Assessment of plasma chitotriosidase activity, CCL18/PARC concentration and NP-C suspicion index in the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease type C: A prospective observational study

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a rare, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in either the NPC1 or NPC2 genes. The diagnosis of NP-C remains challenging due to the non-specific, heterogeneous nature of signs/symptoms. This study assessed the utility of plasma chitotriosidase (ChT) and Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL18)/pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC) in conjunction with the NP-C suspicion index (NP-C SI) for guiding confirmatory laboratory testing in patients with suspected NP-C. Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study, incorporating a retrospective determination of NP-C SI scores, two different diagnostic approaches were applied in two separate groups of unrelated patients from 51 Spanish medical centers (n = 118 in both groups). From Jan 2010 to Apr 2012 (Period 1), patients with =2 clinical signs/symptoms of NP-C were considered ''suspected NP-C'' cases, and NPC1/NPC2 sequencing, plasma chitotriosidase (ChT), CCL18/PARC and sphingomyelinase levels were assessed. Based on findings in Period 1, plasma ChT and CCL18/PARC, and NP-C SI prediction scores were determined in a second group of patients between May 2012 and Apr 2014 (Period 2), and NPC1 and NPC2 were sequenced only in those with elevated ChT and/or elevated CCL18/PARC and/or NP-C SI =70. Filipin staining and 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) measurements were performed in all patients with NP-C gene mutations, where possible. Results: In total across Periods 1 and 2, 10/236 (4%) patients had a confirmed diagnosis o NP-C based on gene sequencing (5/118 4.2%] in each Period): all of these patients had two causal NPC1 mutations. Single mutant NPC1 alleles were detected in 8/236 (3%) patients, overall. Positive filipin staining results comprised three classical and five variant biochemical phenotypes. No NPC2 mutations were detected. All patients with NPC1 mutations had high ChT activity, high CCL18/PARC concentrations and/or NP-C SI scores =70. Plasma 7-KC was higher than control cut-off values in all patients with two NPC1 mutations, and in the majority of patients with single mutations. Family studies identified three further NP-C patients. Conclusion: This approach may be very useful for laboratories that do not have mass spectrometry facilities and therefore, they cannot use other NP-C biomarkers for diagnosis

Seudotumor cerebri en niños: etiología, características clínicas y evolución

Resumen: Introducción: El síndrome de hipertensión intracraneal idiopática o seudotumor cerebri (STC) en niños está en constante revisión, respecto a su definición, etiologías asociadas, diagnóstico y terapéutica más apropiada. Objetivos y métodos: Se revisaron los casos de STC 25cmH2O por punción lumbar (PL), con estudio de resonancia magnética cerebral sin lesión ocupante de espacio. Resultados: Se registró a 12 niños con STC, media de edad de 10 años, 90% mujeres. Todos presentaban peso normal. El 82% manifestaba síntomas: cefalea (66%), diplopía (8%) o baja visión (8%). Todos asociaban papiledema (17% unilateral). La PL fue diagnóstica en el 100% y la neuroimagen fue normal en el 91%. Se evidenció un posible desencadenante en 5 casos (2 farmacológico y 3 infeccioso por Mycoplasma pneumoniae [M. pneumoniae]). El 91% recibió tratamiento médico: en el 75% consistió en PL repetidas y en el 42% solo acetazolamida y/o prednisona. La evolución fue favorable en todos ellos. Conclusiones: La incidencia de STC fue de aproximadamente 1/100.000 niños/año, similar a estudios previos. En esta población, el sobrepeso no es un factor de riesgo. La infección por M. pneumoniae podría actuar como desencadenante de STC y favorecer recurrencias tardías. La ausencia de síntomas parece independiente del grado de presión intracraneal. El tratamiento con acetazolamida es eficaz en la mayoría de los casos, desterrando el uso de PL repetidas. Abstract: Introduction: The definition, associated aetiologies, diagnosis, and treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or pseudotumour cerebri (PTC), are constantly being revised in the paediatric population. Objectives and methods: Our study included children younger than 15 years old with PTC and attended at a reference hospital in the past 12 years. We analysed the clinical and epidemiological features of our sample and the diagnostic and treatment approaches. PTC was defined as presence of intracranial hypertension (CSF opening pressure > 25 cmH2O) and absence of space-occupying lesions in brain MR images. Results: A total of 12 children with PTC were included; mean age was 10 years and 90% were girls. Weight was normal in all patients. Eighty-two percent of the patients had symptoms: headache (66%), diplopia (8%), and visual loss (8%). All of them displayed papilloedema (17% unilaterally). Lumbar puncture (LP) provided the diagnosis in all cases and 91% showed no relevant MRI findings. A potential cause of PTC was identified in 5 cases: pharmacological treatment in 2 and infection (Mycoplasma pneumoniae [M. pneumoniae]) in 3. Ninety-one per cent of the patients received treatment: 75% underwent several LPs and 42% received acetazolamide and/or prednisone. Outcomes were favourable in all cases. Conclusions: The incidence of PTC was estimated at approximately 1 case per 100 000 children/years, in line with data reported by previous studies. Overweight was not found to be a risk factor for PTC in this population. M. pneumoniae infection may trigger PTC and cause recurrences at later stages. The absence of symptoms seems to be independent from the degree of intracranial hypertension. Acetazolamide treatment is effective in most cases, and it represents a viable alternative to repeated LP. Palabras clave: Cefalea, Diplopía, Infancia, Hipertensión intracraneal benigna, Papiledema, Seudotumor cerebri, Keywords: Headache, Diplopia, Childhood, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Papilloedema, Pseudotumour cerebr

