Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Type 6 late infantile variant in two compound heterozygous siblings with novel mutations
*Correspondencia: Dra. Carmen Esmer. Hospital Infantil Teletón de Oncología. Fray Junípero Serra, 1999. Colonia Rancho Menchaca, 76140. Querétaro, México. E-mail: esmer@hospitalteleton.org.mx
Introduction: There are 14 forms of lipofuscinosis, among them type 6 in its late childhood form is found, it starts between three and eight years with epilepsy, motor disorders, myoclonus, dysarthria, ataxia and neurological regression associated with vision loss and motor skills, and early death. It occurs from mutations in the CLN6 gene, most patients have homozygote variants associated with consanguinity, and rarely, with compound heterozygote variants.
Case report: Siblings, started at 4 and 5 years each, with unstable gear, frequent falls and difficult running. Subsequently, loss of gait, myoclonus, dysphagia, and hallucinations. On physical examination, present optic nerve atrophy, Babinski and trunk ataxia. Electroencephalogram with widespread slow wave bursts during non-REM sleep, non photoparoxystic response, MRI with periventricular white substance hyperintensity, cerebellar atrophy and cortical. Panel of lipofuscinosis report two mutations, c.552del and c.244G>C, not described previously, in both patients. The mother was the carrier of the 552 deletion and the father and paternal grandmother of the G>C substitution (Gly82Arg).
Conclusions: Differential diagnosis in neuroregression disorders is difficult because clinical signs are nonspecific, like many other neurodegenerative disorders with progressive myoclonic epilepsy. We report the clinical findings in two Mexican siblings with the late childhood variant of CLN6 with two new heterozygote mutations that contribute to the knowledge of mutations in the Mexican population and point out the relevance of performing next-generation genetic sequencing studies which will allow a better genetic counseling practice.
Casos clínicos Hermanos con síntomas desde los 4 y 5 años, con marcha inestable, caídas frecuentes, posteriormente pérdida de la marcha, mioclonías, disfagia y alucinaciones visuales. En el examen físico presentaban atrofia del nervio óptico, Babinski y ataxia del tronco. El electroencefalograma mostraba brotes de ondas lentas generalizadas, sin respuesta fotoparoxística, y la resonancia magnética de cráneo, hiperintensidad de la sustancia blanca periventricular, y atrofia cerebelosa y cortical. El panel de lipofuscinosis reveló dos mutaciones nuevas en el gen CLN6, c.552del y c.244G>C (p.Gly82Arg), no descritas previamente. La madre resultó portadora de la deleción 552, y el padre y la abuela paterna, de la sustitución G>C (Gly82Arg).
Conclusiones El diagnóstico diferencial en los trastornos con neurorregresión se dificulta debido a que los signos clínicos son inespecíficos, similares a otras epilepsias mioclónicas progresivas. Presentamos los hallazgos clínicos en dos hermanos mexicanos con la variante infantil tardía de CLN6 por dos mutaciones heterocigotas nuevas que contribuyen al conocimiento de las mutaciones en la población mexicana y señalan la relevancia de realizar estudios genéticos aplicando la secuenciación de nueva generación para permitir un adecuado asesoramiento genético.