Multiple Congenital Anomalies-Hypotonia-Seizures Syndrome 2 Caused by a Novel PIGA Variant Not Associated with a Skewed X-Inactivation Pattern.

Germline variants in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A (PIGA) gene, which is involved in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis, cause multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome 2 (MCAHS2) with X-linked recessive inheritance. The available literature has described a pattern of almost 100% X-chromosome inactivation in mothers carrying PIGA variants. Here, we report a male infant with MCAHS2 caused by a novel PIGA variant inherited from his mother, who has a non-skewed pattern of X inactivation. Phenotypic evidence supporting the pathogenicity of the variant was obtained by flow-cytometry tests. We propose that the assessment in neutrophils of the expression of GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs), especially CD16, should be considered in cases with variants of unknown significance with random X-inactivation in carrier mothers in order to clarify the pathogenic role of PIGA or other gene variants linked to the synthesis of GPI-APs.

NR4A2 as a Novel Target Gene for Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy: A Systematic Review of Related Disorders and Therapeutic Strategies.

The NR4A2 gene encodes an orphan transcription factor of the steroid-thyroid hormone-retinoid receptor superfamily. This review focuses on the clinical findings associated with the pathogenic variants so far reported, including three unreported cases. Also, its role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, is examined, as well as a brief exploration on recent proposals to develop novel therapies for these neurological diseases based on small molecules that could modulate NR4A2 transcriptional activity. The main characteristic shared by all patients is mild to severe developmental delay/intellectual disability. Moderate to severe disorder of the expressive and receptive language is present in at least 42%, while neuro-psychiatric issues were reported in 53% of patients. Movement disorders, including dystonia, chorea or ataxia, are described in 37% patients, although probably underestimated because of its frequent onset in late adolescence-young adulthood. Finally, epilepsy was surprisingly present in 42% of patients, being drug-resistant in three of them. The age at onset varied widely, from five months to twenty-six years, as did the classification of epilepsy, which ranged from focal epilepsy to infantile spasms or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Accordingly, we propose that NR4A2 should be considered as a first-tier target gene for the genetic diagnosis of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.

Síndrome HaNDL en una niña de 12 años / HaNDL syndrome in a 12-year-old girl

Introducción: El síndrome HaNDL (headache and neurologic deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis) es una entidad autolimitada y benigna que cursa, como su nombre indica, con aparición de episodios de déficits neurológicos transitorios de naturaleza motora, sensitiva o afásica, y menos frecuentemente visual, de varias horas de duración, acompañados o seguidos de cefalea moderada-grave y linfocitosis del líquido cefalorraquídeo. Su incidencia es baja en la edad adulta, y casi excepcional en la edad pediátrica. La recurrencia de los episodios suele producirse en los primeros tres meses. El pronóstico es excelente. Caso clínico: Mujer de 12 años con cefalea frontal intensa que inicia en el décimo día, de forma brusca, clínica de disartria y hemiparesia derecha con posterior afasia e hipotonía generalizada. Tras descartarse mediante exploraciones complementarias y evolución clínica otras entidades, fue finalmente diagnosticada de síndrome HaNDL, ya que cumplía los criterios clínicos de la Sociedad Internacional de Cefaleas (IHS). Conclusiones: La paciente reunió los criterios de la IHS para el diagnóstico de síndrome HaNDL. Se analizan los principales datos históricos, epidemiológicos y clínicos, y se expone el diagnóstico diferencial del síndrome HaNDL en la edad pediátrica

Introduction: HaNDL (headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis) syndrome is a self-limiting benign condition which, as its name suggests, causes episodes of transient neurological deficits of a motor, sensory, aphasic and, less frequently, visual nature lasting several hours, accompanied or followed by moderate-to-severe headache and lymphocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid. Its incidence is low in adulthood, and it is extremely uncommon in the paediatric age. Recurrence of episodes usually occurs in the first three months. It has an excellent prognosis. Case report: A 12-year-old female with intense frontal headache that suddenly begins on the tenth day, with clinical signs and symptoms of dysarthria and right hemiparesis with subsequent aphasia and generalised hypotonia. After ruling out other conditions by means of complementary examinations and the clinical course, the patient was finally diagnosed with HaNDL syndrome, since it fulfilled the clinical criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS). Conclusions: The patient met the criteria established by the IHS for the diagnosis of HaNDL syndrome. The main historical, epidemiological and clinical data are analysed and the differential diagnosis of HaNDL syndrome in the paediatric age is described