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Abstract Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal disorder caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ARSA), leading to an accumulation of sulfatides. Sulfatides have been quantified in urine, dried blood spots (DBS), and tissues of patients with MLD. Newborn screening (NBS) for MLD has already been proposed based on a two‐tier approach with the quantification of sulfatides in DBS followed by the quantification of ARSA by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Prenatal screening for MLD is also crucial, and sulfatide quantification in amniotic fluid (AF) can aid diagnosis. The prenatal study was initiated due to a family history of MLD at 19 weeks of gestation. ARSA was quantified in cultured amniocytes. C16:0 sulfatide was quantified by LC‐MS/MS in the supernatant of AF. Molecular analysis of the ARSA gene was performed in cultured amniocytes. ARSA was deficient in fetal cells, and C16:0 sulfatides were significantly elevated in comparison to age‐matched controls (3‐fold higher). Genetic studies identified the c.465+1G>A variant in homozygosis in the ARSA gene. Our study shows that sulfatides can be quantified in the supernatant of AF of MLD fetuses, and it could potentially aid in a faster and more accurate diagnosis of MLD patients.

OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência das malformações encontradas nos fetos com trissomia dos cromossomos 13, 18 e 21, identificando as mais frequentes em cada condição. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal retrospectivo, com análise dos casos de trissomias dos cromossomos 13, 18 e 21 que foram diagnosticados pelo cariótipo fetal obtido por amniocentese/cordocentese, entre outubro de 1994 e maio de 2014, em um Hospital de Ensino da região Sul do Brasil. Foram descritas as malformações identificadas no exame ultrassonográfico morfológico e, posteriormente, confirmadas em exames do recém-nascido e/ou por necropsia fetal. Os resultados foram analisados por meio do teste de Fisher e da análise de variância (ANOVA). O nível de significância empregado foi 5% (p=0,05). RESULTADOS: Em 840 exames realizados, foram diagnosticados 69 casos de trissomias; nove deles foram excluídos por desfecho ocorrido fora do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre ou prontuário incompleto, restando 60 casos (nove de trissomia do cromossomo 13, 26 do cromossomo 18 e 25 do cromossomo 21). As cardiopatias ocorreram, na maioria dos casos, nos três grupos; a comunicação interventricular foi mais prevalente, em 66,7% do grupo da trissomia 13. As anomalias gastrintestinais aconteceram mais no grupo da trissomia 18, principalmente a onfalocele (38,5%; p

OBJETIVO: Identificar a etiologia da hidropisia fetal não imune em gestantes diagnosticadas e encaminhadas para acompanhamento pré-natal. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com análise dos casos de hidropisia fetal não imune que foram acompanhados entre março de 1992 e dezembro de 2011. Os casos tiveram confirmação diagnóstica pela presença de edema de subcutâneo fetal (≥5 mm) com derrame em pelo menos uma cavidade serosa por meio da ultrassonografia obstétrica, e a investigação etiológica foi realizada com pesquisa citogenética (cariótipo), infecciosa (sífilis, parvovírus B19, toxoplasmose, rubéola, citomegalovírus, adenovírus e herpes simples), hematológica e metabólica (erros inatos), além de com ecocardiografia fetal. Foram excluídas as gestações gemelares. A análise estatística foi efetuada pelo teste do χ² para aderência (software R 2.11.1). RESULTADOS: Foram incluídas 116 pacientes com hidropisia fetal não imune, sendo que 91 casos (78,5%) tiveram a etiologia elucidada e 25 casos (21,5%) foram classificados como causa idiopática. A etiologia cromossômica foi a que apresentou maior número de casos, totalizando 26 (22,4%), seguida da etiologia linfática com 15 casos (12,9%, sendo 11 casos de higroma cístico), da etiologia cardiovascular e da infecciosa com 14 casos cada (12,1%). Os demais casos tiveram etiologia torácica em 6,9% (oito casos), síndromes malformativas em 4,3% (cinco casos), tumores extratorácicos em 3,4% (quatro casos), metabólica em 1,7% (dois casos), hematológica, gastrintestinal e geniturinária em 0,9% cada (um caso cada). No período pós-natal, foram seguidos 104 casos por até 40 dias de vida, 12 casos tiveram morte fetal intrauterina. A sobrevida desses 104 recém-nascidos foi de 23,1% (24 sobreviveram). CONCLUSÃO: a etiologia da hidropisia diagnosticada na gestação deve tentar ser esclarecida, uma vez que está associada a um amplo espectro de doenças. É especialmente importante para determinar se uma condição potencialmente tratável está presente e para identificar doenças com risco de recorrência em futuras gestações para aconselhamento pré-concepcional adequado.PURPOSE: To identify the etiology of nonimmune hydrops fetalis cases in pregnant women diagnosed and referred for prenatal care. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of cases with nonimmune hydrops fetalis that were monitored between March 1992 and December 2011. Diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of fetal subcutaneous edema (≥5 mm) with effusion in at least one serous cavity using obstetric ultrasound, and etiological investigation was conducted with cytogenetic (karyotype), infectious (syphilis, parvovirus B19, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus and herpes simplex), hematologic and metabolic (inborn errors) analysis and fetal echocardiography. Twin pregnancies were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ² test for adhesion (software R 2.11.1). RESULTS: We included 116 patients with nonimmune hydrops fetalis; the etiology was elucidated in 91 cases (78.5%), while 25 cases (21.5%) were classified as idiopathic. Most cases had a chromosomal etiology, for a total of 26 cases (22.4%), followed by lymphatic etiology with 15 cases (12.9% with 11 cases of cystic hygroma), and cardiovascular and infectious etiology with 14 cases each (12.1%). In the remaining cases, the etiology was thoracic in 6.9% (eight cases), malformation syndromes in 4.3% (five cases), extrathoracic tumors in 3.4% (four cases), metabolic in 1.7% (two cases), and hematologic, gastrointestinal and genitourinary in 0.9% (one case each). During the postnatal period, 104 cases were followed up until the 40th day of life, and 12 cases had intrauterine fetal death. The survival rate of these 104 newborns was 23.1% (24 survived). CONCLUSION: An attempt should be made to clarify the etiology of hydrops diagnosed during pregnancy since the condition is associated with a wide spectrum of diseases. It is especially important to determine whether a potentially treatable condition is present and to identify disease at risk for recurrence in future pregnancies for adequate pre-conception counseling.

