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Boso F, Zanette G, Baldinotti F, Bertelloni S, Taioli F, Monaco S, Fabrizi GM, Cavallaro T. Convergent pathological and ultrasound features in hereditary syndromic and non-syndromic minifascicular neuropathy related to DHH. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2020; 25:423-428. [PMID: 33107133 DOI: 10.1111/jns.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Minifascicular neuropathy (MN) is a rare, autosomal recessive disease with prominent structural changes of peripheral nerves. So far, it has been observed in females with a 46,XY karyotype and mutations of the Desert Hedgehog (DHH) gene, thus linking MN to gonadal dysgenesis (GD) and disorders of sex development (DSD). However, a 46,XX proband with normal female sex and gender development underwent clinical evaluations, nerve conduction studies and genetic screening for a severe motor-sensory neuropathy with a pathological phenotype that hinted at MN. Indeed, sural nerve biopsy revealed a profound disturbance of perineurium development with a thin and loose structure. High-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) also disclosed diffuse changes of nerve echotexture that visibly correlated with the pathological features. After extensive genetic testing, a novel homozygous DHH null mutation (p.Ser185*) was identified in the proband and in her sister, who was affected by a similar motor-sensory neuropathy, but was eventually found to be a 46,XY patient according to a late diagnosis of DSD with complete GD. DHH should therefore be considered as a possible cause of rare non-syndromic hereditary motor-sensory neuropathies, regardless of DSD. Furthermore, HRUS could effectively smooth the complex diagnostic workup as it demonstrated a high predictive power to detect MN, providing the same detailed correlations to the pathologic features of the nerve biopsy and Dhh-/- mice in both sisters. Hence, HRUS may assume a pivotal role in guiding molecular analysis in individuals with or without DSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Boso
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Fulvia Baldinotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvano Bertelloni
- Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Pediatrics Division, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federica Taioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Monaco
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Fabrizi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Tiziana Cavallaro
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Neurology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy
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