No abstract

Although clinical evidence of major organ damage is typical of adulthood, many of the signs and symptoms of Anderson Fabry Disease (AFD) occur frequently in childhood. The clinical phenotype of AFD in pediatric patients has been described in several studies which show a higher incidence and an earlier onset of symptoms in male patients than in females. These include neurological manifestations (acroparaesthesias, chronic neuropathic pain, hypo-anhidrosis, tinnitus, hearing, loss), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (abdominal pain and diarrhea), angiokeratomas, ocular abnormalities (cornea verticillata, tortuous retinal vessels and subcapsular cataracts). Such manifestations may impair quality of life and, because of their unspecific nature, rarely lead to an early diagnosis. In addition, signs of major organ damage (microalbuminuria or proteinuria, urinary hyperfiltration, impaired heart rate variability, left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke) are encountered in children with AFD. Clinical trials of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa and agalsidase beta have been conducted in children, with clinical and pharmacodinamc effects proved by both enzyme formulations, whereas differences in safety profile and administration were found. Although several studies suggest that ERT should be started before irreversible damage in critical organs have occurred, the issue of when to initiate it has not yet been resolved. More controlled trials must be done in order to demonstrate that an early start of ERT could prevent adult complications and to assess the optimal timing of treatment in children with AFD. This review aims to provide an update of the current understanding for a better approach of pediatric AFD.

Methylmalonic acidemia with homocystinuria, cobalamin deficiency type C (cblC) (MMACHC) is the most common inborn error of cobalamin metabolism. Despite a multidrug treatment, the long-term follow-up of early-onset patients is often unsatisfactory, with progression of neurological and ocular impairment. Here, the in-vivo proteome of control and MMACHC lymphocytes (obtained from patients under standard treatment with OHCbl, betaine, folate and L-carnitine) was quantitatively examined by two dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass spectrometry. Twenty three proteins were found up-regulated and 38 proteins were down-regulated. Consistent with in vivo studies showing disturbance of glutathione metabolism, a deregulation in proteins involved in cellular detoxification, especially in glutathione metabolism was found. In addition, relevant changes were observed in the expression levels of proteins involved in intracellular trafficking and protein folding, energy metabolism, cytoskeleton organization and assembly. This study demonstrates relevant changes in the proteome profile of circulating lymphocytes isolated from treated cblC patients. Some results confirm previous observations in vivo on fibroblast, thus concluding that some dysregulation is ubiquitous. On the other hand, new findings could be tissue-specific. These observations expand our current understanding of the cblC disease and may ignite new research and therapeutic strategies to treat this disorder.

Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II [MPS II], OMIM309900) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulphatase, resulting in accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, progressive multisystem organ failure, and early death. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with weekly intravenous infusions of idursulfase, a treatment for MPS II and commercially available since 2007, has been shown to improve certain symptoms and signs of the disease. The efficacy and safety data of this enzyme preparation have been widely reported and, after a change to the idursulfase Summary of Product Characteristics in March 2010, home ERT by infusion is now an option for selected patients. Previously reported experiences of home therapy in MPS II have shown increased treatment compliance and an improvement in quality of life for both patients and families. We report the results of the home therapy experience of 3 paediatric patients with MPS II in southern Italy. This pilot experience with home infusion is the first reported from Italy.