Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type IV in the genetic era: A rare neonatal case report of rapid identification with a review of the literature

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type IV (CDAIV) is a rare inherited hematological disorder, presenting with severe anemia due to altered erythropoiesis and hemolysis, with variable needs for recurrent transfusions. We present a case of a transfusion-dependent male newborn who presented at birth with severe hemolytic anemia, and required an intrauterine transfusion. Genetic testing rapidly identified a Kruppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) pathogenic variant (c.973G>A, p.E325K), known to be causative for CDAIV. This case highlights the advantages of next-generation sequencing testing for congenital hemolytic anemia: diagnostic speed, guidance on natural history, and optimized clinical management and anticipatory guidance for parents and clinicians. Additionally, we reviewed the literature for all CDAIV cases.

Updates and advances in pyruvate kinase deficiency

Mutations in the PKLR gene lead to pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency, causing chronic hemolytic anemia secondary to reduced red cell energy, which is crucial for maintenance of the red cell membrane and function. Heterogeneous clinical manifestations can result in significant morbidity and reduced health-related quality of life. Treatment options have historically been limited to supportive care, including red cell transfusions and splenectomy. Current disease-modifying treatment considerations include an oral allosteric PK activator, mitapivat, which was recently approved for adults with PK deficiency, and gene therapy, which is currently undergoing clinical trials. Studies evaluating the role of PK activators in other congenital hemolytic anemias are ongoing. The long-term effect of treatment with disease-modifying therapy in PK deficiency will require continued evaluation.

Prenatal management of fetal anemia due to pyruvate kinase deficiency: A case report

BACKGROUND

Pyruvate Kinase (PK) deficiency is the most common enzyme defect of glycolysis, leading to congenital hemolytic anemia, which can occur during the neonatal period.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We report the prenatal management of fetal anemia related to PK deficiency in a family with a severe proband.

RESULTS

The couple had a first child born with hydrops, whose PK deficiency was diagnosed at 18 months of life. He was treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The second child was free from disease. For the third pregnancy, the amniocentesis revealed a PK deficiency. Weekly ultrasound monitoring of the middle cerebral artery velocity allowed the detection of severe fetal anemia. Two intrauterine red blood cell transfusions (IUTs) were performed, raising the fetal hemoglobin from 6.6 to 14.5 g/dl at 28 weeks' gestation and from 8.9 to 15.3 g/dl at 31 weeks. A hematopoietic stem cell allograft was discussed prenatally but not chosen, as it would not have significantly changed the perinatal prognosis. The patient delivered a 2730 g girl at 37 weeks, with hemoglobin of 13.6 g/dl. The child presented with neonatal jaundice treated with phototherapy and received postnatal transfusions.

DISCUSSION

When a proband is identified in a family, fetal investigation is warranted, to set up third-trimester ultrasound surveillance and perinatal management. In case of fetal severe anemia of unknown etiology, the workup on fetal blood sampling before IUT should comprise the search for erythrocytes enzymopathies, such as PK deficiency. IUTs allow safer full-term delivery in cases with PK deficiency.

Case Report: α-Spectrin Mutation Associated with αLELY Polymorphism Responsible for Hereditary Pyropoikilocytosis

Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP) is characterised by severe hemolytic anemia due to membrane instability. We report the case of a 13-day-old boy with neonatal jaundice and severe hemolytic anemia. A peripheral smear examination showed severe anisopoikylocytosis. DNA sequencing revealed compound double heterozygous for mutant α-spectrin SPTA1 (Arg28His) and homozygous αLELY polymorphism (low expression α-spectrin allele), compatible with diagnosis of HPP.The patient required a blood transfusion initially, but spontaneously improved after two years. Our case illustrates that, despite the presence of the allele αLELY in homozygous, the clinical phenotype is similar to cases with a mutation in SPTA1 associated with αLELY in trans.

Neonatal Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: A Proposed Pathogenic Sequence in the Context of Maternal/Fetal Vascular Malperfusion and Paradoxical Embolism

BACKGROUND

Neonatal myocardial infarction (MI) in a structurally normal heart is frequently an obscure event that remains undiagnosed until autopsy. Causal attributions usually cite underlying maternal or fetal conditions. Refinement in understanding of pathogenic mechanisms underlying neonatal MI is key to advancements in diagnosis, prevention, treatments and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE

This study presents a 36-week gestational age female with perinatal asphyxia, congenital hemolytic anemia and umbilical vein thrombosis who sustained catastrophic MI with reperfusion injury; and it reviews pertinent literature.

