Phenotype-genotype correlations in Leigh syndrome: new insights from a multicentre study of 96 patients

Kalliopi Sofou, Irenaeus F M de Coo, Elsebet Østergaard, Pirjo Isohanni, Karin Naess, Linda De Meirleir, Charalampos Tzoulis, Johanna Uusimaa, Tuula Lönnqvist, Laurence Albert Bindoff, Már Tulinius, Niklas Darin

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Leigh syndrome is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous mitochondrial disorder. While some genetic defects are associated with well-described phenotypes, phenotype-genotype correlations in Leigh syndrome are not fully explored.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify phenotype-genotype correlations in Leigh syndrome in a large cohort of systematically evaluated patients.

METHODS: We studied 96 patients with genetically confirmed Leigh syndrome diagnosed and followed in eight European centres specialising in mitochondrial diseases.

RESULTS: We found that ataxia, ophthalmoplegia and cardiomyopathy were more prevalent among patients with mitochondrial DNA defects. Patients with mutations in MT-ND and NDUF genes with complex I deficiency shared common phenotypic features, such as early development of central nervous system disease, followed by high occurrence of cardiac and ocular manifestations. The cerebral cortex was affected in patients with NDUF mutations significantly more often than the rest of the cohort. Patients with the m.8993T>G mutation in MT-ATP6 gene had more severe clinical and radiological manifestations and poorer disease outcome compared with patients with the m.8993T>C mutation.

CONCLUSION: Our study provides new insights into phenotype-genotype correlations in Leigh syndrome and particularly in patients with complex I deficiency and with defects in the mitochondrial ATP synthase.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Medical Genetics
Volume55
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)21-27
Number of pages7
ISSN0022-2593
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Cell Nucleus/metabolism
  • DNA/genetics
  • DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leigh Disease/genetics
  • Male
  • Mutation/genetics
  • Phenotype

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