Enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The specific treatment available for Fabry disease (FD) is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa or beta. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of ERT for FD. Only double-blind, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing agalsidase alfa or beta and placebo were included. ERT with either agalsidase alfa or beta was considered similar for the purposes of analysis. Ten RCTs were identified, which showed improvements in neuropathic pain, in heart abnormalities and in globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) levels. A meta-analysis showed increased odds for fever, rigors, development of IgG antibodies to agalsidase, and no significant association with development of hypertension or reduction in the QRS complex duration on electrocardiogram. The RCTs included in this comparison enrolled few patients, were highly heterogeneous, and were focused mainly on surrogate endpoints, limiting any conclusions as to the real effect of ERT for FD. The available evidence suggests that response to ERT is variable across patient subgroups and that agalsidase may slow progression of FD, with slight improvement of existing changes. Nevertheless, many uncertainties remain, and further studies are necessary

Alterações psiquiátricas e qualidade de vida em pacientes com homocistinúria clássica

Caracterizar o quadro psiquiátrico e a qualidade de vida (QoL) em uma coorte de pacientes com Homocistinúria Clássica (HCU). Métodos: estudo transversal, através da aplicação das escalas BPRS, Escala de Ansiedade de Beck, Escala de Depressão de Hamilton e Escala de Depressão de Beck (BDI) em 8 pacientes não responsivos à piridoxina e estudo retrospectivo avaliando qualidade de vida por meio da aplicação do questionário WHOQOL-Brief em 11 pacientes com HCU. Resultados: 5 pacientes avaliados apresentaram sintomas de depressão mínimos, 2 pacientes apresentaram sintomas leves, e 1 paciente sintomas moderados a graves. Para ansiedade, 5 pacientes apresentaram sintomas mínimos, 1 paciente apresentou sintomas leves e 2 pacientes apresentaram sintomas moderados. Cinco pacientes apresentaram algum sintoma relacionado à esquizofrenia. Em relação a QoL, todos pacientes apresentaram diagnóstico tardio e apenas 2 tinham QI>70 (Teste WASI). Os pacientes responsivos à piridoxina foram comparados com os não responsivos à piridoxina mostrando melhor pontuação nos aspectos psicológicos e sociais no primeiro grupo. Os 2 pacientes com tratamento foram comparados com os 9 sem tratamento mostrando um melhor escore no aspecto psicológico no primeiro grupo. Conclusão: este é o primeiro estudo que descreve QoL em pacientes HCU, mostrando uma diferença no aspecto psicológico e social, conforme o tipo de tratamentoFil: Donis, Karina C. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).Fil: Kalil, Marco A.B. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).Fil: Perrone, Solanger G. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).Fil: Teruya, Kátia. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).Fil: Vanz, Ana P. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).Fil: Vairo, Filippo P. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).Fil: Schwartz, Ida V.D. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil)

Relato de um paciente brasileiro com síndrome de Wolfram Report of a Brazilian patient with Wolfram syndrome