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA; Morquio A syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficient N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase activity, leading to cellular storage of undegraded keratan sulfate. Recently enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) was approved for MPS IVA, but some of ERT effects are still unknown. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of elosulfase alfa upon glycosaminoglycan (GAG) storage in peripheral blood white blood cells of patients with MPS IVA treated for 6 months, comparing samples from patients who received weekly infusions of enzyme (ERT-W) versus infusions every other week (ERT-EOW) versus placebo. A significant reduction in GAG storage was observed in both ERT-treated groups, with weekly ERT showing slightly better performance than ERT-EOW.

Introduction: During the past few decades, the number of diseases identified to be caused by chromosomal microdeletions has increased quickly, bringing a new and crucial role for cytogenetics on the diagnosis of these conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize chromosomal microdeletions associated with malformation syndromes and intellectual disability. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a consecutive series of samples from a cohort of 598 subjects with clinical symptoms of a microdeletion syndrome, including the deletion of chromosomes 4p16.3, 5p15.2, 5q35, 7q11.23, 8q24.12, 15q11.2, 16p13.3, 17p13.3, 17p11.2,2, and 22q11.2, as investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) was performed on 25 samples with microdeletions. Results: A total of 598 samples were evaluated from patients whose clinical phenotypes were most indicative of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (29.10%), Prader-Willi syndrome (23.41%), Angelman syndrome (16.89%), and Williams-Beuren syndrome (14.72%). In 142 of the samples (23.75%), a chromosomal imbalance associated with phenotypic abnormalities was found. The deletion of 7q11.23 was the most frequent (8.03%), followed by del22q11.2 (5.68%) and del15q11.2 (5%). Conclusion: Our study reinforces the idea that the effort to improve the capacity to perform molecular cytogenetic investigations associated with a qualified clinical evaluation is crucial for the detection and precise characterization of submicroscopic chromosome deletions, bringing benefits to patients, relatives, and genetic counselors. It also contributes to the continuing education of cytogeneticists and to the knowledge of chromosomal rearrangements associated with genomic disorders.

Introduction: Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPSII) is an X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS). In this study, we proposed a new protocol for prenatal diagnosis, using DNA obtained from amniotic fluid cells that did not attach to the bottom of the culture flask after the first medium change. Methods: Four pregnant MPS II carriers were referred to the Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clinicas dePorto Alegre for a prenatal diagnosis and identification of the disease, which were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and sequencing according to the mutation previously found in the family. Results: The analysis indicated the absence of mutation in three fetal materials and the presence of mutation in one case. Concomitantly, cytogenetic and biochemical analyses were performed after 12 days of cell culture, and only one case showed absence of enzyme activity, confirming the molecular analysis. Conclusions: This diagnostic protocol designed to provide more robust results and safer genetic counseling suggests that DNA obtained from floating amniotic fluid cells can be used as a source of fetal material to allow a faster alternative for prenatal care through molecular analysis. Determination of IDS gene mutation in fetal amniotic fluid cells together with IDS enzyme activity testing is a rapid, sensitive and accurate method for prenatal diagnosis of MPS II for high-risk pregnant women.

