Two Novel GLDC Mutations in a Neonate with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia

Novel homozygous GLDC variant causing late-onset glycine encephalopathy: A case report and updated review of the literature

Glycine encephalopathy (MIM #605899) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism caused by pathogenic variants in three genes GLDC, AMT, GCSH encoding glycine cleavage enzyme system. We report an 8-year-old boy with late-onset glycine encephalopathy who harbors a novel homozygous GLDC likely pathogenic variant c.707G > A p.(Arg236Gln). Polyhydramnios was noted at fetal ultrasound. He displayed global developmental delay, craniofacial dysmorphism, convulsions. Our report expands the phenotypic and genetic spectrum of late-onset nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia: Insight into Current Therapies

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a rare inborn error of glycine metabolism that is characterized by the accumulation of glycine in all tissues, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). Based on clinical outcomes, NKH can be divided into two forms, i.e., severe and attenuated NKH. A poor prognosis, including no developmental progress and intractable epilepsy, is typical of severe NKH, whereas patients with the attenuated form present with varied symptoms and neurodevelopmental outcomes. So far, no causal treatment of NKH is known. Currently, the therapy is based on sodium benzoate and NMDA (The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) receptor site antagonists (dextromethorphan, ketamine). Different clinical outcomes of the therapy raise doubts about the effectiveness of the treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the therapeutic potential, challenges and effectiveness of different NKH therapies.

Ketogenic diet, a potentially valuable therapeutic option for the management of refractory epilepsy in classical neonatal nonketotic hyperglycinemia: a case report

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a devastating inborn error of glycine metabolism caused by deficient activity of the glycine cleavage enzyme. Classically, patients present with lethargy, hypotonia, myoclonic jerks, transient respiratory depression in the first week of life and often progress to death. Surviving infants have profound psychomotor retardation, refractory epilepsy and poor quality of life. Currently, no effective therapeutic avenues exist for severe NKH. Ketogenic diet (KD) has been trialled only in a small group of patients with neonatal NKH and early myoclonic encephalopathy, in whom significant improvements in seizure control were reported. We describe an infant with classical neonatal NKH who presented on the third day of life with hypotonia, poor feeding, respiratory insufficiency resulting in ventilatory support and seizures with burst-suppression pattern on electroencephalogram (EEG). KD initiated at age 6 months for intractable seizures, lead to a dramatic decrease in seizure frequency, EEG improvements, normalisation of plasma glycine levels, reduced spasticity and improved quality of life. KD may be a valuable treatment modality for refractory seizure control in classical NKH.

Epilepsy genetics: Current knowledge, applications, and future directions

The rapid pace of disease gene discovery has resulted in tremendous advances in the field of epilepsy genetics. Clinical testing with comprehensive gene panels, exomes, and genomes are now available and have led to higher diagnostic rates and insights into the underlying disease processes. As such, the contribution to the care of patients by medical geneticists, neurogeneticists and genetic counselors are significant; the dysmorphic examination, the necessary pre- and post-test counseling, the selection of the appropriate next-generation sequencing-based test(s), and the interpretation of sequencing results require a care provider to have a comprehensive working knowledge of the strengths and limitations of the available testing technologies. As the underlying mechanisms of the encephalopathies and epilepsies are better understood, there may be opportunities for the development of novel therapies based on an individual's own specific genotype. Drug screening with in vitro and in vivo models of epilepsy can potentially facilitate new treatment strategies. The future of epilepsy genetics will also probably include other-omic approaches such as transcriptomes, metabolomes, and the expanded use of whole genome sequencing to further improve our understanding of epilepsy and provide better care for those with the disease.