Abstract
Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a recessively inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive intellectual disability, skeletal abnormalities, connective tissue overgrowth, gait disturbance, and seizures followed by premature death. AGU is caused by pathogenic variants in the aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) gene, leading to glycoasparagine accumulation and cellular dysfunction. Although more prevalent in the Finnish population, more than 30 AGA variants have been identified worldwide. Owing to its rarity, AGU may be largely underdiagnosed. Recognition of the following early clinical features may aid in AGU diagnosis: developmental delays, hyperactivity, early growth spurt, inguinal and abdominal hernias, clumsiness, characteristic facial features, recurring upper respiratory and ear infections, tonsillectomy, multiple sets of tympanostomy tube placement, and sleep problems. Although no curative therapies currently exist, early diagnosis may provide benefit through the provision of anticipatory guidance, management of expectations, early interventions, and prophylaxis; it will also be crucial for increased clinical benefits of future AGU disease-modifying therapies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 403-414 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Child Neurology |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank the patients and their families for their participation. Medical writing assistance was provided by Marjet Heitzer, PhD, of 360 Medical Writing and supported by Neurogene Inc.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords
- adolescents
- children
- genetics
- intellectual disability
- lysosomal disease
- mutation
- pediatric
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review