Welsink-Karssies, Mendy M. and Ferinandusse, Sacha and Geurtsen, Gert J and Hollak, Carla E M and Huidekoper, Hidde H and Janssen, Mirian C H and Langendonk, Janneke G and van der Lee, Johanna H and O'Flaherty, Roisin and Oostrom, Kim J and Roosendaal, Stefan and Rubio-Gozalbo, M. Estela and Saldova, Radka and Treacy, Eileen P and Vaz, Fred M and de Vries, Maaike C and Engelen, Marc and Bosch, Annet M
(2020)
Deep phenotyping classical galactosemia:
clinical outcomes and biochemical markers.
Brain Communications, 2 (1).
pp. 1-16.
ISSN 2632-1297
Abstract
Early diagnosis and dietary treatment do not prevent long-term complications, which mostly affect the central nervous system in
classical galactosemia patients. The clinical outcome of patients is highly variable, and there is an urgent need for prognostic biomarkers. The aim of this study was first to increase knowledge on the natural history of classical galactosemia by studying a cohort
of patients with varying geno- and phenotypes and second to study the association between clinical outcomes and two possible
prognostic biomarkers. In addition, the association between abnormalities on brain MRI and clinical outcomes was investigated.
Classical galactosemia patients visiting the galactosemia expertise outpatient clinic of the Amsterdam University Medical Centre
were evaluated according to the International Classical Galactosemia guideline with the addition of an examination by a neurologist, serum immunoglobulin G N-glycan profiling and a brain MRI. The biomarkers of interest were galactose-1-phosphate levels
and N-glycan profiles, and the clinical outcomes studied were intellectual outcome and the presence or absence of movement disorders and/or primary ovarian insufficiency. Data of 56 classical galactosemia patients are reported. The intellectual outcome ranged
from 45 to 103 (mean 77 6 14) and was <85 in 62%. Movement disorders were found in 17 (47%) of the 36 tested patients. In
females aged 12 years and older, primary ovarian insufficiency was diagnosed in 12 (71%) of the 17 patients. Significant differences in N-glycan peaks were found between controls and patients. However, no significant differences in either N-glycans or galactose-1-phosphate levels were found between patients with a poor (intellectual outcome < 85) and normal intellectual outcome (intellectual outcome 85), and with or without movement disorders or primary ovarian insufficiency. The variant patients detected by
newborn screening, with previously unknown geno- and phenotypes and currently no long-term complications, demonstrated significantly lower galactose-1-phospate levels than classical patients (P < 0.0005). Qualitative analysis of the MRI’s demonstrated
brain abnormalities in 18 of the 21 patients, more severely in patients with a lower intellectual outcome and/or with movement disorders. This study demonstrates a large variability in clinical outcome, which varies from a below average intelligence, movement
disorders and in females primary ovarian insufficiency to a normal clinical outcome. In our cohort of classical galactosemia
patients, galactose-1-phosphate levels and N-glycan variations were not associated with clinical outcomes, but galactose-1-phosphate levels did differentiate between classical and variant patients detected by newborn screening. The correlation between brain
abnormalities and clinical outcome should be further investigated by quantitative analysis of the MR images. The variability in
clinical outcome necessitates individual and standardized evaluation of all classical galactosemia patients.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Additional Information: |
These authors contributed equally to this work |
| Keywords: |
classical galactosemia; GALT deficiency; clinical outcome; MRI; prognostic biomarkers; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Chemistry |
| Item ID: |
15027 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcaa006 |
| Depositing User: |
Roisin O'Flaherty
|
| Date Deposited: |
16 Nov 2021 14:29 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Brain Communications |
| Publisher: |
Oxford University Press |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
Repository Staff Only(login required)
 |
Item control page |
Downloads per month over past year
Origin of downloads
Altmetric
Altmetric