A novel variant in the GNE gene in a Malian patient presenting with distal myopathy.

Background: GNE myopathy (GM) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by variants in the gene and characterized by progressive distal muscle weakness and atrophy. We report a novel variant in the gene causing GM in a consanguineous Malian family.

Case Presentation: A 19-year-old male patient from a consanguineous family of Bambara ethnicity was seen for progressive walking difficulty and frequent falls. Neurological examination found distalmuscle weakness and atrophy and reduced tendon reflexes in four limbs. Electroneuromyography (ENMG) showed an axonal neuropathy pattern with reduced distal motor amplitudes. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) gene panel testing (Medical Neurogenetics LLC, Atlanta, GA) was negative. However, whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed a novel biallelic variant in (c.1838G>A:p.Gly613Glu), segregating with the phenotype in the family. This variant is predicted to be pathogenic by several prediction tools including CADD= 29. Moreover, protein folding model showed major structural disruptions in the mutant protein.

Conclusion: This study reports a novel variant in the gene causing GM, the first molecularly diagnosed in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It highlights the diagnosis challenges in this region and broadens the genetic spectrum of this rare disease.