Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Leukodystrophies in Africa

A novel variant in ARSA causes a rare phenotype of infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy in a Malian family

Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal disorder caused by ARSA gene variants, affecting central and peripheral nervous systems. While ARSA variants are reported globally, data from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are limited. We report the first SSA case, a Malian patient with a rare phenotype: predominant tonic seizures without typical peripheral neuropathy signs. The patient harbored a novel ARSA variant (c.191T > C; p.Phe64Ser), predicted deleterious by in silico tools. This case expands the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of MLD, underscoring the need for genetic studies in underrepresented regions.