Alternative laronidase dose regimen for patients with mucopolysaccharidosis I: a multinational, retrospective, chart review case series

Background: Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with laronidase (recombinant human alpha-L-iduronidase, Aldurazyme (R)) is indicated for non-neurological signs and symptoms of mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I). The approved laronidase dose regimen is weekly infusions of 0.58mg/kg, however, patients and caregivers may have difficulty complying with the weekly regimen. We examined clinical outcomes, tolerability, compliance, and satisfaction in a series of patients who switched to every other week infusions. Methods: This multinational, retrospective, chart review case series analyzed data from 20 patients who had undergone ERT with laronidase 0.58mg/kg weekly for more than one year, and who then switched to 1.2mg/kg every other week. Results: The majority of patients had attenuated MPS I phenotypes (9 with Hurler-Scheie and 8 with Scheie syndromes) and 3 patients had severe MPS I (Hurler syndrome). Most patients presented with organomegaly (17/ 20), umbilical and/or inguinal hernia (16/20), cardiac abnormalities (17/20), musculoskeletal abnormalities (19/20), and neurological and/or developmental deficits (15/20). Following laronidase treatment, signs stabilized or improved. No deterioration or reversal of clinical outcome was noted in any patient who switched from the weekly dose of 0.58mg.kg to 1.2mg/kg every other week. There were no safety issues during the duration of every other week dosing. Patient compliance and satisfaction with the dosing regimen were greater with every other week dosing than weekly dosing. Conclusions: An alternative dose regimen of 1.2mg/kg laronidase every other week was well tolerated and clinically similar to the standard dose for patients who were stabilized with weekly 0.58 mg/kg for one year or more. When an individualized approach to laronidase therapy is necessary, every other week dosing may be an alternative for patients with difficulty receiving weekly infusions.Sanofi GenzymeSanofi Genzyme, Cambridge, MA, USAFiocruz MS, Inst Nacl Saude Mulher Crianca & Adolescente Fern, BR-21045900 Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Bahia, Dept Pediat, Serv Genet Med, Salvador, BA, BrazilHosp Clin Alegre, Med Genet Serv, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilComenius Univ, Childrens Hosp, Dept Pediat 2, Bratislava, SlovakiaWestmead Hosp, Dept Med Genet, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaUniv Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Proteus syndrome: Clinical diagnosis of a series of cases

Objectives: This paper describes the clinical diagnosis of Proteus syndrome (PS) in children referred for evaluation of asymmetric disproportionate overgrowth. Materials and Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted from January 1998 to December 2010. Results: During the study period, 2011 new patients were evaluated. Thirteen (0.65%) patients presented features suggestive of PS. These patients were formally evaluated based on the revised diagnostic criteria proposed by Biesecker. The mean age was 6.92 ± 5.1 years. Ten patients (76.9%) were females. All subjects had asymmetric disproportionate overgrowth. Other dysmorphic features were as follows: macrodactily (84.6%); linear epidermal nevus (41.6%); hemangioma (30.7%); and lipoma (23%). Six patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PS. Conclusions: The diagnostic rate of only 46.1% of patients with PS confirms the diagnostic difficulties and the need for continuous monitoring and periodic review of these patients since the clinical manifestations of this syndrome become more evident with aging. Molecular tests may help the differential diagnosis of Proteus syndrome when they became commercially available

Clinical Profile Among Brazilian Mucopolysaccharidosis type II Patients: Subgroup Analysis from the Hunter Outcome Survey

Abstract Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is a rare genetic, multiorgan disease. Little information about the Brazilian context is available to date; thus, this descriptive subgroup analysis was conducted on Brazilian data from the Hunter Outcome Survey (HOS), including clinical characteristics among MPS II patients from Brazil. HOS is a global, multi-center, long-term, observational registry of patients with MPS II (NCT03292887). Variables related to organ system involvement, signs and symptoms, surgical procedures and survival among Brazilian patients were extracted from HOS database. Data from 153 Brazilian patients with MPS II were analyzed. Musculoskeletal (96.6%), abdomen/gastrointestinal (95.2%), neurological (88.7%), pulmonary (86.2%), and ear (81.3%) were the most frequently observed organ/systems involved. Regarding signs and symptoms, the most prevalent symptom was coarse facial features consistent with the disease (94.6%), followed by joint stiffness and limited function (89.3%), hernia (84.2%) and hepatomegaly (82.2%). Median survival time was 22.0 years, and the major cause of death was respiratory failure (31.8%). These data may be helpful to understand disease characteristics and to help improve the quality of MPS II patient care in Brazil

