Pitt–Hopkins syndrome clinical case

CLINICAL OBSERVATION

  • Anastasia N. Kolchina Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
  • Svetlana A. Ragimova Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
  • Alla Yu. Shutkova Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
  • Khasyanya F. Aksyanova Nizhny Novgorod Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
  • Olga V. Khaletskaya Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Keywords:
синдром Питта–Хопкинса эпилепсия апноэ гипервентиляция дети Pitt–Hopkins syndrome epilepsy apnea hyperventilation children

Abstract

Pitt–Hopkins syndrome is a rare pathology of the nervous system caused by a mutation in the TCF4 gene, located in the 21st locus of the 18th chromosome. The incidence rate is currently unknown. The main phenotypic manifestations of the syndrome are facial dysmorphisms: a beak-shaped nose, short nasal passages, a wide mouth with an upper lip in the form of a "Cupid's bow", widely spaced teeth, deep-set eyes, upturned palpebral fissures, a single palmar crease and fetal finger pads. Also, in addition to external changes, patients have intellectual disabilities. Many patients are characterized by a delay in psychomotor development, noted already in the first year of life. Over time, the behavior of patients is often associated with autistic disorders, which complicates the diagnosis of this syndrome. We have described a clinical case of a girl who had complaints of delayed psychomotor development, which was noted from 4 months, sleep disorders, rare sudden paroxysmal states in the form of excitement, crying. During an in-depth examination, Pitt–Hopkins syndrome was suspected, which was later confirmed molecularly genetically. We performed direct Sanger sequencing, which resulted in the discovery of a mutation chr18:55228987C>T c.2045G>A (p.Arg682Gln) in the TCF4 gene in a heterozygous state.

The article reflects the theoretical aspects of Pitt–Hopkins syndrome, clinical features and requirements for diagnosing the syndrome using the example of a diagnostic search in a young child.

References

Кондакова О.Б., Гребенкин Д.И., Лялина А.А., Хрусталева Е.В., Канивец И.В., Батышева Т.Т. Клинико-генетическая характеристика пациентов с синдромом Питта–Хопкинса. Неврологический журнал имени Л.О. Бадаляна. 2020;1(1):29–34. DOI: 10.46563/2686-8997-2020-1-01-29-34.

Люкшина Н.Г. Синдром Питта–Хопкинса с синдромом электрического эпилептического статуса в фазу медленного сна: клинический случай. Русский журнал детской неврологии. 2019;14(2):42–48. DOI: 10.17650/2073-8803-2019-14-2-42-48.

Amiel J., Rio M., de Pontual L. et al. Mutations in TCF4, encoding a class I basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, are responsible for Pitt–Hopkins syndrome, a severe epileptic encephalopathy associated with autonomic dysfunction. Am J Hum Genet. 2007;80(5):988–993. DOI: 10.1086/515582.

Comisi F., Esposito E., Marras M., Soddu C., Savasta S. Unusual inconsolable crying: an insight, case report, and review of the lite­rature on the Pitt-Hopkins gastrointestinal phenotype. Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43781. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43781.

Dean L. Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome. In: Pratt V.M., Scott S.A., Pirmohamed M., Esquivel B., Kattman B.L., Malheiro A.J., eds. Medical Genetics Summaries. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); March 8, 2012.

Ekins S., Puhl A.C., Davidow A. Repurposing the dihydropyridine calcium channel inhibitor Nicardipine as a Nav1.8 inhibitor in vivo for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. Pharm Res. 2020;37(7):127. DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02853-5

Goodspeed K., Newsom C., Morris M.A., Powell C., Evans P., Golla S. Pitt-Hopkins syndrome: a review of current literature, clinical approach, and 23-patient case series. J Child Neurol. 2018;33(3):233–244. DOI: 10.1177/0883073817750490.

Hennig K.M., Fass D.M., Zhao W.N. et al. WNT/β-Catenin pathway and epigenetic mechanisms regulate the Pitt–Hopkins syndrome and schizophrenia risk gene TCF4. Mol Neuropsychiatry. 2017;3(1):53–71. DOI: 10.1159/000475666.

Kennedy A.J., Rahn E.J., Paulukaitis B.S. et al. Tcf4 regulates ­synaptic plasticity, dna methylation, and memory function. Cell Rep. 2016;16(10):2666–2685. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.004.

Kim H., Gao E.B., Draper A. et al. Rescue of behavioral and electrophysiological phenotypes in a Pitt–Hopkins syndrome mouse model by genetic restoration of Tcf4 expression. Elife. 2022;11:e72290. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.72290.

Marangi G., Ricciardi S., Orteschi D. et al. Proposal of a clinical score for the molecular test for Pitt–Hopkins syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2012;158A(7):1604–1611. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.35419.

Marangi G., Zollino M. Pitt–HopkinsSyndrome and differential diagnosis: a molecular and clinical challenge. J Pediatr Genet. 2015;4(3):168–176. DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1564570.

Mesman S., Bakker R., Smidt M.P. Tcf4 is required for correct brain development during embryogenesis. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2020;106:103502. DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103502.

Papes F., Camargo A.P., de Souza J.S. et al. Transcription Factor 4 loss-of-function is associated with deficits in progenitor proliferation and cortical neuron content. Nat Commun. 2022;13(1):2387. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29942-w.

Pitt D., Hopkins I. A syndrome of mental retardation, wide mouth and intermittent overbreathing. Aust Paediatr J. 1978;14(3):182–184. DOI: 10.1111/jpc.1978.14.3.182.

Rosenfeld J.A., Leppig K., Ballif B.C. et al. Genotype-phenotype analysis of TCF4 mutations causing Pitt–Hopkins syndrome shows increased seizure activity with missense mutations. Genet Med. 2009;11(11):797–805. DOI: 10.1097/GIM.0b013e3181bd38a9.

Sweetser D.A., Elsharkawi I., Yonker L., Steeves M., Parkin K., Thibert R. Pitt-Hopkins syndrome. 2012 Aug 30 [updated 2018 Apr 12]. In: Adam M.P., Feldman J., Mirzaa G.M., Pagon R.A., Wallace S.E., Bean L.J.H., Gripp K.W., Amemiya A., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024.

Sweatt J.D. Pitt–Hopkins syndrome: intellectual disability due to loss of TCF4-regulated gene transcription. Exp Mol Med. 2013;45(5):e21. DOI: 10.1038/emm.2013.32.

Whalen S., Héron D., Gaillon T. et al. Novel comprehensive dia­gnostic strategy in Pitt–Hopkins syndrome: clinical score and further delineation of the TCF4 mutational spectrum. Hum Mutat. 2012;33(1):64–72. DOI: 10.1002/humu.21639.

Zollino M, Zweier C, Van Balkom ID et al. Diagnosis and ma­nagement in Pitt–Hopkins syndrome: First internatio­nal consensus statement. Clin Genet. 2019;95(4):462-478. DOI: 10.1111/cge.13506.