). At 24 months, the placebo group showed a decrease of 4·5% (-0·30 kg/kg) from baseline in weight-scaled muscle strength as indicated by QMA, and the dutasteride group had an increase in strength of 1·3% (0·14 kg/kg); the difference between groups (5·8%, 95% CI -5·9 to 17·6; p=0·28) was not significant. Prespecified secondary outcome measures of creatine kinase, muscle strength and function, motor nerve conduction, activities of daily living, and erectile function did not show a significant difference between the study groups in change from baseline. Quality of life, as measured by the physical component summary of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form version 2, favoured dutasteride (change in score from baseline: placebo, -3·6%, vs dutasteride, 2·1%; p=0·01), whereas the mental component summary favoured placebo (3·3%vs -3·2%; p=0·03). The dutasteride group had fewer patients reporting falls than did the placebo group (9 vs 16; p=0·048); there were no other significant differences in reported adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Our study did not show a significant effect of dutasteride on the progression of muscle weakness in SBMA, although there were secondary indications of both positive and negative effects compared with placebo. A longer trial duration or larger number of patients might be needed to show an effect on disease progression. Performance testing, QMA, and quality of life measures were identified as potentially useful endpoints for future therapeutic trials.