Genetic and phenotypic variability in adult patients with Niemann Pick type C from Serbia: single-center experience

Abstract

Background: Niemann Pick type C is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in NPC1 and NPC2 genes. It is a neuro-visceral disease with a heterogeneous phenotype. Clinical features depend on the age at onset. Visceral manifestations are more prominent in the early onset (infantile) form, while neuro-psychiatric symptoms are more prominent in the late disease onset (juvenile and adult forms).

Methods: A total number of 150 patients have been screened for changes in NPC1 and NPC2 gene at the Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia in the period 2012-2020. Clinical data were extracted for patients with biallelic mutations.

Results: Fifteen patients carried biallelic mutations in the NPC1. Out of eight different reported NPC1 variants, four are novel (c.1204_1205TT>GC, p.F402A; c.2486T>G, p.L829R; c.2795+5 G>C; c.3722T>A, p.L1241*). The mean age at the disease onset was 20.3 ± 11.9 years with the average diagnostic delay of 7.7 ± 4.3 years. Movement disorders and psychiatric or cognitive disturbances were the most common initial symptoms (in 33% and 28% patients, respectively). The average age at the first neurological manifestation was 21 ± 12.0 years. At the last examination, eye movement abnormalities (vertical slow saccades or vertical supranuclear gaze palsy), and ataxia were present in all patients, while dystonia was common (in 78.6% of patients). Presence of c.2861C>T, p.S954L mutation in homozygous state was associated with older age at the neurological symptom onset.

Conclusions: Clinical findings were in line with the expected, but the diagnostic delay was common. We hypothesize that the presence of c.2861C>T, p.S954L mutation may contribute to the phenotype attenuation.

Keywords: Ataxia; Genotype; Niemann Pick disease, type C; Phenotype; Vertical supranuclear ophthalmoplegia.