Pseudotumour cerebri in children: aetiology, clinical features, and progression

Introduction: The definition, associated aetiologies, diagnosis, and treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or pseudotumour cerebri (PTC), are constantly being revised in the paediatric population. Objectives and methods: Our study included children younger than 15 years old with PTC and attended at a reference hospital in the past 12 years. We analysed the clinical and epidemiological features of our sample and the diagnostic and treatment approaches. PTC was defined as presence of intracranial hypertension (CSF opening pressure > 25 cmH2O) and absence of space-occupying lesions in brain MR images. Results: A total of 12 children with PTC were included; mean age was 10 years and 90% were girls. Weight was normal in all patients. Eighty-two percent of the patients had symptoms: headache (66%), diplopia (8%), and visual loss (8%). All of them displayed papilloedema (17% unilaterally). Lumbar puncture (LP) provided the diagnosis in all cases and 91% showed no relevant MRI findings. A potential cause of PTC was identified in 5 cases: pharmacological treatment in 2 and infection (Mycoplasma pneumoniae [M. pneumoniae]) in 3. Ninety-one percent of the patients received treatment: 75% underwent several LPs and 42% received acetazolamide and/or prednisone. Outcomes were favourable in all cases. Conclusions: The incidence of PTC was estimated at approximately 1 case per 100 000 children/years, in line with data reported by previous studies. Overweight was not found to be a risk factor for PTC in this population. M. pneumoniae infection may trigger PTC and cause recurrences at later stages. The absence of symptoms seems to be independent from the degree of intracranial hypertension. Acetazolamide treatment is effective in most cases, and it represents a viable alternative to repeated LP. Resumen: Introducción: El síndrome de hipertensión intracraneal idiopática o seudotumor cerebri (STC) en niños está en constante revisión, respecto a su definición, etiologías asociadas, diagnóstico y terapéutica más apropiada. Objetivos y métodos: Se revisaron los casos de STC 25cmH2O por punción lumbar (PL), con estudio de resonancia magnética cerebral sin lesión ocupante de espacio. Resultados: Se registró a 12 niños con STC, media de edad de 10 años, 90% mujeres. Todos presentaban peso normal. El 82% manifestaba síntomas: cefalea (66%), diplopía (8%) o baja visión (8%). Todos asociaban papiledema (17% unilateral). La PL fue diagnóstica en el 100% y la neuroimagen fue normal en el 91%. Se evidenció un posible desencadenante en 5 casos (2 farmacológico y 3 infeccioso por Mycoplasma pneumoniae [M. pneumoniae]). El 91% recibió tratamiento médico: en el 75% consistió en PL repetidas y en el 42% solo acetazolamida y/o prednisona. La evolución fue favorable en todos ellos. Conclusiones: La incidencia de STC fue de aproximadamente 1/100.000 niños/año, similar a estudios previos. En esta población, el sobrepeso no es un factor de riesgo. La infección por M. pneumoniae podría actuar como desencadenante de STC y favorecer recurrencias tardías. La ausencia de síntomas parece independiente del grado de presión intracraneal. El tratamiento con acetazolamida es eficaz en la mayoría de los casos, desterrando el uso de PL repetidas. Keywords: Headache, Diplopia, Childhood, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Papilloedema, Pseudotumour cerebri, Palabras clave: Cefalea, Diplopía, Infancia, Hipertensión intracraneal benigna, Papiledema, Seudotumor cerebr

