Evaluation of Lysosphingolipid Analysis for the Diagnosis of Lysosomal Storage Disease.

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are a group of inherited inborn metabolism errors that are characterized by a deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme. In patients with suspected lipid storage disorders, confirmation of the diagnosis relies predominantly on the measurement of specific enzymatic activities and molecular genetic studies. New approaches to the measurement of lysosphingolipids have been developed that may serve as a rapid first-tier screening tests for the evaluation of lysosomal storage disorders. The present study evaluates the results of lysosphingolipid screening tests in patients with suspected lysosomal storage diseases. Lysosphingolipid elevation was detected in five patients examined with suspected lysosomal storage disease, and a definitive diagnosis was reached based on genetic analysis. Our data support recent evidence of the primary role of LysoSLs in the diagnosis of sphingolipidosis, and suggest that these biomarkers may be used for diagnosis and treatment monitoring in the future.

Is 5-Oxoprolinase Deficiency More than Just a Benign Condition?

Introduction: Inherited 5-oxoprolinase (OPLAH) deficiency is a rare inborn condition characterized by 5-oxoprolinuria. The inherited condition of 5-oxoprolinuria, or pyroglutamic aciduria, is primarily caused by mutations in the genes that encode glutathione synthetase (GSS) and 5-oxoprolinase (OPLAH), which are enzymes involved in the gamma-glutamyl cycle in glutathione metabolism. We report a 3-year-old male patient with epilepsy and speech difficulty diagnosed as primary 5-oxoprolinuria due to a novel OPLAH gene mutation. Case Presentation: A 3-year-old boy who was delivered at full term in an uncomplicated birth to consanguineous parents presented with epilepsy at the age of 2 years. He did not speak fluently. He was using 5-10 words with decreased language fluency. His past medical history revealed postnatal macrocephaly, hydrocephalus, and well-controlled epilepsy with levetiracetam. Progressive cerebral atrophy, hypomyelination, ventriculomegaly, and corpus callosum hypoplasia were striking features in brain MRI. A urine sample was sent for organic acid analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); quantitation of 5-oxoproline by stable isotope dilution gave a value of 177.9 mmol/mol creatinine (reference values 25.8-92.2). Molecular genetic analysis of the OPLAH gene revealed a novel homozygous variant (OPLAH (NM_017570.5): c.1909C>T p.Arg637Trp). Conclusion: We conclude that inherited 5-oxoprolinase deficiency is not a benign biochemical condition, and patients with 5-oxoprolinuria should be screened for it. The nature of this inherited metabolic disorder must be determined through long-term observation. We wish to emphasize the significance of molecular genetic analysis in symptomatic patients with persistently elevated levels of 5-oxoproline in the urine, as measured by organic acid analysis.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia type 35 in a Turkish girl with fatty acid hydroxylase-associated neurodegeneration.

OBJECTIVES: The fatty acid 2-hydroxylase gene (FA2H) compound heterozygous or homozygous variants that cause spastic paraplegia type 35 (SPG35) (OMIM # 612319) are autosomal recessive HSPs. FA2H gene variants in humans have been shown to be associated with not only SPG35 but also leukodystrophy and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. CASE PRESENTATION: A patient with a spastic gait since age seven was admitted to the paediatric metabolism department. She was born to consanguineous, healthy Turkish parents and had no family history of neurological disease. She had normal developmental milestones and was able to walk at 11 months. At age seven, she developed a progressive gait disorder with increased muscle tone in her lower limbs, bilateral ankle clonus and dysdiadochokinesis. She had frequent falls and deteriorating school performance. Despite physiotherapy, her spastic paraplegia was progressive. Whole exome sequencing (WES) identified a homozygous NM_024306.5:c.460C>T missense variant in the FA2H gene, of which her parents were heterozygous carriers. A brain MRI showed a slight reduction in the cerebellar volume with no iron deposits. CONCLUSIONS: Pathogenic variants of the FA2H gene have been linked to neurodegeneration with iron accumulation in the brain, leukodystrophy and SPG35. When patients developed progressive gait deterioration since early childhood even if not exhibited hypointensity in the basal ganglia detected by neuroimaging, FA2H-related neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation should be ruled out. FA2H/SPG35 disease is characterised by notable clinical and imaging variability, as well as phenotypic diversity.

Two Patients Diagnosed as Succinate Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Case Report.

