Publications by authors named "Cigdem S Kasapkara"

Article Synopsis
  • Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes (MDDSs) are a group of complex genetic disorders being studied for their occurrence in young children with liver problems.
  • The research involved 40 children under 5 years old, mostly showing symptoms like jaundice, liver enlargement, and elevated lactate levels, with a significant diagnosis rate using genetic tests.
  • The findings suggest that common demographic and lab tests aren't enough for diagnosing these inherited conditions, as only 22.5% were diagnosed with MDDS while around 42.5% were diagnosed with more comprehensive genetic analysis.
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Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are a group of inherited inborn metabolism errors that are characterized by a deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme. In patients with suspected lipid storage disorders, confirmation of the diagnosis relies predominantly on the measurement of specific enzymatic activities and molecular genetic studies. New approaches to the measurement of lysosphingolipids have been developed that may serve as a rapid first-tier screening tests for the evaluation of lysosomal storage disorders.

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Introduction: Inherited 5-oxoprolinase (OPLAH) deficiency is a rare inborn condition characterized by 5-oxoprolinuria. The inherited condition of 5-oxoprolinuria, or pyroglutamic aciduria, is primarily caused by mutations in the genes that encode glutathione synthetase (GSS) and 5-oxoprolinase (OPLAH), which are enzymes involved in the gamma-glutamyl cycle in glutathione metabolism. We report a 3-year-old male patient with epilepsy and speech difficulty diagnosed as primary 5-oxoprolinuria due to a novel gene mutation.

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Introduction: Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) constitute a group of metabolic disorders characterized by the accumulation of substrates within lysosomes. For their treatment, disease-specific enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is employed. In cases of hypersensitivity reactions that may occur during these treatments, desensitization of enzyme therapy becomes necessary.

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Objective: Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an inherited metabolic disorder characterized by progressive neurologic and extraneurologic findings. The aim of this retrospective, descriptive study was to explore the time of presentation and diagnosis, and to expand the phenotype and genotype of CTX, based on a nationwide and comprehensive series of patients in Turkey.

Methods: The demographic, clinical, biochemical and genotypic characteristics of the CTX patients were reviewed.

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The mitochondrial phosphate carrier is critical for adenosine triphosphate synthesis by serving as the primary means for mitochondrial phosphate import across the inner membrane. Variants in the SLC25A3 gene coding mitochondrial phosphate carrier lead to failure in inorganic phosphate transport across mitochondria. The critical dependence on mitochondria as an energy source is especially evident in tissues with high-energy demands such as the heart, muscle; defects in the mitochondrial energy production machinery underlie a wide range of primary mitochondrial disorders that present with cardiac and muscle diseases.

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Introduction: Primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by loss of function mutations in the solute carrier family 22 member 5 () gene that encodes a high-affinity sodium-ion-dependent organic cation transporter protein (OCTN2). Carnitine deficiency can result in acute metabolic decompensation or, in a more insidious presentation, cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy associated with PCD often presents with life-threatening heart failure.

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Introduction: Sepiapterin reductase deficiency (SRD) is an exceedingly rare neurotransmitter disease caused by an enzyme error involved in the synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). It has been described in nearly 60 cases so far. The clinical manifestations include motor and speech delay, axial hypotonia, dystonia, weakness, oculogyric crises, diurnal fluctuation, and improvement of symptoms during sleep.

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Background: Alpha mannosidosis is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the MAN2B1 gene. It manifests with clinical features, including intellectual disability, hearing impairment, coarse facial appearance, skeletal anomalies, immunodeficiency, central nervous system involvement, psychiatric comorbidities, corneal opacity, and hepatosplenomegaly. This multicenter study assesses the long-term outcomes of individuals diagnosed with alpha-mannosidosis, examining demographic, clinical, laboratory, and molecular characteristics.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the FA2H gene variants linked to spastic paraplegia type 35 (SPG35), which are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and can also be associated with leukodystrophy and neurodegeneration involving brain iron accumulation.
  • A case is presented of a Turkish girl who experienced a spastic gait and other progressive motor issues starting at age seven, ultimately leading to a diagnosis after genetic testing revealed a harmful variant in the FA2H gene.
  • The findings suggest that although brain imaging showed no iron deposits in this patient, doctors should consider neurodegeneration due to FA2H variants in patients with early childhood gait deterioration, highlighting the diverse clinical manifestations of this condition.
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Article Synopsis
  • Sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) is linked to mutations in the SGPL1 gene, leading to various severe health issues, including nephrotic syndrome and adrenal insufficiency.
  • A case of a Turkish infant revealed a previously unreported mutation in the SGPL1 gene, causing a range of symptoms like hypocalcemia, ptosis, and abnormal brain imaging results.
  • The findings emphasize that SPLIS should not only be considered in nephrotic syndrome cases but also in patients showing additional signs like neurological disorders and hypocalcemia.
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Biotinidase deficiency (BD) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder which results from the inability of biotin-dependent carboxylase enzymes to function due to the release and absorption of biotin, leading to neurological and cutaneous findings. In the present study, evaluation of demographic characteristics, clinical findings, laboratory results, molecular genetic characteristics, and genotype-phenotype correlations of cases with BD. Two hundred forty-seven cases were included in the study who were admitted to the Department of Pediatric Metabolism of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital after being identified with potential BD through the Newborn Screening Program (NBS), during family screening or based on suspicious clinical findings, or following the detection of a pathogenic variant in a BTD genetic analysis during the period of October 2020 and February 2022.

