Luspatercept, a two-edged sword in beta-thalassemia-associated paravertebral extramedullary hematopoietic masses (EHMs).

Paravertebral extramedullary hematopoietic masses (EHMs) account for up to 15% of extramedullary pseudotumors in beta-thalassemia (BT) and are most likely related to compensatory hematopoiesis. In most cases, pseudotumors are incidentally detected, as the majority of patients are asymptomatic. Since June 2020, luspatercept is approved for the treatment of patients with BT who require regular red blood cell transfusions.

Screening and diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies in Germany: Current state and future perspectives.

This monocentric study conducted at the Pediatric and Adult Hemoglobinopathy Outpatient Units of the University Hospital of Essen summarizes the results of hemoglobinopathies diagnosed between August 2018 and September 2021, prior to the introduction of a general newborn screening (NBS) for SCD in Germany (October 2021). In total, 339 patients (pts.), 182 pediatric [50.

Pregnancies and Neonatal Outcomes in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): Still a (High-)Risk Constellation?

Background: This monocentric study conducted at the University Hospital of Essen aims to describe maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes in sickle cell disease (SCD) documented between 1996 to 2021 (N = 53), reflecting the largest monocentric analysis carried out in Germany.

Methods/results: 46 pregnancies in 22 patients were followed. None of the patients died.

Succinyl-CoA:3-oxoacid coenzyme A transferase (SCOT) deficiency: A rare and potentially fatal metabolic disease.

Succinyl-CoA:3-oxoacid coenzyme A transferase deficiency (SCOTD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of ketone body utilization caused by mutations in OXCT1. We performed a systematic literature search and evaluated clinical, biochemical and genetic data on 34 previously published and 10 novel patients with SCOTD. Structural mapping and in silico analysis of protein variants is also presented.

Laboratory reporting on the clinical spectrum of CFTR p.Arg117His: Still room for improvement.

Background: The clinical spectrum associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) variant p.Arg117His is highly variable, ranging from full-blown cystic fibrosis (CF) in a small number of cases to CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RDs) or no symptoms at all. Therefore, taking into account phenotype variability is essential for interpretation.

Hypoparathyroidism, Sensorineural deafness and renal disease (Barakat syndrome) caused by a reduced gene dosage in GATA3: a case report and review of literature.

Background: Barakat syndrome is an autosomal dominant rare genetic disease caused by haploinsufficiency of the GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) gene. It is also known as HDR syndrome, and is characterized by varying degrees of hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness and renal disease. This is the first report of a heterozygous GATA3 whole gene deletion causing HDR syndrome in a Sri Lankan family.

A novel V272D presenilin mutation associated with logopenia, disorientation, and apraxia in an autosomal-dominant Alzheimer's disease family.

In the present study, a novel mutation in the presenilin 1 gene was discovered in an Iraq-native patient with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, who presented with speech impairment and memory decline at age 46 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a frontotemporal atrophy. Sanger sequencing identified a heterozygous T to A transversion at position 815 (c.

Heterozygous Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1, SLC16A1) Deficiency as a Cause of Recurrent Ketoacidosis.

We describe two half-siblings with monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1, SLC16A1) deficiency, a defect on ketone body utilization, that has only recently been identified (van Hasselt et al., N Engl J Med, 371:1900-1907, 2014) as a cause for recurrent ketoacidoses. Our index patient is a boy with non-consanguineous parents who had presented acutely with impaired consciousness and severe metabolic ketoacidosis following a 3-day history of gastroenteritis at age 5 years.

A novel presenilin 1 mutation (Ala275Val) as cause of early-onset familial Alzheimer disease.

Mutations in the presenilin 1 (PS1) gene (PSEN1) are associated with familial Alzheimer disease (FAD). Here, we report on a 50-year-old patient presenting with progressive deterioration of his short-term memory and a family history of early-onset dementia. Diagnostic workup included a neuropsychological examination, structural magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers including total tau, phosphorylated tau, and Aβ42 levels, as well as sequencing relevant fragments of the genes PSEN1, PSEN2, and APP.

Novel APP/Aβ mutation K16N produces highly toxic heteromeric Aβ oligomers.

Here, we describe a novel missense mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) causing a lysine-to-asparagine substitution at position 687 (APP770; herein, referred to as K16N according to amyloid-β (Aβ) numbering) resulting in an early onset dementia with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The K16N mutation is located exactly at the α-secretase cleavage site and influences both APP and Aβ. First, due to the K16N mutation APP secretion is affected and a higher amount of Aβ peptides is being produced.

Hereditary hyperferritinemia-cataract syndrome (HHCS) presenting with iron deficiency anemia associated with a new mutation in the iron responsive element of the L ferritin gene in a Swiss family.

Hereditary hyperferritinemia-cataract syndrome (HHCS) is one of the differential diagnoses of hyperferritinemia (HF) with low or normal transferrin saturation but is usually not associated with anemia. Here, we report a case of a microcytic, hypochromic anemia with hyperferritinemia as the initial presentation of a combination of iron deficiency anemia and HHCS. The latter is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by distinctive cataracts and HF in the absence of iron overload.