1
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Palma S, Pereira P. Subclinical spinal muscular atrophy in a 60-year-old man. Neuromuscul Disord 2024; 39:42-45. [PMID: 38772073 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that can manifest with different phenotypes, classified as types 1 to 4, being type 4 the mildest form. We report a case of a 60-year-old man presenting with sudden onset of numbness in the right upper limb and with a family history of a 48-year-old brother with progressive weakness. At the first visit, his exam was unremarkable, except for a mild paresis of the right elbow extension and reduced right bicipital and tricipital reflexes. Electromyography revealed chronic motor neuronopathy and the genetic study confirmed a diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy. At the follow-up visit his complains improved and his neurologic exam returned to normal. To our knowledge, this patient is the oldest asymptomatic SMA individual ever reported. This case highlights the need to exclude late onset spinal muscular atrophy in patients with indolent motor neuronopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Palma
- Hospital Garcia de Orta (Portugal), Avenida Torrado da Silva, 2805-267, Almada, Portugal.
| | - Pedro Pereira
- Hospital Garcia de Orta (Portugal), Avenida Torrado da Silva, 2805-267, Almada, Portugal.
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2
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Li L, Menezes MP, Smith M, Forbes R, Züchner S, Burgess A, Woodcock IR, Delatycki MB, Yiu EM. Rare homozygous disease-associated sequence variants in children with spinal muscular atrophy: a phenotypic description and review of the literature. Neuromuscul Disord 2024; 37:29-35. [PMID: 38520993 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.03.005] [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] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
5q-associated spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common autosomal recessive neurological disease. Depletion in functional SMN protein leads to dysfunction and irreversible degeneration of the motor neurons. Over 95 % of individuals with SMA have homozygous exon 7 deletions in the SMN1 gene. Most of the remaining 4-5 % are compound heterozygous for deletion and a disease-associated sequence variant in the non-deleted allele. Individuals with SMA due to bi-allelic SMN1 sequence variants have rarely been reported. Data regarding their clinical phenotype, disease progression, outcome and treatment response are sparse. This study describes six individuals from three families, all with homozygous sequence variants in SMN1, and four of whom received treatment with disease-modifying therapies. We also describe the challenges faced during the diagnostic process and intrafamilial phenotypic variability observed between siblings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Li
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Paediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Manoj P Menezes
- T.Y. Nelson Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Kids Neuroscience Centre, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Melanie Smith
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin Forbes
- Neuroscience Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephan Züchner
- Dr John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - Amber Burgess
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ian R Woodcock
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Neuroscience Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia
| | - Eppie M Yiu
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Neuroscience Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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3
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Abd El Mutaleb ANH, Ibrahim FAR, Megahed FAK, Atta A, Ali BA, Omar TEI, Rashad MM. NAIP Gene Deletion and SMN2 Copy Number as Molecular Tools in Predicting the Severity of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-023-10657-6. [PMID: 38388850 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10657-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most prevalent autosomal recessive illnesses with type I being the most severe type. Genomic alterations including survival motor neuron (SMN) copy number as well as deletions in SMN and Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP) are greatly implicated in the emergence of SMA. However, the association of such alterations with the severity of the disease is yet to be investigated. This study was directed to elucidate the molecular assessment of NAIP and SMN genomic alterations as a useful tool in predicting the severity of SMA among patients. This study included 65 SMA pediatric patients (30 type I and 35 type II) and 65 healthy controls. RFLP-PCR was employed to determine the genetic polymorphisms of the SMN1, SMN2, and NAIP genes. In addition, qRT-PCR was used to identify the expression of the SMN1 and SMN2 genes, and serum levels of creatine kinase were measured using a colorimetric method. DNA sequencing was performed on some samples to detect any single nucleotide polymorphisms in SMN1, SMN2, and NAIP genes. All SMA patients had a homozygous deficiency of SMN1 exon 7. The homozygous deficiency of SMN1 exons 7 and 8, with the deletion of NAIP exon 5 was found among the majority of Type I patients. In contrast, patients with the less severe condition (type II) had SMN1 exons 7 and 8 deleted but did not have any deletions in NAIP, additionally; 65.7% of patients had multiple copies of SMN2. Analysis of NAIP deletion alongside assessing SMN2 copy number might enhance the effectiveness of the diagnosis that can predict severity among Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fawziya A R Ibrahim
- Department of Applied Medical Chemistry, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Fayed A K Megahed
- Department of Nucleic Acid Research, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Atta
- Department of Nucleic Acid Research, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Bahy A Ali
- Department of Nucleic Acid Research, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Tarek E I Omar
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mona M Rashad
- Department of Applied Medical Chemistry, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
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4
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Yeo CJJ, Tizzano EF, Darras BT. Challenges and opportunities in spinal muscular atrophy therapeutics. Lancet Neurol 2024; 23:205-218. [PMID: 38267192 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(23)00419-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy was the most common inherited cause of infant death until 2016, when three therapies became available: the antisense oligonucleotide nusinersen, gene replacement therapy with onasemnogene abeparvovec, and the small-molecule splicing modifier risdiplam. These drugs compensate for deficient survival motor neuron protein and have improved lifespan and quality of life in infants and children with spinal muscular atrophy. Given the lifelong implications of these innovative therapies, ways to detect and manage treatment-modified disease characteristics are needed. All three drugs are more effective when given before development of symptoms, or as early as possible in individuals who have already developed symptoms. Early subtle symptoms might be missed, and disease onset might occur in utero in severe spinal muscular atrophy subtypes; in some countries, newborn screening is allowing diagnosis soon after birth and early treatment. Adults with spinal muscular atrophy report stabilisation of disease and less fatigue with treatment. These subjective benefits need to be weighed against the high costs of the drugs to patients and health-care systems. Clinical consensus is required on therapeutic windows and on outcome measures and biomarkers that can be used to monitor drug benefit, toxicity, and treatment-modified disease characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal J J Yeo