RESULTS

We propose a pathogenic sequence that links maternal vascular malperfusion, fetal vascular malperfusion, hemolytic anemia, umbilical venous thrombosis, and paradoxical thromboemboli.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of placental examination in connecting complex neonatal events with adverse maternal/placental conditions. A high index of suspicion is essential for early diagnosis of neonatal MI.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency in children

BACKGROUND

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is a rare, autosomal recessive red blood cell enzyme disorder, which leads to lifelong hemolytic anemia and associated complications from the disease and its management.

METHODS

An international, multicenter registry enrolled 124 individuals younger than 18 years old with molecularly confirmed PKD from 29 centers. Retrospective and prospective clinical data were collected.

RESULTS

There was a wide range in the age at diagnosis from 0 to 16 years. Presentation in the newborn period ranged from asymptomatic to neonatal jaundice to fulminant presentations of fetal distress, myocardial depression, and/or liver failure. Children <5 years old were significantly more likely to be transfused than children >12 to <18 years (53% vs. 14%, p = .0006), which correlated with the timing of splenectomy. Regular transfusions were most common in children with two severe PKLR variants. In regularly transfused children, the nadir hemoglobin goal varied considerably. Impact on quality of life was a common reason for treatment with regular blood transfusions and splenectomy. Splenectomy increased the hemoglobin and decreased transfusion burden in most children but was associated with infection or sepsis (12%) and thrombosis (1.3%) even during childhood. Complication rates were high, including iron overload (48%), perinatal complications (31%), and gallstones (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high burden of disease in children with PKD, with wide practice variation in monitoring and treatment. Clinicians must recognize the spectrum of the manifestations of PKD for early diagnostic testing, close monitoring, and management to avoid serious complications in childhood.

Targeted Next Generation Sequencing and Diagnosis of Congenital Hemolytic Anemias: A Three Years Experience Monocentric Study

Congenital hemolytic anemias (CHAs) are heterogeneous and rare disorders caused by alterations in structure, membrane transport, metabolism, or red blood cell production. The pathophysiology of these diseases, in particular the rarest, is often poorly understood, and easy-to-apply tools for diagnosis, clinical management, and patient stratification are still lacking. We report the 3-years monocentric experience with a 43 genes targeted Next Generation Sequencing (t-NGS) panel in diagnosis of CHAs; 122 patients from 105 unrelated families were investigated and the results compared with conventional laboratory pathway. Patients were divided in two groups: 1) cases diagnosed with hematologic investigations to be confirmed at molecular level, and 2) patients with unexplained anemia after extensive hematologic investigation. The overall sensitivity of t-NGS was 74 and 35% for families of groups 1 and 2, respectively. Inside this cohort of patients we identified 26 new pathogenic variants confirmed by functional evidence. The implementation of laboratory work-up with t-NGS increased the number of diagnoses in cases with unexplained anemia; cytoskeleton defects are well detected by conventional tools, deserving t-NGS to atypical cases; the diagnosis of Gardos channelopathy, some enzyme deficiencies, familial siterosterolemia, X-linked defects in females and other rare and ultra-rare diseases definitely benefits of t-NGS approaches.

The First Korean Family with Hemoglobin-M Milwaukee-2 Leading to Hereditary Methemoglobinemia

Hemoglobin M (HbM) is a group of abnormal hemoglobin variants that form methemoglobin, which leads to cyanosis and hemolytic anemia. HbM-Milwaukee-2 is a rare variant caused by the point mutation CAC>TAC on codon 93 of the hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) gene, resulting in the replacement of histidine by tyrosine. We here report the first Korean family with HbM-Milwaukee-2, whose diagnosis was confirmed by gene sequencing. A high index of suspicion for this rare Hb variant is necessary in a patient presenting with cyanosis since childhood, along with methemoglobinemia and a family history of cyanosis.

Prenatally diagnosed congenital hemangioma with elevated middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity mimicking the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon: A case report

Congenital hemangioma is a rare vascular tumor that develops prenatally, and a large congenital hemangioma may be accompanied by the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. We present a case of prenatally diagnosed fetal congenital hemangioma through ultrasound and maternal anti-Jr(a) antibody alloimmunization with elevated middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity. To investigate fetal anemia and hemostatic condition, we performed percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, which revealed no symptom of either Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon or sensitization to anti-Jr(a) antibody. Consequently, pregnancy could be continued without further intervention. After birth, congenital hemangioma was found on the infant's left thigh, and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon was not shown. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling could provide precise information prenatally in case of congenital hemangioma with maternal alloimmunization.

