Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-13-2023
Identifier
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02802-6; PMCID: PMC10339608
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neurodegeneration due to cerebral folate transport deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in FOLR1. Onset typically occurs in late infancy and is characterized by psychomotor regression, epilepsy, and a hypomyelinating leukodystrophy on magnetic resonance imaging. If left untreated, progressive neurodegeneration occurs. However, early treatment with folinic acid has been shown to stabilize or reverse neurological features. Approximately thirty patients have been described worldwide. Here, we report the first two cases with genetically proven cerebral folate transport deficiency from South-Eastern Europe, describe the effect of oral folinic acid therapy on clinical and neuroradiological features and review the literature.
RESULTS: Two siblings presented in childhood with clinical and radiological findings consistent with a hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. Exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous pathogenic variant in FOLR1 (c.465_466delinsTG; p.W156G), confirming the diagnosis of neurodegeneration due to cerebral folate transport deficiency. Folinic acid treatment was promptly initiated in both patients. The younger sibling was treated early in disease course at 2 years of age, and demonstrated complete recovery in clinical and MRI features. The older sibling, who was 8 years of age at the time of diagnosis and treatment, demonstrated partial but substantial improvements.
CONCLUSION: We present the first account in the literature that early treatment initiation with oral folinic acid alone can result in complete neurological recovery of both clinical and radiological abnormalities in neurodegeneration due to cerebral folate deficiency. Moreover, through the report of these patients along with review of the literature, we provide information about the natural history of the disease with comparison of treatment effects at different stages of disease progression. This report also reinforces the importance of universal access to genetic testing to ensure prompt diagnoses for treatable disorders.
Journal Title
Orphanet J Rare Dis
Volume
18
Issue
1
First Page
187
Last Page
187
MeSH Keywords
Humans; Leucovorin; Folic Acid Deficiency; Neuroaxonal Dystrophies; Epilepsy; Folate Receptor 1
Keywords
Cerebral folate deficiency; FOLR1; Folinic acid; Hypomyelination; Leukodystrophy
Recommended Citation
Potic A, Perrier S, Radovic T, et al. Hypomyelination caused by a novel homozygous pathogenic variant in FOLR1: complete clinical and radiological recovery with oral folinic acid therapy and review of the literature. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2023;18(1):187. Published 2023 Jul 13. doi:10.1186/s13023-023-02802-6
Comments
Grant support
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Publisher's Link: https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13023-023-02802-6