A Perna1, M Masciullo2, A Modoni1, E Cellini3, E Parrini3, E Ricci1, A M Donati4, G Silvestri1. 1. Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart (UCSC), Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, Rome. 2. IRCSS Santa Lucia, Rome. 3. Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Pediatric Neurology Unit, A. Meyer Children's Hospital, Florence. 4. Metabolic and Neuromuscular Unit, A. Meyer Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Juvenile- or adult-onset forms of severe 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency manifesting as complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia have rarely been described. METHODS: Two siblings with mental retardation developed a progressive spastic paraparesis in their late teens. Their diagnostic assessment included extensive neurophysiologic, neuroimaging and metabolic studies. RESULTS: Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed occipital white matter alterations, and electromyography documented a mixed polyneuropathy. Severe hyperhomocisteinemia (>150 μmol/L) associated with the characteristic amino acid profile suggested a diagnosis of severe MTHFR deficiency, confirmed by MTHFR direct sequencing. Treatment with betaine and vitamins benefitted patients' symptoms and diagnostic features. CONCLUSIONS: Severe MTHFR deficiency can be a rare, treatable cause of autosomal recessive complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia. Its screening should be part of the diagnostic flowchart for these disorders.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Juvenile- or adult-onset forms of severe 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency manifesting as complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia have rarely been described. METHODS: Two siblings with mental retardation developed a progressive spastic paraparesis in their late teens. Their diagnostic assessment included extensive neurophysiologic, neuroimaging and metabolic studies. RESULTS: Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed occipital white matter alterations, and electromyography documented a mixed polyneuropathy. Severe hyperhomocisteinemia (>150 μmol/L) associated with the characteristic amino acid profile suggested a diagnosis of severe MTHFRdeficiency, confirmed by MTHFR direct sequencing. Treatment with betaine and vitamins benefitted patients' symptoms and diagnostic features. CONCLUSIONS: Severe MTHFRdeficiency can be a rare, treatable cause of autosomal recessive complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia. Its screening should be part of the diagnostic flowchart for these disorders.
Authors: Hélio A G Teive; Carlos Henrique F Camargo; Eduardo R Pereira; Léo Coutinho; Renato P Munhoz Journal: Neurogenetics Date: 2022-04-09 Impact factor: 3.017
Authors: Pachipala Sudheer; Ayush Agarwal; Ajay Garg; M V Padma Srivastava; Venugopalan Y Vishnu Journal: Ann Indian Acad Neurol Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 1.714