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Late diagnosis and atypical brain imaging of Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome: are we failing to diagnose Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome-2?

ABSTRACT: Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a rare disorder with in utero or postnatal onset of encephalopathy and progressive neurological deterioration. The seven genetic subtypes of AGS are associated with abnormal type I interferon-mediated innate immune response. Most patients with AGS present with progressive microcephaly, spasticity, and cognitive impairment. Some, especially those with type 2 (AGS2), manifest milder phenotypes, reduced childhood mortality, and relative preservation of physical and cognitive abilities. In this report, we describe two siblings (sister and brother) diagnosed with AGS2 in their second decade, who exhibited static encephalopathy since 1 year of age with spastic quadriplegia and anarthria but preserved intellect. Both were homozygous for the common pathogenic RNASEH2B allele (c.529G>A, p.Ala177Thr). Rather than manifesting calcifications and leukoencephalopathy, both had increased iron signal in the basal ganglia. Our report broadens the clinical and imaging spectrum of AGS2 and emphasizes the importance of including AGS2 in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic spastic cerebral palsy.

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We identified two siblings (sister and brother) with atypical Aicardi-Goutières syndrome type 2 due to RNASEH2B mutation. Manifestations included spastic quadriplegia and anarthria but preserved intellect and increased iron signal in the basal ganglia. RNASEH2B-related Aicardi-Goutières syndrome type 2 can have present with a variable phenotype, including idiopathic spastic cerebral palsy.

SUBMITTER: Svingen L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5685901 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Late diagnosis and atypical brain imaging of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome: are we failing to diagnose Aicardi-Goutières syndrome-2?

Svingen Leah L Goheen Mitchell M Godfrey Rena R Wahl Colleen C Baker Eva H EH Gahl William A WA Malicdan May Christine V MCV Toro Camilo C

Developmental medicine and child neurology 20170801 12

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a rare disorder with in utero or postnatal onset of encephalopathy and progressive neurological deterioration. The seven genetic subtypes of AGS are associated with abnormal type I interferon-mediated innate immune response. Most patients with AGS present with progressive microcephaly, spasticity, and cognitive impairment. Some, especially those with type 2 (AGS2), manifest milder phenotypes, reduced childhood mortality, and relative preservation of physical a ...[more]

PMID: 28762473

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Project description:BackgroundBecause of the broad clinical spectrum, heritable autoinflammatory diseases present a management and therapeutic challenge. The most common genetic interferonopathy, Aicardi Goutières Syndrome (AGS), is associated with early onset neurologic disability and systemic inflammation. The chronic inflammation of AGS is the result of dysregulation of interferon (IFN) expression by one of nine genes within converging pathways. While each AGS subtype shares common features, distinct patterns of severity and potential for systemic complications amongst the genotypes are emerging. Multilineage cytopenias are a potentially serious, but poorly understood, complication of AGS. As immunomodulatory treatment options are developed, it is important to characterize the role of the disease versus treatment in hematologic abnormalities. This will allow for better understanding and management of cytopenia.MethodsIn total, 142 individuals with molecularly-confirmed AGS were included. Information on genotype, demographics, and all available hematologic laboratory values were collected from existing medical records. As part of a clinical trial, a subset of this cohort (n = 52) were treated with a janus kinase inhibitor (baricitinib), and both pre- and post-treatment values were included. Abnormal values were graded based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v5.0), supplemented with grading definitions for thrombocytosis, and were compared across genotypes and baricitinib exposure.ResultsIn total, 11,184 laboratory values were collected over a median of 2.54 years per subject (range 0-22.68 years). To reduce bias from repeated sampling within a limited timeframe, laboratory results were restricted to the most abnormal value within a month (n = 8485). The most common abnormalities were anemia (noted in 24% of subjects prior to baricitinib exposure), thrombocytopenia (9%), and neutropenia (30%). Neutropenia was most common in the SAMHD1 cohort and increased with baricitinib exposure (38/69 measurements on baricitinib versus 14/121 while not on baricitinib). Having an abnormality prior to treatment was associated with having an abnormality on treatment for neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.ConclusionBy collecting available laboratory data throughout the lifespan, we were able to identify novel patterns of hematologic abnormalities in AGS. We found that AGS results in multilineage cytopenias not limited to the neonatal period. Neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were common. Moderate-severe graded events of neutropenia, anemia, and leukopenia were more common on baricitinib, but rarely of clinical consequence. Based on these results, we would recommend careful monitoring of hematologic parameters of children affected by AGS throughout the lifespan, especially while on therapy, and consideration of AGS as a potential differential diagnosis in children with neurologic impairment of unclear etiology with hematologic abnormalities. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01724580 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03921554.