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; National Neuroscience Institute, Tan Tock Seng and Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Eduardo F Tizzano
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Genetics Medicine, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Basil T Darras
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Abiusi E, Costa-Roger M, Bertini ES, Tiziano FD, Tizzano EF, Abiusi E, Baranello G, Bertini E, Boemer F, Burghes A, Codina-Solà M, Costa-Roger M, Dangouloff T, Groen E, Gos M, Jędrzejowska M, Kirschner J, Lemmink HH, Müller-Felber W, Ouillade MC, Quijano-Roy S, Rucinski K, Saugier-Veber P, Tiziano FD, Tizzano EF, Wirth B. 270th ENMC International Workshop: Consensus for SMN2 genetic analysis in SMA patients 10-12 March, 2023, Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. Neuromuscul Disord 2024; 34:114-122. [PMID: 38183850 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
The 270th ENMC workshop aimed to develop a common procedure to optimize the reliability of SMN2 gene copy number determination and to reinforce collaborative networks between molecular scientists and clinicians. The workshop involved neuromuscular and clinical experts and representatives of patient advocacy groups and industry. SMN2 copy number is currently one of the main determinants for therapeutic decision in SMA patients: participants discussed the issues that laboratories may encounter in this molecular test and the cruciality of the accurate determination, due the implications as prognostic factor in symptomatic patients and in individuals identified through newborn screening programmes. At the end of the workshop, the attendees defined a set of recommendations divided into four topics: SMA molecular prognosis assessment, newborn screening for SMA, SMN2 copies and treatments, and modifiers and biomarkers. Moreover, the group draw up a series of recommendations for the companies manufacturing laboratory kits, that will help to minimize the risk of errors, regardless of the laboratories' expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Abiusi
- Section of Genomic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Life Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Mar Costa-Roger
- Clinical and Molecular Genetics Area, Vall d'Hebron Hospital; Medicine Genetics Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrico Silvio Bertini
- Research Unit of Neuromuscular Disease, Bambino Gesu’ Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Danilo Tiziano
- Section of Genomic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Life Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Complex Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario IRCCS “A. Gemelli”, Roma, Italy
| | - Eduardo F Tizzano
- Clinical and Molecular Genetics Area, Vall d'Hebron Hospital; Medicine Genetics Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emanuela Abiusi
- Section of Genomic Medicine, Dept. of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Roma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Baranello
- The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Developmental Neuroscience Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre & Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Italy, Research Unit of Neuromuscular Disease, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - François Boemer
- Biochemical Genetics Lab, Department of Human Genetics, University Hospital, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Arthur Burghes
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Marta Codina-Solà
- Neuromuscular Reference Center, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Liege & University of Liege, Belgium
| | - Mar Costa-Roger
- Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tamara Dangouloff
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewout Groen
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Gos
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria Jędrzejowska
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janbernd Kirschner
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Henny H Lemmink
- AFM Téléthon, Évry, France; SMA Europe; European Alliance for Newborn Screening in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
| | - Wolfgang Müller-Felber
- Pediatric Neuromuscular Unit (NEIDF Reference Center at FILNEMUS & Euro-NMD), Child Neurology Department, Raymond Poincaré Hospital (UVSQ), APHP Université Paris Saclay, Garches France
| | - Marie-Christine Ouillade
- Fundacja SMA, Warsaw, Poland; SMA Europe; European Alliance for Newborn Screening in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
| | - Susana Quijano-Roy
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Inserm U1245, Normandie Univ and CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and Nord/Est/Ile de France Neuromuscular Reference Center, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Kacper Rucinski
- Institute of Medical Genomics, Dept. of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and Complex Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario IRCCS “A. Gemelli”, Roma, Italy
| | - Pascale Saugier-Veber
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne and Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hopsital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Francesco Danilo Tiziano
- Institute of Medical Genomics, Dept. of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and Complex Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario IRCCS “A. Gemelli”, Roma, Italy
| | - Eduardo Fidel Tizzano
- Clinical and Molecular Genetics Area, Vall d'Hebron Hospital; Medicine Genetics Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne and Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hopsital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Milligan JN, Blasco-Pérez L, Costa-Roger M, Codina-Solà M, Tizzano EF. Recommendations for Interpreting and Reporting Silent Carrier and Disease-Modifying Variants in SMA Testing Workflows. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1657. [PMID: 36140824 PMCID: PMC9498682 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic testing for SMA diagnosis, newborn screening, and carrier screening has become a significant public health interest worldwide, driven largely by the development of novel and effective molecular therapies for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and the corresponding updates to testing guidelines. Concurrently, understanding of the underlying genetics of SMA and their correlation with a broad range of phenotypes and risk factors has also advanced, particularly with respect to variants that modulate disease severity or impact residual carrier risks. While testing guidelines are beginning to emphasize the importance of these variants, there are no clear guidelines on how to utilize them in a real-world setting. Given the need for clarity in practice, this review summarizes several clinically relevant variants in the SMN1 and SMN2 genes, including how they inform outcomes for spinal muscular atrophy carrier risk and disease prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Blasco-Pérez
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Costa-Roger
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Codina-Solà
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduardo F. Tizzano
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
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