INTRODUÇÃO: pacientes em amenorréia primária com disgenesia gonadal têm níveis elevados de gonadotrofinas e necessitam de avaliação cromossômica. O estudo citogenético (cariótipo) pode ser realizado na gônada ou no sangue periférico. Nos casos de amenorréia primária sem sinal de virilização, a necessidade de investigação adicional do cariótipo da gônada não está estabelecida. OBJETIVO: revisar os cariótipos de gônadas (ovários) de mulheres com amenorréia primária e compará-los com os resultados do cariótipo no sangue periférico, relacionando-os às características fenotípicas das pacientes. MÉTODOS: foram analisados retrospectivamente os dados clínicos e os cariótipos de doze pacientes atendidas no período de janeiro de 1997 a dezembro de 2003 no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. RESULTADOS: nas pacientes incluídas, quando o motivo da investigação foi amenorréia primária sem sinal de virilização, o cariótipo da gônada foi concordante com o cariótipo do sangue periférico nos oito casos avaliados (sete pacientes com cariótipo 46XX e uma paciente com cariótipo 46XY). A paciente oito foi a única com sinal de virilização (hipertrofia de clitóris) e o único caso de cariótipos discordantes. CONCLUSÃO: este estudo sugere que o cariótipo de gônada não traz informação adicional ao cariótipo do sangue periférico nas pacientes com amenorréia primária sem sinais de virilização. Até o momento todos os trabalhos publicados tiveram número pequeno de pacientes. A análise da relação custo-benefício pode permitir redução de estresse psicológico para paciente e familiares, bem como redução de custos para as instituições.BACKGROUND: patients with primary amenorrhea and gonadal dysgenesia have higher serum gonadotrophins and should be submitted to chromosome studies. Karyotype studies may be performed in gonadal tissue or peripheral blood however, it is not yet established if cases of primary amenorrhea without signs of virilization need additional investigation of gonadal karyotype. PURPOSE: to analize the gonadal karyotypes (ovaries) from patients with primary amenorrhea and compare them to their respective peripheral blood karyotypes. METHODS: clinical and karyotype data of 12 patients were retrospectively analyzed from January 1997 to December 2003. RESULTS: when the investigation was indicated for primary amenorrhea without signs of virilization, the gonadal and peripheral blood karyotypes were concordant in 8 cases (7 cases 46XX and 1 case 46XY). One patient with virilization signs was the only case of discordant karyotype. CONCLUSION: the present study suggests that the gonadal karyotype does not bring additional information to peripheral blood karyotype in patients with amenorrhea and no signs of virilization. Although all previous studies had a small number of patients, it seems advisable to investigate the gonadal karyotype in patients with signs of virilization. The cost-benefit analysis could allow cost and stress reduction for patients, family and institutions.

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare placental abnormality. We report a case of PMD associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which was diagnosed by an ultrasound scan during the second trimester of pregnancy. A 36-year-old primiparous woman with signs of placental chorioangioma was referred to our hospital at the 23th gestational week. An ultrasonography revealed a small-for-gestational-age fetus with a large multicystic placenta. A serial Doppler sonographic assessment of umbilical and uterine artery blood flow showed a compromised fetus. A female, small-for-gestational-age baby was delivered by c-section at 28 weeks, and PMD was histopathologically confirmed.

Abstract Trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13) are polymalformative syndromes associated with a high rate of spontaneous abortions, intrauterine death, and short postnatal life. This study describes the overall outcome in a country where the therapeutic interruption of pregnancy is not available. The medical records of women with prenatal diagnosis of full trisomy of T13 or T18 between October 1994 and October 2017 were analyzed in order to describe their natural outcomes. Thirteen cases of T13 and 29 cases of T18 were included. The miscarriage rate was 9% for T18 and no cases for T13. Intrauterine fetal death occurred in 46% and 52% of cases for T13 and T18, respectively. The rate of live births for T13 was 54%, and the median survival was one day (95% CI -33.55 - 90.40) and 71% died in the first 24 hours of life. The rate of live births for T18 was 37% and the median survival was two days (95% CI -1.89 - 13.17); 90% of the affected babies died within first week of life. For the affected babies reaching the first year of life and for those who lived longer, multiple invasive and expensive procedures were required, without success in prolonging life beyond 180 days. This large series provides information for professionals and women regarding the natural histories of T13 and T18. Results of this study are consistent with those referenced in the literature, emphasizing the need of structured protocols and guidelines aiming early T13 and T18 diagnosis, prenatal care, gestation/parents follow-up, and counseling processes. For those couples with earlier diagnosis, a better follow-up and counseling during the prenatal care lead to the option for a support or palliative management of the newborn. Finally, when the counseling process is appropriate, it becomes easier to take decisions respecting the parent’s autonomy and to look for better outcomes for both, the mother and the fetus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in amniotic fluid (AF) from an MPS VII fetus compared with age-matched fetuses obtained from normal pregnancies.Method: Disaccharides were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, compared to age-matched controls. Enzyme assay was performed in AF supernatant or cultured amniocytes. GUSB was analyzed by next generation sequencing using Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine with a customized panel.Results: No activity of β-glucuronidase was detected in fetal cells. The pregnancy was spontaneously terminated in the third trimester. Genetic studies identified a homozygous mutation of p.N379D (c.1135A > G) in the GUSB gene. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry showed that chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and keratan sulfate levels were markedly increased in the MPS VII AF, compared to those in age-matched control AF (dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and chondroitin-6-sulfate more than 10 × than age-matched controls; chondroitin-4-sulfate and keratan sulfate more than 3 times higher).Conclusion: This is the first report of specific GAG analysis in AF from an MPS VII fetus, indicating that GAG elevation in AF occurs by 21 weeks of gestation and could be an additional tool for prenatal diagnosis of MPS VII and potentially other MPS types. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]