Introduction: Succinate dehydrogenase deficiency, also known as mitochondrial complex II deficiency, is a rare inborn error of metabolism, accounting for approximately 2% of mitochondrial disease. Mutations in the four genes SDHA, B, C,and D have been reported resulting in diverse clinical presentations. The vast majority of clinically affected individuals reported in the literature harbor genetic variants within the SDHA gene and present with a Leigh syndrome phenotype, clinically defined as a subacute necrotizing encephalopathy. Case Report: Herein, we report the first case of a 7-year-old child who was diagnosed as having succinate dehydrogenase deficiency. The affected child presented at 1 year of age with encephalopathy and developmental regression following viral illnesses. MRI changes supported a clinical diagnosis of Leigh syndrome and c.1328C>Q and c.872A>C SDHA variants were identified as compound heterozygous. Mitochondrial cocktail treatment including L-carnitine, riboflavin, thiamine, biotin, and ubiquinone was started. Mild clinical improvement was observed after treatment. He is now unable to walk and speak. The second patient, a 21-year-old woman, presented with generalized muscle weakness, easy fatigability, and cardiomyopathy. Investigations revealed increased lactate level of 67.4 mg/dL (4.5-19.8) with repeatedly increased plasma alanine levels 1,272 µmol/L (200-579). We administered carnitine, coenzyme, riboflavin, and thiamine for empirical therapy with the suspicion of mitochondrial disease. Clinical exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous variants NM_004168.4:c.1945_1946del (p.Leu649GlufsTer4) at exon 15 of the SDHA gene and NM_004168.4:c.1909-12_1909-11del at intron 14 of SDHA gene. Discussion and Conclusion: There are several very different presentations including Leigh syndrome, epileptic encephalopathy, and cardiomyopathy. Some cases present following viral illness; this feature is not specific to mitochondrial complex II deficiency and occurs in many other mitochondrial disease presentations. There is no cure for complex II deficiency, though some reported patients showed clinical improvement following riboflavin therapy. Riboflavin is not the only therapeutic intervention that is available to patients with an isolated complex II deficiency and various other compounds have shown promise in the treatment of symptoms, including L-carnitine and ubiquinone. Treatment alternatives such as parabenzoquinone EPI-743 and rapamycin are under study in the treatment of the disease.

CLN3-Associated NCL Case with a Preliminary Diagnosis of Niemann Pick Type C.

Introduction: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a broad class of inherited lysosomal storage disorders. Known mutations in at least 13 different genes can result in NCL with variable ages of onset, symptoms, and pathologic findings. Generally, these patients experience cognitive and motor decline, seizures, visual impairment, and premature death. Pathologically, NCL patients display heterogeneous histologic abnormalities, but consistently exhibit neuronal loss, reactive gliosis, and lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent storage material or lipopigment. Juvenile-onset NCL has been classically referred to as Batten disease. By far the most prevalent NCL is CLN3-associated disease. It is an autosomal recessive condition that is usually caused by mutations in the ceroid-lipofuscinosis, neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene. CLN3 encodes battenin, a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane protein of unknown function that is associated with cellular homeostasis and neuronal survival. The initial clinical symptom of CLN3-associated NCL is central vision loss, which is usually detected between 4 and 9 years of age. Seizures typically begin early in the second decade of life, and affected individuals rarely live beyond their mid-20ies. Case Presentation: Herein, we describe a 16-year-old patient with CLN3-related juvenile NCL with a preliminary diagnosis of Niemann Pick Type C disease. The proband showed characteristic clinical signs, including epilepsy, ataxia, psychomotor regression, dementia, and visual impairment with an unusual elevation of lyso-sphingomyelin-509 (Lyso-SM-509; 812 nmol/L, normal 1-33 nmol/L). A homozygous NM_001042432.2(CLN3):c.233dup (p.Thr80fs) variant was detected at exon 4 of CLN3. Diagnosis of NCL was difficult due to the pronounced elevation of LysoSM-509. Discussion: LysoSM-509 is a biomarker which is elevated especially in Niemann Pick Type C. We can consider that a high LysoSM-509 level might be also an indicator of NCL, especially NCL type 3.

A case of brucellosis presenting with pericardial and pleural effusion.

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic infection with a diverse clinical presentation. Pericardial and pleural involvement is rare in brucellosis. There is no presentation with pleural and pericardial effusion in childhood brusellosis. In endemic countries Brucellosis must thought as an unknown etiology of pericardial and pleural effusion.