Whole-exome sequencing enables correct diagnosis and surgical management of rare inherited childhood anemia

Correct diagnosis of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes is a challenge because of the significant overlap in clinical presentation of these disorders. Establishing right genetic diagnosis is crucial for patients’ optimal clinical management and family counseling. A nondysmorphic infant reported here developed severe transfusion-dependent anemia and met clinical criteria for diagnosis of Diamond–Blackfan anemia (DBA). However, whole-exome sequencing demonstrated that the child was a compound heterozygote for a paternally inherited pathogenic truncating variant (SPTA1^{c.4975 C>T)} and a novel maternally inherited missense variant of uncertain significance (SPTA1^{c.5029 G>A}) within the spectrin gene, consistent with hereditary hemolytic anemia due to disruption of red blood cell (RBC) cytoskeleton. Ektacytometry demonstrated abnormal membrane flexibility of the child's RBCs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological aberrations of the patient's RBCs. Both parents were found to have mild hereditary elliptocytosis. Importantly, patients with severe RBC membrane defects may be successfully managed with splenectomy to minimize peripheral destruction of misshapen RBCs, whereas patients with DBA require lifelong transfusions, steroid therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. As suggested by the WES findings, splenectomy rendered our patient transfusion-independent, improving the family's quality of life and preventing transfusion-related iron overload. This case illustrates the utility of whole-exome sequencing in clinical care of children with genetic disorders of unclear presentation.

Coinheritance of Hb Bristol-Alesha [β67(E11)Val→Met; HBB: c.202G>A] and the α212 Patchwork Allele in a Brazilian Child with Severe Congenital Hemolytic Anemia

Hb Bristol-Alesha [HBB: c.202G>A; β 67 Val>Met] is a rare structural variant of hemoglobin (Hb) resulting from a GTG>ATG substitution at codon 67 of the β-globin gene that leads to the replacement of valine by methionine in the corresponding position of the β-globin chain. The methionine residue is subsequently modified to aspartic acid [β67(E11)Val-Met→Asp], possibly by autoxidation mechanisms. This substitution prevents normal non-polar binding of Val67 to the heme group, resulting in molecular instability and severe hemolysis. We identified Hb Bristol-Alesha (in the heterozygous state), as the cause of severe congenital hemolytic anemia in an 11-month-old girl of mixed (native Indian and European) ethnic origin from the Midwestern region of Brazil, whose parents were clinically and hematologically normal. The mutation on the β-globin gene was found to have been coinherited with the α212 patchwork allele.

Exome sequencing results in successful diagnosis and treatment of a severe congenital anemia

Whole-exome sequencing is increasingly used for diagnosis and identification of appropriate therapies in patients. Here, we present the case of a 3-yr-old male with a lifelong and severe transfusion-dependent anemia of unclear etiology, despite an extensive clinical workup. Given the difficulty of making the diagnosis and the potential side effects from performing interventions in patients with a congenital anemia of unknown etiology, we opted to perform whole-exome sequencing on the patient and his parents. This resulted in the identification of homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the EPB41 gene, encoding erythrocyte protein band 4.1, which therefore causes a rare and severe form of hereditary elliptocytosis in the patient. Based on prior clinical experience in similar patients, a surgical splenectomy was performed that resulted in subsequent transfusion independence in the patient. This case illustrates how whole-exome sequencing can lead to accurate diagnoses (and exclusion of diagnoses where interventions, such as splenectomy, would be contraindicated), thereby resulting in appropriate and successful therapeutic intervention—a major goal of precision medicine.

Positive predictive value of diagnosis coding for hemolytic anemias in the Danish National Patient Register

Purpose

The nationwide public health registers in Denmark provide a unique opportunity for evaluation of disease-associated morbidity if the positive predictive values (PPVs) of the primary diagnosis are known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive values of hemolytic anemias registered in the Danish National Patient Register.

Patients and methods

All patients with a first-ever diagnosis of hemolytic anemia from either specialist outpatient clinic contact or inpatient admission at Odense University Hospital from January 1994 through December 2011 were considered for inclusion. Patients with mechanical reason for hemolysis such as an artificial heart valve, and patients with vitamin-B12 or folic acid deficiency were excluded.

Results

We identified 412 eligible patients: 249 with a congenital hemolytic anemia diagnosis and 163 with acquired hemolytic anemia diagnosis. In all, hemolysis was confirmed in 359 patients, yielding an overall PPV of 87.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.5%–90.2%). A diagnosis could be established in 392 patients of whom 355 patients had a hemolytic diagnosis. Diagnosis was confirmed in 197 of the 249 patients with congenital hemolytic anemia, yielding a PPV of 79.1% (95% CI: 73.5%–84.0%). Diagnosis of acquired hemolytic anemia could be confirmed in 136 of the 163 patients, resulting in a PPV of 83.4% (95% CI: 76.8%–88.8%). For hemoglobinopathy PPV was 84.1% (95% CI: 77.4%–89.4%), for hereditary spherocytosis PPV was 80.6% (95% CI: 69.5%–88.9%), and for autoimmune hemolytic anemia PPV was 78.4% (95% CI: 70.4%–85.0%).

