A randomized trial comparing the efficacy and safety of imiglucerase (Cerezyme) infusions every 4 weeks versus every 2 weeks in the maintenance therapy of adult patients with Gaucher disease type 1

Imiglucerase (Cerezyme) has been the standard of care for treatment of Gaucher disease, a lysosomal storage disorder resulting from deficiency of glucocerebrosidase, since its approval in 1994. Infusions are typically given once every 2 weeks. However, many patients have expressed a desire for less frequent infusions as a matter of convenience. This clinical study assessed the safety and efficacy of intravenous imiglucerase infused once every 4 weeks (Q4) compared to once every 2 weeks (Q2) at the same total monthly dose in adult patients with clinically stable Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1). This was a 24-month, open-label, randomized, Phase 4, dose-frequency study conducted in 25 centers worldwide. Patients receiving imiglucerase were randomized to receive their monthly dose biweekly (n=33) or every 4 weeks (n=62). Changes from baseline in hemoglobin, platelets, liver and spleen volumes, bone crisis, and bone disease comprised a predefined composite endpoint; achievement or maintenance of established Gaucher disease therapeutic goals comprised a secondary endpoint. Sixty-three percent of Q4- and 81% of Q2-treated patients met the composite endpoint at Month 24; 89% of Q4- and 100% of Q2-treated patients met the therapeutic goals-based endpoint. The frequency of related adverse events was comparable between treatment groups. This study suggests that with comprehensive monitoring, a Q4 imiglucerase infusion regimen may be a safe and effective treatment option for the majority of clinically stable adult patients with GD1 but may not be appropriate for all GD1 patients. Continued monitoring in patients treated with Q4 dosing is required to assess long-term effectiveness.

Neuroimaging findings in malignant infantile osteopetrosis due to OSTM1 mutations

Malignant infantile osteopetrosis (MIOP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of bone resorption characterized by early bone marrow failure, proneness to fractures, and visual deterioration, variably associated with impairments of other cranial nerves due to narrowing of skull base foramina. About 10% of patients with MIOP show severe neurological involvement, which contraindicates bone marrow transplantation. We report on a 12-month-old female with recessive OSMT1 mutations and neuroimaging findings suggesting a neurodegenerative storage disorder.

Testicular sperm extraction in azoospermic men submitted to bilateral orchidopexy

BACKGROUND

This study was carried out to evaluate whether bilateral orchidopexy represents a poor or good prognostic factor in azoospermic men undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE).

METHODS

One hundred and seven presumed non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients, according to conventional clinical parameters (volume of testis, FSH, clinical history) were submitted to testicular biopsy with TESE. Thirty men (28%) had a history of bilateral orchidopexy for cryptorchidism.

RESULTS

Normal spermatogenesis or mild hypospermatogenesis was diagnosed in 12/30 ex-cryptorchid patients and in 7/77 presumed NOA patients (P = 0.0004). Conversely, pure Sertoli cell-only syndrome or complete maturation arrest was found in 10/30 ex-cryptorchid patients and in 48/77 presumed NOA patients (P = 0.0094). In 53/107 patients (49.5%), TESE allowed a positive sperm retrieval. At least one spermatozoon was observed in 22/30 ( approximately 73%) ex-cryptorchid patients and in 31/77 ( approximately 40%) presumed NOA patients (P = 0.0026). A large number of spermatozoa (equivalent to an obstructive pathology) were retrieved in 13/30 ex-cryptorchid and in 10/77 presumed NOA patients (P = 0.001). A history of bilateral orchidopexy in presumed NOA patients correlates positively for the chance of retrieving testicular spermatozoa (odds ratio 3.8; 95% confidence interval 1.41-10.21; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Although bilateral cryptorchidism is usually considered a testicular secretive dysfunction, TESE permits retrieval of a large number of spermatozoa in almost 40% of cases. Our data suggest the existence of congenital or acquired obstructive anomalies of the seminal ducts in azoospermic orchidopexed men.