Objetivos: relatar o caso de um paciente com diagnóstico de síndrome de Wolfram (SW) e braquidactilia do tipo E. A síndrome de Wolfram é caracterizada pela presença de diabetes melito, diabetes insípido, atrofia do nervo óptico, alterações do trato urinário, surdez e distúrbios neurológicos e psiquiátricos. No entanto, nem todas as manifestações estarão presentes no momento do diagnóstico, indicando a necessidade de acompanhamento a longo prazo destes pacientes. Este acompanhamento deve ser estendido aos familiares diretos, tendo em vista o risco aumentado da ocorrência de distúrbios psiquiátricos e diabetes melito entre os portadores heterozigotos da síndrome de Wolfram. Descrição: menino, branco, filho de pais não consangüíneos, era hígido até os 4 anos, quando iniciou com polidipsia e poliúria, sendo diagnosticada diabetes melito tipo I. Desde então, faz uso irregular de insulina e segue mal a dieta por problemas socioeconômicos. Foi avaliado pelo serviço de Genética aos 11 anos de idade. Ao exame físico, chamou a atenção a presença de braquidactilia. Durante a investigação complementar, constatou-se atrofia bilateral do nervo óptico, com potencial evocado visual e eletrorretinograma compatíveis com lesão grave de nervo. Ambas retinas eram normais. A presença de diabetes melito insulino-dependente e atrofia do nervo óptico são critérios suficientes para o diagnóstico de síndrome de Wolfram. A investigação molecular confirmou o diagnóstico. Comentários: o presente relato tem o objetivo de alertar os profissionais da área médica para a associação entre o diabetes melito e síndromes monogênicas, como a SW.<br>ABSTRACT Objective: to report a case of a patient diagnosed with Wolfram Syndrome and brachydactyly type E. Wolfram Syndrome is characterized by the presence of diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, atrophy of the optic nerve, alterations of the urinary tract, deafness and neurologic and psychiatric disorders. However, not all manifestations are present at diagnosis, indicating the necessity of long-term follow-up of these patients. This long-term follow-up should be extended to the patients' closest relatives, having in mind the increased risk of occurrence of psychiatric disorders and diabetes mellitus among the heterozygous carriers of Wolfram Syndrome. Description: male, white patients, only child of non-consanguineous parents, was healthy until four years of age, when he presented with polydipsia and polyuria, being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type I. Since then, he has needed regular insulin use, but has followed an inadequate diet due to socioeconomic problems. He was evaluated by the genetic service when he was 11 years old. Brachydactyly was observed on physical examination. In the course of the complementary investigation, bilateral atrophy of the optic nerve was observed; the visual evoked potential and the electroretinogram were compatible with extensive optic nerve injury. Both retinas were normal. The presence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus together with atrophy of the optic nerve is a sufficient criterion for the diagnosis of Wolfram Syndrome. The molecular investigation confirmed the diagnosis of Wolfram Syndrome. Comments: the aim of the present report is to alert physicians about the association between diabetes mellitus and monogenic syndromes, such as Wolfram Syndrome

Glycogen storage disease type I: clinical and laboratory profile

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric profile of a sample of Brazilian patients with glycogen storage disease type I managed at an outpatient referral clinic for inborn errors of metabolism. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional outpatient study based on a convenience sampling strategy. Data on diagnosis, management, anthropometric parameters, and follow-up were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included (median age 10 years, range 1-25 years), all using uncooked cornstarch therapy. Median age at diagnosis was 7 months (range, 1-132 months), and 19 patients underwent liver biopsy for diagnostic confirmation. Overweight, short stature, hepatomegaly, and liver nodules were present in 16 of 21, four of 21, nine of 14, and three of 14 patients, respectively. A correlation was found between height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z-scores (r = 0.561; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of glycogen storage disease type I is delayed in Brazil. Most patients undergo liver biopsy for diagnostic confirmation, even though the combination of a characteristic clinical presentation and molecular methods can provide a definitive diagnosis in a less invasive manner. Obesity is a side effect of cornstarch therapy, and appears to be associated with growth in these patients

Sensitivity, advantages, limitations, and clinical utility of targeted next-generation sequencing panels for the diagnosis of selected lysosomal storage disorders

Abstract Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) constitute a heterogeneous group of approximately 50 genetic disorders. LSDs diagnosis is challenging due to variability in phenotype penetrance, similar clinical manifestations, and a high allelic heterogeneity. A powerful tool for the diagnosis of the disease could reduce the “diagnostic odyssey” for affected families, leading to an appropriate genetic counseling and a better outcome for current therapies, since enzyme replacement therapies have been approved in Brazil for Gaucher, Fabry, and Pompe diseases, and are under development for Niemann-Pick Type B. However, application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in the clinical diagnostic setting requires a previous validation phase. Here, we assessed the application of this technology as a fast, accurate, and cost-effective method to determine genetic diagnosis in selected LSDs. We have designed two panels for testing simultaneously 11 genes known to harbor casual mutations of LSDs. A cohort of 58 patients was used to validate those two panels, and the clinical utility of these gene panels was tested in four novel cases. We report the assessment of a NGS approach as a new tool in the diagnosis of LSDs in our service