La sindrome di Zellweger: un lavoro di squadra

A 1-month female infant with hypotonia, feeding difficulties, facial dysmorphic signs, hepatomegaly and seizures was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Brain magnetic resonance revealed regions of cortical dysplasia, diffuse polymicrogyria (prominent in the frontal and perisylvian cortex), reduction of white matter volume, delayed myelination and germinolytic cysts. The result of the plasma dosage of very long chain fatty acids was very high. Genetic testing revealed a homozygous pathogenetic mutation of the HSD17B4 gene. Thus, clinical features together with biochemical and genetic findings led to the diagnosis of Zellweger spectrum disorder (ZSD). ZSD is included in peroxisome biogenesis disorders. Before the biochemical and molecular bases had been fully determined, ZSD was defined by a continuum of three phenotypes: Zellweger syndrome, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy and infantile Refsum disease. To identify a continuum of severity of the disease, the terms “severe,” “intermediate” and “milder” ZSD are now preferred. The individuals with ZSD mainly come to clinical attention in the newborn period or in childhood. Occasionally, the subtlety of symptoms delays diagnosis until adulthood. There is not specific therapy, in the severe ZSD prognosis is poor and survival is usually not beyond the first year of life.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for PEX1-Related Zellweger Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report and Literature Review

Zellweger spectrum disorder (ZSD) is a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by a defect in peroxisome formation and attributable to mutations in the PEX gene family. Patients with ZSD have profound neurologic impairments, including seizures, severe retardation, and dysmorphic features, and poor prognosis. Currently, there is no specific, effective treatment. Here, we investigated the effects of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) on PEX1-related ZSD. The suspected clinical proband was first diagnosed at the Department of Neurology of our hospital. The proband died soon after diagnosis, and his family was studied. We found that a brother had the same genetic alterations, and he was diagnosed with Infantile Refsum disease (IRD) as the mildest form of ZSD. We implemented treatment with allo-HSCT, at the request of the child's parents. After transplantation, we observed significant improvements in the clinical manifestations, very-long-chain fatty acids, and brain MRI. The patient has recovered well and not showed any abnormal clinical manifestations after 2 years of follow-up. We have achieved satisfactory short-term results in the treatment of ZSD-IRD with allo-HSCT. Long-term follow-up and observation will be performed to determine the long-term prognosis.