Síndrome opsoclono-mioclono: características clínicas, aspectos terapéuticos y factores pronósticos en una cohorte pediátrica española

Resumen: Introducción: El síndrome opsoclono-mioclono-ataxia es un raro trastorno de inicio pediátrico; de base neuroinflamatoria y origen paraneoplásico, parainfeccioso o idiopático. Actualmente no hay biomarcadores, siendo el diagnóstico clínico. El pronóstico cognitivo parece estar relacionado con el inicio temprano de la terapia inmunomoduladora. Método: Se describen las características epidemiológicas, clínicas, terapéuticas y pronósticas a largo plazo de una cohorte de 20 pacientes españoles. Resultados: La edad media de debut fue de 21 meses (2-59 meses). La ataxia y el opsoclonus fueron los síntomas de inicio más frecuentes y predominantes en la evolución. El tiempo medio desde los primeros síntomas hasta el diagnóstico fue de 1,1 mes. Un tumor de extirpe neuroblástica fue detectado en el 45%, realizándose resección quirúrgica en siete y quimioterapia en dos pacientes. En el estudio de líquido cefalorraquídeo se constató pleocitosis en cuatro (25%), con negatividad de anticuerpos antineuronales y bandas oligoclonales en todos los casos estudiados. En el 100% se emplearon fármacos inmunomoduladores. En nueve pacientes el tratamiento combinado inmunomodulador se inició desde el momento del diagnóstico, y en cinco el tiempo medio de implementación fue de 2,2 meses. A largo plazo, seis de 10 pacientes con seguimiento superior a cinco años presentaban secuelas cognitivas leves o moderadas; cuatro pacientes presentaron recaídas, generalmente coincidiendo con el descenso de la corticoterapia. Conclusiones: El inicio precoz de la inmunoterapia, así como de la triple terapia en los casos que lo precisaron, se relacionó con una menor frecuencia de afectación cognitiva a los dos años del debut. Abstract: Introduction: Opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome is a rare neuroinflammatory disorder with onset during childhood; aetiology may be paraneoplastic, para-infectious, or idiopathic. No biomarkers have yet been identified, and diagnosis is clinical. Better cognitive prognosis appears to be related to early onset of immunomodulatory therapy. Methods: We describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and long-term prognostic characteristics of a cohort of 20 Spanish patients. Results: The mean age of onset was 21 months (range, 2-59). Ataxia and opsoclonus were the most frequent symptoms both at disease onset and throughout disease progression. The mean time from onset to diagnosis was 1.1 months. Neuroblast lineage tumours were detected in 45% of patients; these were treated with surgical resection in 7 cases and chemotherapy in 2. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed pleocytosis in 4 cases (25%) and neither antineuronal antibodies nor oligoclonal bands were detected in any patient. Immunomodulatory drugs were used in all cases. Nine patients started combined immunomodulatory treatment at the time of diagnosis, and 5 patients after a mean of 2.2 months. In the long term, 6 of the 10 patients followed up for more than 5 years presented mild or moderate cognitive sequelae. Four patients presented relapses, generally coinciding with the decrease of corticosteroid doses. Conclusions: Early initiation of immunotherapy, as well as triple combination therapy, where needed, was associated with a lower frequency of cognitive impairment 2 years after onset