Publications by authors named "Norma Specola"

Introduction: Late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2), is a neurodegenerative autosomal recessive disease caused by gene variants with a spectrum of classic and atypical phenotypes. The aim of treatment is to slow functional decline as early as possible in an attempt to improve quality of life and survival. This study describes the clinical characteristics as well as the response to treatment with cerliponase alfa.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To characterize adherence to Phenylketonuria (PKU) management practices among PKU patients treated at reference sites around Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, multicenter, and multinational survey-based study using aggregate data. From an initial list of 40 sites, 22 clinicians expressed interest in completing the survey, with 20 clinicians from 20 unique sites fulfilling all the study criteria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) is a disorder of the lysosomal metabolism due to biallelic pathogenic variants in NPC1 or NPC2. Intracellular deposit of lipids, mainly unesterified cholesterol, gives rise to oxidative damage in several tissues, mainly neurons, spleen and liver. This, in turn, is associated with a myriad of neurological / psychiatric and visceral symptoms, with wide variability in age of presentation, from prenatal / neonatal to adult-onset forms of the disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - This study examined how phenylketonuria (PKU) is diagnosed and managed through diet in Latin America, using a survey sent to healthcare professionals across 14 countries.
  • - Results showed that screenings for PKU are common, but dietary management varies greatly, with most countries lacking flavored amino acid substitutes and low-protein foods, and only a few having resources like nutrient analysis software.
  • - Key barriers to effective treatment included low purchasing power, insufficient availability of low-protein foods, and inadequate technical resources, highlighting a need for improved dietary support for PKU patients in the region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Here we describe the current challenges of mucopolysaccharidosis type I: the need for an adequate classification, establishing its relationship to therapeutic indications; an early diagnosis, from neonatal screening, its advantages and barriers, to clinical suspicion of severe and attenuated forms; spinal and eye disease care, from diagnosis to follow-up and treatment; allergic reactions caused by enzyme replacement therapy, their diagnosis and treatment. And lastly, transition to adult care.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Advances in mucopolysaccharidosis type I since a 2008 consensus study by Argentine experts were reviewed, focusing on genetic testing and monitoring various health aspects.
  • - Updated recommendations include cardiological follow-up, airway care, hearing impairment detection, and assessments of spinal and neurological conditions.
  • - The study highlights the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and interdisciplinary care for better patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) disease is an autosomal recessive inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1) enzyme, leading to progressive deterioration of neurological functions commonly occurring in children aged 2-4 years and culminating in early death. Atypical cases associated with earlier or later symptom onset, or even protracted course, have already been reported. Such variable manifestations may constitute an additional challenge to early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal-recessive disorder caused by mutations in the PAH gene, with a global prevalence of about 1 in 23,930 live births, affecting approximately 450,000 individuals worldwide.
  • A study of 16,092 PKU patients across 51 countries found significant variations in disease severity, with 62% classified as classic PKU, 22% as mild PKU, and 16% as mild hyperphenylalaninemia; this also showed a geographic gradient in phenotype severity across Europe.
  • The research identified the most common PAH variants and allowed for genotype-to-phenotype prediction, enabling better tailoring of treatments based on individual patient genetics
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Leukodystrophies and genetic leukoencephalopathies are challenging to diagnose due to their diverse genetic causes and non-specific clinical presentations, with molecular diagnostic success still under 50%.
  • A study involving 46 patients aimed to enhance diagnostic accuracy by using both traditional molecular tools and next-generation sequencing, leading to a global diagnostic yield of 57.9%.
  • Results showed that common conditions identified included adrenoleukodystrophy and CADASIL, demonstrating that the new diagnostic approach can provide better cost-effectiveness and higher diagnostic yield in identifying these disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pompe disease, also known as acid maltase deficiency or glycogenosis type II, is a rare severe, autosomal, recessive, and progressive genetic disorder caused by deficiency in alpha-glucosidase. The classic infantile-onset is the most broadly known form of Pompe disease, which presents with severe heart involvement and clear hypotonia, while the non-classic presentation occurs with early motor involvement. Late-onset Pompe disease develops in adults, but it may also occur during childhood or adolescence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) are genetic diseases caused by hypoglycosylation of glycoproteins and glycolipids. Most CDG are multisystem disorders with mild to severe involvement.

Methods: We studied 554 patients (2007-2017) with a clinical phenotype compatible with a CDG.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cellular cobalamin defects are a locus and allelic heterogeneous disorder. The gold standard for coming to genetic diagnoses of cobalamin defects has for some time been gene-by-gene Sanger sequencing of individual DNA fragments. Enzymatic and cellular methods are employed before such sequencing to help in the selection of the gene defects to be sought, but this is time-consuming and laborious.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aromatic l-aminoacid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a neurotransmitter defect leading to a combined deficiency of catecholamines and serotonin. Patients are usually detected in infancy due to developmental delay, hypotonia, and extrapyramidal movements. Diagnosis is based on an abnormal neurotransmitter metabolite profile in CSF and reduced AADC activity in plasma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF