Background. CD59 is the principal cell inhibitor of complement membrane attack on cells. Stroke, peripheral neuropathy, and recurrent central nervous system attacks have been reported in patients with inherited CD59 deficiency. In this paper, we report a patient with CD59 deficiency associated with two attacks of demyelinating peripheral neuropathy and the third attack as an isolated optic neuritis.
Case. An 8-month-old girl whose sibling died at 12th month of age with recurrent weakness episodes responsive to intravenous immune globulin treatment, presented with weakness in legs and poor sucking. Weakness episodes with neurogenic electromyography suggested CD59 deficiency. Immunophenotypic analysis with flow cytometry showed CD59 deficiency. Sanger sequencing of CD59 gene revealed a homozygous c146delA (p.Asp49Valfs*32) mutation. First two attacks were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy without any sequalae. Third attack was an isolated optic neuritis which could not be explained by any other entity. The patient had no response to intravenous immunoglobulin but benefited from pulse steroid therapy. Eculizumab was started every two weeks in order to prevent possible advanced attacks and to reduce their severity.
Conclusion. Although it is a rarely reported disease, better recognition of CD59 deficiency by pediatric neurologists is necessary because it is curable. In addition to different presentations reported, optic neuritis may also be a manifestation of CD59 deficiency.
Introduction We evaluated the effect of nusinersen on clinical and laboratory parameters and presented its safety and effect on laboratory parameters.
Methods Two groups were formed from among patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) followed up between September 2017 and June 2021: group 1, SMA type 1; group 2, SMA type 2 and 3. The laboratory parameters were evaluated in groups 1 and 2 between doses. Motor scale tests were performed on patients before each dose of nusinersen.
Results Twenty seven patients (group 1; n = 13, group 2; n = 14) were included. The mean age (±standard deviation) at the onset of symptoms was 3 ± 1.21 (range, 1.5–6) months in group 1 and 12 ± 4.27 (range, 8–24) months in group 2. No significant laboratory treatment-related abnormalities and adverse effects were observed. The cerebrospinal fluid protein levels and the frequency of conventional LP were higher in group 1. Serum creatinine (Cr) levels were higher in group 1 before the first dose and higher in group 2 before the fifth dose (p < 0.05). With treatment, the Cr levels of group 1 decreased and group 2 remained constant or increased. We observed that the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders and Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale-Expand scores increased as our patients received treatment (p < 0.05).
Conclusion Our results support the safety and efficacy of nusinersen. However, changes in Cr levels according to the clinical type and treatment suggested that serum Cr could be a candidate marker for treatment follow-up.
Background. Recurrent painful ophthalmologic neuropathy (RPON), formerly known as ophthalmoplegic migraine, is characterized by repeated attacks of one or more ocular cranial nerve palsies with an ipsilateral headache. While steroid therapy has been reported to be beneficial for attacks, no clear consensus on prophylactic treatments exists. We present two cases emphasizing the diagnostic significance of the loss of enhancement during the symptom-free period and valproate as a beneficial option in prophylaxis.
Case 1. A 4-year-old girl presented with a one-week right frontal headache, vomiting and photophobia. Neurological examination revealed ptosis, oculomotor nerve paresis, and delay in light reflex in the right eye. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 5.5 mm nodular enhancement in the cisternal part of the 3rd cranial nerve in the right premesencephalic area. The enhancement regressed after a 6-month symptom-free period. While propranolol, topiramate and flunarizine were inefficacious in prophylaxis, the patient responded to valproate prophylaxis and benefited from the administration of steroids for one week during the attacks.
Case 2. A 7-year-old girl presented with a ten-day right-sided, throbbing headache in the frontal region, oneday eye deviation and double vision. Neurological examination revealed inward gaze restriction and ptosis in the ipsilateral eye to the headache. Brain MRI revealed a 4.5 mm, enhancing, nodular lesion in the 3rd cranial nerve lodge in the right perimesencephalic area. Her symptoms regressed in one week with dexamethasone and she received prophylactic propranolol. Neuroimaging findings disappeared after a 3-month symptom-free period. After valproate was added because of a relapse, she did not experience any further attacks.
Conclusions. RPON is an uncommon disease in childhood with unknown etiology. On brain MRI with contrast during the symptom-free period, regression of the enhancement or complete resolution of the lesion are guiding features in the diagnosis. Valproate may have beneficial effects on RPON treatment.
Background: Although the underlying genetic causes of intellectual disability (ID) continue to be rapidly identified, the biological pathways and processes that could be targets for a potential molecular therapy are not yet known. This study aimed to identify ID-related shared pathways and processes utilizing enrichment analyses.
Method: In this multicenter study, causative genes of patients with ID were used as input for Disease Ontology (DO), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis.
Results: Genetic test results of 720 patients from 27 centers were obtained. Patients with chromosomal deletion/duplication, non-ID genes, novel genes, and results with changes in more than one gene were excluded. A total of 558 patients with 341 different causative genes were included in the study. Pathway-based enrichment analysis of the ID-related genes via ClusterProfiler revealed 18 shared pathways, with lysine degradation and nicotine addiction being the most common. The most common of the 25 overrepresented DO terms was intellectual disability. The most frequently overrepresented GO biological process, cellular component and molecular function terms were regulation of membrane potential, ion channel complex, voltage-gated ion channel activity/voltage-gated channel activity, respectively.
Conclusion: Lysine degradation, nicotine addiction, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways are well-suited to be research areas for the discovery of new targeted therapies in ID patients.
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