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Objectives: Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type 1b is a multisystemic disease in which immune and infectious complications are present, different from GSD type 1a. Treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is often required in the management of neutropenia and inflammatory bowel disease. Recently, an alternative treatment option to G-CSF has been preferred, like empagliflozin.

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Aim: The implementation of newborn screening programs for inborn errors of metabolism has advanced the diagnosis and management of affected infants and undoubtedly improved their outcomes. We aimed to determine out-of-pocket health expenditures of patients with inborn errors of metabolism during follow-up and treatment processes and to determine the economic burden on the families.

Materials And Methods: A total of 232 patients who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study and were regularly followed up in the Department of Pediatric Metabolism with the diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism between April 2022 and July 2022 were included.

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Article Synopsis
  • AADC deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that impacts the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and serotonin, diagnosed via CSF/plasma analysis, AADC activity measurement, and genetic testing for the DDC gene.
  • In a study involving 348 patients, researchers identified 26 new DDC variants and analyzed their prevalence, finding that a specific splice variant, c.714+4A>T, was the most common, particularly prevalent in Taiwan and China.
  • The majority of identified genotypes were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, with only one benign variant reported, and most AADC protein variants impacted protein function significantly based on their structural characteristics.*
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Introduction: Succinate dehydrogenase deficiency, also known as mitochondrial complex II deficiency, is a rare inborn error of metabolism, accounting for approximately 2% of mitochondrial disease. Mutations in the four genes and have been reported resulting in diverse clinical presentations. The vast majority of clinically affected individuals reported in the literature harbor genetic variants within the gene and present with a Leigh syndrome phenotype, clinically defined as a subacute necrotizing encephalopathy.

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4H syndrome is a rare progressive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. Hypomyelination, hypodontia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are the 3 classic features of 4H syndrome. Biallelic pathogenic variants in POLR3A, POLR3B, POLR1C, and POLR3K gene cause 4H leukodystrophy.

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Objectives: Asparagine-dependent glycosylation 11-congenital disorders of glycosylation (ALG11-CDG) is a rare autosomal recessive N-glycosylation defect with multisystem involvement particularly neurological symptoms such as epilepsy and neuromotor developmental delay.

Case Presentation: A 31-month-old male patient admitted to our center with complaints of axial hypotonia, drug-resistant myoclonic seizures, microcephaly and deafness. The electroencephalography (EEG) showed a burst-suppression pattern without hypsarrhythmia.

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Introduction: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a broad class of inherited lysosomal storage disorders. Known mutations in at least 13 different genes can result in NCL with variable ages of onset, symptoms, and pathologic findings. Generally, these patients experience cognitive and motor decline, seizures, visual impairment, and premature death.

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Article Synopsis
  • Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are genetic diseases that affect the process of glycosylation, impacting the functioning of glycoproteins and glycolipids, leading to various health issues.
  • SRD5A3-CDG, a specific type of CDG, presents with a wide range of symptoms including neurological, ophthalmological, dermatological, and liver-related problems, along with a connection to brain cancer development.
  • The report includes a case study of a patient with a unique genetic variant of SRD5A3-CDG who also has a brain tumor, supplemented by a literature review on the disease's systemic effects.
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The number of synthetic biology-based solutions employed in the medical industry is growing every year. The whole cell biosensors being one of them, have been proven valuable tools for developing low-cost, portable, personalized medicine alternatives to conventional techniques. Based on this concept, we targeted one of the major health problems in the world, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

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Arginase 1(ARG1) deficiency is a rare disorder of the urea cycle. The presentation is usually late, leading to loss of intellectual milestones, spasticity and liver involvement. Hyperammonemic crises are rarely encountered.

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X-linked ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is the most common urea cycle defect. The disease severity ranges from asymptomatic carrier state to severe neonatal presentation with hyperammonaemic encephalopathy. We audited the diagnosis and management of OTCD, using an online 12-question-survey that was sent to 75 metabolic centres in Turkey, France and the UK.

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