A novel missense mutation in the glycogen branching enzyme gene in a child with myopathy and hepatopathy

We have identified a novel missense mutation in the gene for glycogen branching enzyme (GBE 1) in a 16-month-old infant with a combination of hepatic and muscular features, an atypical clinical presentation of glycogenosis type IV (GSD IV). The patient was heterozygous for a G-to-A substitution at codon 524 (R524Q), changing an encoded arginine (CGA) to glutamine (CAA), while the GBE1 gene on the other allele was not expressed. This case broadens the spectrum of mutations in patients with GSD IV and confirms the clinical and molecular heterogeneity of this disease.

Mutations in the glucose-6-phosphatase gene of 53 Italian patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia

Type Ia glycogen storage disease (GSD1a) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). Recent cloning of the G6Pase gene and the subsequent identification of several disease-causing mutations have shown an ethnic molecular heterogeneity. Using SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing, we characterized the G6Pase gene of 53 unrelated Italian patients. The two most common mutations, R83C and Q347X, accounted for 66.9% of the mutant alleles. Eight novel mutations and three rare mutations were identified in 15.7% of disease alleles. These results suggest that a DNA-based method can be used as an initial screening in Italian patients clinically suspected of having GSD1a, avoiding liver biopsy for enzymatic diagnosis. In particular, a noninvasive diagnosis is a suitable method for the Italian subpopulation coming from Sicily, where the R83C mutation is present in 80% of mutant alleles. Molecular carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis can be provided to GSD1a families with identified mutation in the propositus.

Role of haematological, pulmonary and renal complications in the long-term prognosis of patients with lysinuric protein intolerance

Three patients with lysinuric protein intolerance are reported. The first patient displayed severe haemolytic anaemia, bone marrow erythroblastophagocytosis, renal tubular disease and interstitial lung disease. Despite treatment with citrulline and low-protein diet, this child died at the age of 18 months. The second patient is now 24 years old and has chronic interstitial lung disease and focal renal glomerulosclerosis. The third patient, now 5 years old, has severe chronic interstitial lung disease. A 6-month treatment with prednisone was ineffective in the second and third patients.

Corticosterone methyl oxidase type II deficiency: a cause of failure to thrive and recurrent dehydration in early infancy

Corticosterone methyl oxidase type II (CMO II) deficiency is an uncommon cause of salt-wasting in infancy. We describe a boy who presented with recurrent dehydration and severe failure to thrive in the first 3 months of life, associated with mild hyponatraemia (serum Na+ 127-132 mEq/l) and hyperkalaemia (serum K+ 5.3-5.9 mEq/l). The diagnosis was suggested by an elevated plasma renin activity (PRA): serum aldosterone ratio, and subsequently confirmed by an elevated serum 18-hydroxycorticosterone: aldosterone ratio. Treatment with 9 alpha-fluorohydroxycortisone normalized growth parameters and PRA levels. CMO II deficiency should be considered in infants with recurrent dehydration and failure to thrive, even when serum sodium and potassium levels are not strikingly abnormal.

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency in Leigh syndrome

We studied 6 mitochondrial enzymes in crude extracts and isolated mitochondria from 5 children with pathologically proven subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy (Leigh syndrome). Samples were taken from brain (5 patients), skeletal muscle (4 patients), liver (4 patients), kidney (4 patients), heart (1 patient), and cultured fibroblasts (3 patients). An isolated defect of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity was found in brain (decrease of activity to 15 to 39% of the normal mean), muscle (9 to 20%), kidney (1 to 67%), and in the 1 available heart (4%) from a patient with cardiopathy. COX activity was also decreased in liver of 3 patients (2 to 13% of normal) and in cultured fibroblasts of 2 patients (18 and 27%), but it was normal in both liver and fibroblasts from 1 patient. Immunotitration using polyclonal antibodies against human heart COX showed essentially normal amounts of cross-reacting enzyme protein in various tissues from different patients. Electrophoresis of COX immunoprecipitated from brain mitochondrial extracts showed normal patterns of COX subunits in 2 patients. This study confirms the theory that COX deficiency is an important cause of Leigh syndrome.