scholarly journals Isolated Peripheral Neuropathy in Atypical Metachromatic Leukodystrophy: A Recurrent Mutation

Author(s):  
Marion B. Coulter-Mackie ◽  
Derek A. Applegarth ◽  
Jennifer R. Toone ◽  
Liane Gagnier ◽  
André R. Anzarut ◽  
...  

Abstract:Background:Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a deficiency of arylsulfatase A. Late onset forms are relatively rare. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is characteristic at all ages.Methods:A patient in her late 40s with peripheral neuropathy was assessed by EEG, evoked potentials, CTand nerve conduction studies. Nerve and muscle biopsy samples were investigated by electron microscopy. Arylsulfatase A activity in leukocytes and excreted cerebroside sulfate were determined. The arylsulfatase A gene was investigated for mutations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNAsequencing. The identified mutation was expressed transiently in African green monkey kidney (COS) cells to determine the effect of the mutation on arylsulfatase A activity.Results:Central nervous system functions were normal. Nerve conduction velocities were decreased. Sural nerve biopsy showed inclusions typical of MLD. Arylsulfatase A was less than 5% of normal. A homozygous mutation thr286pro was identified in the arylsulfatase A gene and demonstrated to be deleterious through transient expression studies.Conclusions:Our patient has a progressive peripheral neuropathy but has apparently intact CNS function at her present age of 57 years. Biochemical, physiological and pathological findings are consistent with a diagnosis of MLD. A homozygous mutation, thr286pro, found in her arylsulfatase A gene, decreased enzyme activity to a level consistent with a late onset form of MLD.

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 141-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kaufman

Some cases of late-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), which typically presents as a peripheral neuropathy, may present as a rapidly progressive central nervous system demyelinating disorder. This case report describes an important diagnostic and treatment dilemma: Are multiple sclerosis and MLD really two diseases, and should MLD be considered and treated as an autoimmune disorder?


2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giampaolo Tomelleri ◽  
Manuel Cappellari ◽  
Alessandro Di Matteo ◽  
Tiziano Zanoni ◽  
Chiara Colato ◽  
...  

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1962 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-638
Author(s):  
Richard J. Allen ◽  
James J. McCusker ◽  
Wallace W. Tourtellotte

A child has been reported with histochemically proven metachromatic leukodystrophy. Central nervous system degeneration began at the age of 20 months and continued to the time of death at the age of 49 months. Prior to death a "cherry red spot" became evident in the retina and is the only known instance of this finding. This adds to the evidence that metachromatic leukodystrophy is one of the neurolipidoses, but the metabolic defect apparently affects primarily the cerebroside sulfuric acid esters. Repeated analyses of cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated an elevated total protein and a "midzone" gold curve. Lipid analysis of serum and cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated findings which are discussed in detail and correlated to the histochemical changes. In addition, comparisons are made with the cerebrospinal fluids in Tay-Sach's and Niemann-Pick's disease. This too revealed important differences between the various neurolipidoses.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 5747-5747
Author(s):  
Shinsuke Takagi ◽  
Mitsuhiro Yuasa ◽  
Naoyuki Uchida ◽  
Kyosuke Yamaguchi ◽  
Kosei Kageyama ◽  
...  

Abstract Background & Aim: Recombinant human soluble thrombomoduline alpha (rhTM) is a novel anticoagulant agents and approved for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in Japan. Although several case reports suggested its therapeutic potential for sinusoidal obstructive syndrome/hepatic veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD), no information is available in large cohort. The aim of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of rhTM for SOS/VOD. Patients & Methods: We retrospectively studied 878 times of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in Toranomon Hospital from June 2008 to June 2015. We extracted the patients who used rhTM for DIC and satisfied the diagnostic criteria of SOS/VOD around the same time, because the use of rhTM for SOS/VOD alone is off-label. We excluded the patients who were already treated with rhTM before the emergence of the first symptom or sign of SOS/VOD, who used rhTM only in the short period (within 2 days), and who started rhTM over 30 days after the emergence of the first symptom or sign of SOS/VOD. To diagnose classical SOS/VOD (≤ 21 days after transplantation), we used two classical criteria of the modified Seattle (McDonald et al. Ann Intern Med 1993) and the Baltimore (Jones et al. Transplant 1987). For late-onset SOS/VOD (> day 22 of transplantation), we used the criteria which was recently published from the EBMT group (Mohty et al, Bone Marrow Transplant 2016). We considered the atrophic change of the liver in a long-term clinical course as an evidence of SOS/VOD, in a patient who was not evaluated the portal flow. We defined as severe SOS/VOD, if the patients had renal (Cr ≥ 2 times of baseline at transplant), respiratory (SpO2 ≤ 90% and/or the need for positive pressure) or central nervous system failure (confusion, lethargy and/or delirium) until 2 weeks after the diagnosis of SOS/VOD. Complete response (CR) of SOS/VOD was defined as the resolution of all the symptoms and the signs of SOS/VOD diagnostic criteria. We prioritized the date of Baltimore criteria, when we fixed the date of diagnosis. Results: A total of 39 patients used rhTM for DIC and concurrent SOS/VOD. The median age was 60 years (range, 27 - 72) and 27 patients (69%) was male. Hematologic diseases were as follows; AML (n=25), ALL (n=5), lymphoma (n=3), CML (n=2), MDS (n=2) and CMML (n=2). Donor cell sources were UCB (n=34) and UBM (n=5). Most of the prophylaxis regimen at the time of transplantation was the combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and dalteparin in 36 patients (92%). Classical SOS/VOD was diagnosed in 3 (8%) and 8 patients (21%) by the criteria of the modified Seattle and the Baltimore at the median day of 14 (range, 11 - 14) and 16 (range, 11 - 20), respectively. Twenty-eight patients (72%) were diagnosed as late-onset SOS/VOD at the median day of 44 (range, 22 - 89). In a total of 39 patients, severe SOS/VOD developed in 33 patients (85%) (renal, n=32; respiratory, n=7; central nervous system, n=15). The elevation of transaminase (2x upper limit of normal range) was observed in 18 patients (46%). The median interval from the emergence of the first symptom or sign of SOS/VOD to rhTM administration was 7 days (range, 0 - 23). The median duration of rhTM administration was 11 days (range, 3 - 63). RTM was used alone in 20 patients (51%), in combination with dalteparin in 7 (18%), with antithrombin III (ATIII) in 5 (13%), with dalteparin & ATIII in 3 (8%), with ATIII & prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in 2 (5%), and with PGE1 in 2 (5%). Corticosteroid was used with rhTM concomitantly in 32 patients (82%). Finally, 13 patients achieved CR of SOS/VOD. The cumulative incidence of CR of SOS/VOD was 33.3 % at 1 year after the administration of rhTM (95% confidence interval, 18.5 - 48.9%) (Figure 1). The median interval from the administration of rhTM to CR of SOS/VOD was 51 days (range, 6 - 141). At 1 year after transplantation, overall survival was 25.6% (95% confidence interval, 13.3 - 69.9%) (Figure 2). From the administration of rhTM to 2 weeks after the cessation of rhTM, 23 hemorrhagic adverse events were observed. Seven out of 23 events were at grade 3-5, and 5 out of 7 events were fatal (intra-abdominal n=2, gastro-intestinal n=1, lung n=1, and brain n=1). Conclusion: We concluded that rhTM had a possible therapeutic potential for SOS/VOD. Its safety and efficacy should be evaluated in a prospective study in the future. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2 Figure 2. Disclosures Izutsu: Abbvie: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.: Honoraria; Eisai: Honoraria; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Honoraria; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Mundipharma KK: Research Funding.


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