Potential risks associated with laparoscopic gastrostomy in patients with the COL4A1 variant: Two case reports

The COL4A1 (collagen Type 4 alpha1) pathogenic variant is associated with porencephaly and schizencephaly and accounts for approximately 20% of these patients. This gene variant leads to systemic microvasculopathy, which manifests as brain, ocular, renal, and muscular disorders. However, only a few patients with surgical interventions have been reported and the potential surgical risks are unknown. Here, we present the cases of two female patients between 7 and 8 years of age who were diagnosed with the COL4A1 variant and underwent laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) for oral dysphagia. Their primary brain lesions were caused by porencephaly and paralysis, which are caused by multiple cerebral hemorrhages and infarctions, and both patients had refractory epileptic complications. Although LAPEG was successfully performed in both patients without any intraoperative complications, one patient developed alveolar hemorrhage postoperatively and required mechanical ventilation. Thus, careful perioperative management of patients with the COL4A1 variant is important.

Prevalence of COL4A1 and COL4A2 mutations in severe fetal multifocal hemorrhagic and/or ischemic cerebral lesions

OBJECTIVE

To establish the prevalence of COL4A1 and COL4A2 gene mutations in fetuses presenting with a phenotype suggestive of cerebral injury.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective analysis of all cases of fetal cerebral anomalies suggestive of COL4A1 or COL4A2 gene mutation over the period 2009-2018. Inclusion criteria were: (1) severe and/or multifocal hemorrhagic cerebral lesions; (2) multifocal ischemic-hemorrhagic cerebral lesions. These anomalies could be of different ages and associated with schizencephaly or porencephaly. Between fetuses with and those without a mutation, we compared gestational age at the time of diagnosis, parity and fetal gender.

RESULTS

Among the 956 cases of cerebral anomaly diagnosed in our center during the 10-year study period, 18 fetuses were identified for inclusion. A pathogenic COL4A1 gene mutation was found in five of these cases, among which four were de-novo mutations. A variant of unknown significance was found in four fetuses: in the COL4A1 gene in one case and in the COL4A2 gene in three cases. No COL4A1 or COL4A2 mutation was found in the remaining nine fetuses. The median (interquartile range) gestational age at diagnosis was significantly lower in cases with a mutation (24 (22-26) weeks) than in cases without a mutation (32 (29.5-34.5) weeks) (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

A phenotype suggestive of cerebral injury was found in 18 of the 956 (1.9%) cases in our population, in 28% of which there was an associated COL4A1 or COL4A2 mutation. COL4A1 and COL4A2 gene mutations should be sought systematically in cases of severe and/or multifocal hemorrhagic or ischemic-hemorrhagic cerebral lesions, with or without schizencephaly or porencephaly. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Malignant Hyperthermia and Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis After Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt in Infant with Schizencephaly and COL4A1 Mutation

BACKGROUND

Schizencephaly is a rare congenital central nervous system malformation characterized by linear, thickened clefts of the cerebral mantle. Recently, germline mutations in collagen type IV alpha 1 (COL4A1) have been reported to be a genetic cause of schizencephaly as a result of prenatal stroke. Patients with COL4A1 mutation demonstrate a variety of disease phenotypes. However, little is known about the potential complications of patients with COL4A1 mutations before and after neurologic surgery.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 9-month-old boy with schizencephaly and a congenital cataract underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for progressive hydrocephalus. Postoperatively, he developed malignant hyperthermia and cerebral venous thrombosis. Early treatment with dantrolene sodium and hydration was effective. Genetic testing revealed a germline COL4A1 mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, malignant hyperthermia and cerebral venous thrombosis have not been reported in the literature in patients with COL4A1 mutations after surgery. Schizencephaly arising from COL4A1 mutations might be a disease prone to these adverse effects because this mutation is known to be associated with venous tortuosity, venous vulnerability, and muscle spasms due to basement membrane protein abnormalities. We need to better understand the wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes of COL4A1 mutations and potential complications in order to better manage surgery of patients with schizencephaly.