An Integrative Approach to Predict Phenotypic Severity in Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia

Background: Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a inherited neurometabolic disorder with variable clinical course and severity, in a spectrum ranging from infantile epileptic encephalopathy to psychiatric disorders. A precise phenotypic characterization and an evaluation of predictive approaches are needed. We report the results of the patient registry of the International Working Group on Neurotransmitter related Disorders (iNTD). Methods: The iNTD patient registry is a multicenter, uncontrolled, non-randomized, open, unblinded observational study (registered on DRKS, DRKS00007878). Longitudinal clinical and biochemical data of 25 individuals with NKH were studied with in silico analyses, pathogenicity scores and molecular modeling of GLDC and AMT variants. Findings: Age of onset (p=0 · 004) and diagnosis are earlier in life in severe NKH( p=0 · 005). Presenting symptoms affect the age at diagnosis. Psychiatric problems occur predominantly in attenuated NKH. Onset-age ≥3 months (66% specificity, 100% sensitivity, AUC = 0·87) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/plasma glycine ratio ≤0 · 09 (57% specificity, 100% sensitivity, AUC = 0·88) are sensitive indicators for attenuated NKH while CSF glycine concentration ≥116 · 5 µmol/L (100% specificity, 93% sensitivity, AUC = 0·97) and CSF/plasma glycine ratio ≥0 · 15 15 (100% specificity, 64% sensitivity, AUC = 0·88) are specific for severe forms. A ratio threshold of 0 · 128 discriminates the overlapping range. In our study, we present ten new GLDC variants, two mild variants resulting in attenuated phenotype. Two severe variants and a combination of one mild and one severe variant lead to severe phenotype. Interpretation: This study widens the phenotypic spectrum of attenuated NKH and expands the number of pathogenic variants. The multiparametric approach provides a promising tool to predict disease severity, helping to improve clinical management and decision-making strategies. Trial Registration: This study was registered German Clinical Trials Register, https://www.drks.de, DRKS00007878). Funding: Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (RVO-VFN 64165 GJIH-0599-00-7-846, ProgresQ26/LF1), FIS P118/00111 and PI19/00348 “Instituto de Salud Carlos III”, “Fondo Europeo de desarrollo regional (FEDER)”, and Dietmar Hopp Foundation. Declaration of Interest: A.G.C. has received teaching honorarium from PTC Therapeutics GT, Inc. G.F.H. receives teaching as well as consultancy honorarium from PTC Therapeutics GT, Inc. O.K.H. has received teaching honorarium from PTC Therapeutics GT, Inc. T.O. receives teaching honorarium and research support from PTC. GFH has received honoraria as a speaker from Takeda and consultancy honoraria from PTC Therapeutics International GT. T.S.P receives consulting honoraria from Teva Pharmaceuticals. The other authors declare no potential conflict of interest. Ethical Approval: iNTD registry study was approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Board (IRB) Heidelberg University Hospital (S-471/2014)