Targeted Resequencing of Deafness Genes Reveals a Founder MYO15A Variant in Northeastern Brazil

Summary Identifying the genetic etiology in a person with hearing loss (HL) is challenging due to the extreme genetic heterogeneity in HL and the population‐specific variability. In this study, after excluding GJB2 variants, targeted resequencing of 180 deafness‐related genes revealed the causative variants in 11 of 19 (58%) Brazilian probands with autosomal recessive HL. Identified pathogenic variants were in MYO15A (10 families) and CLDN14 (one family). Remarkably, the MYO15A p.(Val1400Met) variant was identified in eight families from the city of Monte Santo in the northeast region of Brazil. Haplotype analysis of this variant was consistent with a single founder. No other cases with this variant were detected among 105 simplex cases from other cities of northeastern Brazil, suggesting that this variant is confined to a geographical region. This study suggests that it is feasible to develop population‐specific screening for deafness variants once causative variants are identified in different geographical groups

Aspectos clínicos da fenilcetonúria em serviço de referência em triagem neonatal da Bahia Clinical aspects of phenylketonuria in a reference service for neonatal screening in Bahia

OBJETIVOS: descrever as características clínicas dos pacientes com hiperfenilalaninemia acompanhados no Serviço de Referência em Triagem Neonatal (SRTN) do estado da Bahia. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo transversal, tendo como amostra todos os pacientes com diagnóstico conhecido de Hiperfenilalaninemia residentes no estado da Bahia e acompanhados no SRTN até setembro de 2005. Tal população é composta de 46 famílias, num total de 51 pacientes. A análise dos dados foi descritiva, incluindo medidas de tendência central e dispersão. RESULTADOS: houve discreto predomínio do gênero feminino (52,9%). A maioria dos pacientes (78,4%) teve seu diagnóstico estabelecido através da triagem neonatal, tendo, portanto, tratamento precoce. Consangüinidade foi registrada em 32,6% das famílias. A média de início do tratamento entre os pacientes diagnosticados pela triagem neonatal foi de 56,6 37,8 dias, enquanto que entre os pacientes com diagnóstico tardio, foi de 7,1 anos. CONCLUSÕES: o estudo descreve um grupo de pacientes representativo de uma patologia incluída no Programa Nacional de Triagem Neonatal (PNTN), sendo, portanto, de relevância para a saúde pública. Entre os dados clínicos, chama a atenção a média de idade do início do tratamento, superior ao recomendado na literatura, alertando para a necessidade de um maior enfoque no diagnóstico precoce.<br>OBJECTIVES: to describe clinical aspects of hyper-phenylalaninemia in patients followed up on the Reference Service for Neonatal Screening (SRTN) in the state of Bahia. METHODS: cross-sectional study that enrolled all patients living in the state of Bahia and followed up on the SRTN who had a definite diagnosis of hyper-phenylalaninemia prior to September, 2005. That population was made up of 46 families, with 51 patients. The analysis of data was descriptive, using measures of central tendency and dispersion. RESULTS: a discrete predominance of females was found (52.9%). Most patients (78,4%) were diagnosed on neonatal screening, thus receiving early treatment. Consanguinity was registered in 32.6% of the families. The average age at the adoption of therapy was 56.6 37.8 days on the patients diagnosed on neonatal screening and 7.1 years among those with a late diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: the relevance of this study to public health lies upon the fact that it describes clinical features of a group of patients with a disease included on the National Neonatal Screening Program. Among clinical data, we highlight the average age at the adoption of therapy, which is higher than the recommended by medical literature, stressing the need of reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis