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Mackels L, Servais L. The Importance of Early Treatment of Inherited Neuromuscular Conditions. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024; 11:253-274. [PMID: 38306060 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
There has been tremendous progress in treatment of neuromuscular diseases over the last 20 years, which has transformed the natural history of these severely debilitating conditions. Although the factors that determine the response to therapy are many and in some instance remain to be fully elucidated, early treatment clearly has a major impact on patient outcomes across a number of inherited neuromuscular conditions. To improve patient care and outcomes, clinicians should be aware of neuromuscular conditions that require prompt treatment initiation. This review describes data that underscore the importance of early treatment of children with inherited neuromuscular conditions with an emphasis on data resulting from newborn screening efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurane Mackels
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Adult Neurology Department, Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Laurent Servais
- Neuromuscular Centre, Division of Paediatrics, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford & NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Malekkou A, Theodosiou A, Alexandrou A, Papaevripidou I, Sismani C, Jacobs EH, Ruijter GJ, Anastasiadou V, Ourani S, Athanasiou E, Drousiotou A, Grafakou O, Petrou PP. GAA variants associated with reduced enzymatic activity but lack of Pompe-related symptoms, incidentally identified by exome sequencing. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2023; 36:100997. [PMID: 37600231 PMCID: PMC10433214 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2023.100997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pompe disease is a rare metabolic myopathy caused by pathogenic variants affecting the activity of the lysosomal glycogen-degrading enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). Impaired GAA function results in the accumulation of undegraded glycogen within lysosomes in multiple tissues but predominantly affects the skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle. The degree of residual enzymatic activity appears to roughly correlate with the age of onset and the severity of the clinical symptoms. Here, we report four siblings in which the GAA variants NM_000152.5:c.2237G > C p.(Trp746Ser) and NM_000152.5:c.266G > A p.(Arg89His) were identified as an incidental finding of clinical exome sequencing. These variants are listed in the ClinVar and the Pompe disease GAA variant databases but are reported here for the first time in compound heterozygosity. All four siblings displayed normal urine tetrasaccharide levels and no clinical manifestations related to Pompe disease. Nevertheless, GAA enzymatic activity was within the range for late onset Pompe patients. Our report shows an association between a novel genotype and attenuated GAA enzymatic activity. The clinical significance can only be established by the regular monitoring of these individuals. The study highlights the major challenges for clinical care arising from incidental findings of next generation sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Malekkou
- Biochemical Genetics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Athina Theodosiou
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Angelos Alexandrou
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Ioannis Papaevripidou
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Carolina Sismani
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Edwin H. Jacobs
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - George J.G. Ruijter
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015, GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Violetta Anastasiadou
- Clinical Genetics Department, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Korytsas 6, 2012 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Karaiskakio Foundation, P.O. Box 22680, 1523 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Sofia Ourani
- Clinical Genetics Department, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Korytsas 6, 2012 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Emilia Athanasiou
- Clinical Genetics Department, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Korytsas 6, 2012 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Anthi Drousiotou
- Biochemical Genetics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Olga Grafakou
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Korytsas 6, 2012 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Petros P. Petrou
- Biochemical Genetics Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, P. O. Box 23462, 1683 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Gómez-Cebrián N, Gras-Colomer E, Poveda Andrés JL, Pineda-Lucena A, Puchades-Carrasco L. Omics-Based Approaches for the Characterization of Pompe Disease Metabolic Phenotypes. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1159. [PMID: 37759559 PMCID: PMC10525434 DOI: 10.3390/biology12091159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) constitute a large group of rare, multisystemic, inherited disorders of metabolism, characterized by defects in lysosomal enzymes, accessory proteins, membrane transporters or trafficking proteins. Pompe disease (PD) is produced by mutations in the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) lysosomal enzyme. This enzymatic deficiency leads to the aberrant accumulation of glycogen in the lysosome. The onset of symptoms, including a variety of neurological and multiple-organ pathologies, can range from birth to adulthood, and disease severity can vary between individuals. Although very significant advances related to the development of new treatments, and also to the improvement of newborn screening programs and tools for a more accurate diagnosis and follow-up of patients, have occurred over recent years, there exists an unmet need for further understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of the disease. Also, the reason why currently available treatments lose effectiveness over time in some patients is not completely understood. In this scenario, characterization of the metabolic phenotype is a valuable approach to gain insights into the global impact of lysosomal dysfunction, and its potential correlation with clinical progression and response to therapies. These approaches represent a discovery tool for investigating disease-induced modifications in the complete metabolic profile, including large numbers of metabolites that are simultaneously analyzed, enabling the identification of novel potential biomarkers associated with these conditions. This review aims to highlight the most relevant findings of recently published omics-based studies with a particular focus on describing the clinical potential of the specific metabolic phenotypes associated to different subgroups of PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Gómez-Cebrián
- Drug Discovery Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Gras-Colomer
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Manises of Valencia, 46940 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Pineda-Lucena
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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