Conclusion

The PPV of hemolytic anemias was moderately high. The PPVs were comparable in the three main categories of overall hemolysis, and congenital and acquired hemolytic anemia.

[Evaluation of tolerance and efficacy of the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C in homozygous sickle cell patients]

La drépanocytose est une maladie génétique à transmission autosomale codominante. Les patients homozygotes ont des crises hémolytiques qui génèrent les symptômes cliniques. Il s'agit d'une maladie fréquente. En France, la plupart des cas hospitalisés sont observés en Ile de France et aux Antilles. Le pronostic des patients s'est beaucoup amélioré ces dernières années. L’âge médian au décès a doublé en 20 ans. Il est passé de 18 à 36 ans, témoignant d'une meilleure prise en charge des malades. De ce fait, les complications hépatiques de la maladie, et notamment celles liées à l'hépatite virale chronique C, sont de plus en plus fréquentes. La Ribavirine étant contre indiquée dans le traitement de l'hépatite C chez les malades atteints d'anémie hémolytique (talassémie, drépanocytose), il n'existe que très peu de cas publiés dans les littératures et aucun cas traité par trithérapie antivirale incluant un inhibiteur de protéase. Le but de ce travail était d’évaluer la tolérance, l'efficacité du traitement de l'hépatite virale chronique C chez des patients drépanocytaires homozygotes. Dans la cohorte de patients drépanocytaires homozygotes adultes de l'hôpital Tenon (n = 560), la prévalence de l'hépatite C chez les derepanocytaires était de 7% (n = 38) en 2012. Il s'agissait de 15 hommes et 23 femmes âgés de 20 à 59 ans. Vingt-cinq patients avaient reçu plus de 10 transfusions et 13 patients avaient reçu moins de 10 transfusions au cours des années précédant le bilan. La répartition des génotypes était: G1 (n = 7); G2 (n = 2); G3 (n = 1); G4 (n = 6); G inconnu (n = 22). Neuf patients ont été traités dont 8 par bithérapie (Peg/Rbv) et 1 par trithérapie (télaprevir). La posologie de ribavirine était supérieure ou égale à 800mg/jour chez 7 patients et inférieure à cette dose chez les deux autres patients. Le score METAVIR de fibrose était: F1 (n = 3), F2 (n = 4) et F 3 (n = 1);un patient n'a pas pu etre biopsié. Aucun patient n'a présenté de crise vaso-occlusive. Un seul patient a du être transfusé. Chez les 8 autres patients, la tolérance hématologique était excellente; le taux d'hémoglobine moyen était supérieur au taux moyen pré-thérapeutique après 1 et 3 mois de traitement. Une réponse virologique complète était observée chez tous les patients en fin de traitement et une réponse virale soutenue (SVR 24) était obtenue chez 6 patients. La cohorte des patients atteints de drépanocytose de l'Hôpital Tenon est une des plus importantes décrites dans la littérature. La prévalence de l'infection par le virus C est de 7% chez les patients homozygotes SS faisant des crises vaso occlusive. Cette série confirme que la prévalence dépend du nombre de transfusions (supérieures ou inférieures à 10 unités d’érythrocytes) avant le diagnostic. Il confirme également la bonne tolérance de la prise de ribavirine chez ces patients ayant une anémie hémolytique congénitale. Aucune crise vaso-occlusive n'a été observée. Le nombre de transfusion n'est pas augmenté. La bonne tolérance également observée chez le malade traité par trithérapie peut ouvrir la voie à l’évaluation des nouveaux antiviraux directs. Un suivi régulier conjoint par un hépatologue et un hématologue est impératif dans cette population fragile.

Hemolytic anemia and progressive neurologic impairment: think about triosephosphate isomerase deficiency

We have reported the first Tunisian case of triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency in a 2-year-old girl. She was the first child of a nonconsanguineous couple. The disease included a neonatal onset of chronic hemolytic anemia, recurrent low-respiratory infections then progressive neurological involvement. The diagnosis was made after her death from the TPI values of her parents who exhibited intermediate enzyme deficiency. Molecular study of TPI genes showed that the father and the mother are heterozygous for Glu105Asp mutation. Pediatricians must be alert to the differential diagnosis in patients having hemolytic anemia and other concomitant manifestations.

Hereditary spherocytosis diagnosed with the eosin-5'-maleimide binding test

We describe three cases of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) diagnosed using the eosin-5'-maleimide (EMA) binding test and discuss the relevance of the EMA binding test. In Japan, this test is not widely used because the prevalence of HS is low. This test is a valuable screening test for the diagnosis of HS.