EDUARDO DE PAULA ESTEPHAN
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
Instituto Central, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/45 - Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Neurocirúrgica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/45 - Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Neurocirúrgica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
5 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 5 de 5
- The clinical spectrum of the congenital myasthenic syndrome resulting from COL13A1 mutations(2019) CRUZ, Pedro M. Rodriguez; COSSINS, Judith; ESTEPHAN, Eduardo de Paula; MUNELL, Francina; SELBY, Kathryn; HIRANO, Michio; MAROOFIN, Reza; MEHRJARDI, Mohammad Yahya Vahidi; CHOW, Gabriel; CARR, Aisling; MANZUR, Adnan; ROBB, Stephanie; MUNOT, Pinki; LIU, Wei Wei; BANKA, Siddharth; FRASER, Harry; GOEDE, Christian De; ZANOTELI, Edmar; REED, Umbertina Conti; SAGE, Abigail; GRATACOS, Margarida; MACAYA, Alfons; DUSL, Marina; SENDEREK, Jan; TOPF, Ana; HOFER, Monika; KNIGHT, Ravi; RAMDAS, Sithara; JAYAWANT, Sandeep; LOCHMUELLER, Hans; PALACE, Jacqueline; BEESON, DavidNext generation sequencing techniques were recently used to show mutations in COL13A1 cause synaptic basal lamina-associated congenital myasthenic syndrome type 19. Animal studies showed COL13A1, a synaptic extracellular-matrix protein, is involved in the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular synapse that appears independent of the Agrin-LRP4-MuSK-DOK7 acetylcholine receptor clustering pathway. Here, we report the phenotypic spectrum of 16 patients from 11 kinships harbouring homozygous or heteroallelic mutations in COL13A1. Clinical presentation was mostly at birth with hypotonia and breathing and feeding difficulties often requiring ventilation and artificial feeding. Respiratory crisis related to recurrent apnoeas, sometimes triggered by chest infections, were common early in life but resolved over time. The predominant pattern of muscle weakness included bilateral ptosis (non-fatigable in adulthood), myopathic facies and marked axial weakness, especially of neck flexion, while limb muscles were less involved. Other features included facial dysmorphism, skeletal abnormalities and mild learning difficulties. All patients tested had results consistent with abnormal neuromuscular transmission. Muscle biopsies were within normal limits or showed non-specific changes. Muscle MRI and serum creatine kinase levels were normal. In keeping with COL13A1 mutations affecting both synaptic structure and presynaptic function, treatment with 3,4-diaminopyridine and salbutamol resulted in motor and respiratory function improvement. In non-treated cases, disease severity and muscle strength improved gradually over time and several adults recovered normal muscle strength in the limbs. In summary, patients with COL13A1 mutations present mostly with severe early-onset myasthenic syndrome with feeding and breathing difficulties. Axial weakness is greater than limb weakness. Disease course improves gradually over time, which could be consistent with the less prominent role of COL13A1 once the neuromuscular junction is mature. This report emphasizes the role of collagens at the human muscle endplate and should facilitate the recognition of this disorder, which can benefit from pharmacological treatment.
- The Location of Disease-Causing DES Variants Determines the Severity of Phenotype and the Morphology of Sarcoplasmic Aggregates(2022) SILVA, Andre Macedo Serafim; RODRIGO, Patricia; MORENO, Cristiane Araujo Martins; MENDONCA, Rodrigo de Holanda; ESTEPHAN, Eduardo de Paula; CAMELO, Clara Gontijo; CAMPOS, Eliene Dutra; DIAS, Alexandre Torchio; NASCIMENTO, Amom Mendes; KULIKOWSKI, Leslie Domenici; OLIVEIRA, Acary Souza Bulle; REED, Umbertina Conti; GOLDFARB, Lev G.; OLIVE, Montse; ZANOTELI, EdmarDesmin (DES) is the main intermediate muscle filament that connects myofibrils individually and with the nucleus, sarcolemma, and organelles. Pathogenic variants of DES cause desminopathy, a disorder affecting the heart and skeletal muscles. We aimed to analyze the clinical features, morphology, and distribution of desmin aggregates in skeletal muscle biopsies of patients with desminopathy and to correlate these findings with the type and location of disease-causing DES variants. This retrospective study included 30 patients from 20 families with molecularly confirmed desminopathy from 2 neuromuscular referral centers. We identified 2 distinct patterns of desmin aggregates: well-demarcated subsarcolemmal aggregates and diffuse aggregates with poorly delimited borders. Pathogenic variants located in the 1B segment and the tail domain of the desmin molecule are more likely to present with early-onset cardiomyopathy compared to patients with variants in other segments. All patients with mutations in the 1B segment had well-demarcated subsarcolemmal aggregates, but none of the patients with variants in other desmin segments showed such histological features. We suggest that variants located in the 1B segment lead to well-shaped subsarcolemmal desmin aggregation and cause disease with more frequent cardiac manifestations. These findings will facilitate early identification of patients with potentially severe cardiac syndromes.
- Mutations in PTPN11 could lead to a congenital myasthenic syndrome phenotype: a Noonan syndrome case series(2024) PUGLIESE, Alessia; MARINA, Adela Della; ESTEPHAN, Eduardo de Paula; ZANOTELI, Edmar; ROOS, Andreas; SCHARA-SCHMIDT, Ulrike; HENTSCHEL, Andreas; AZUMA, Yoshiteru; TOPF, Ana; THOMPSON, Rachel; POLAVARAPU, Kiran; LOCHMUELLER, HannsThe RASopathies are a group of genetic rare diseases caused by mutations affecting genes involved in the RAS/MAPK (RAS-mitogen activated protein kinase) pathway. Among them, PTPN11 pathogenic variants are responsible for approximately 50% of Noonan syndrome (NS) cases and, albeit to a lesser extent, of Leopard syndrome (LPRD1), which present a few overlapping clinical features, such as facial dysmorphism, developmental delay, cardiac defects, and skeletal deformities. Motor impairment and decreased muscle strength have been recently reported. The etiology of the muscle involvement in these disorders is still not clear but probably multifactorial, considering the role of the RAS/MAPK pathway in skeletal muscle development and Acetylcholine Receptors (AChR) clustering at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). We report, herein, four unrelated children carrying three different heterozygous mutations in the PTPN11 gene. Intriguingly, their phenotypic features first led to a clinical suspicion of congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS), due to exercise-induced fatigability with a variable degree of muscle weakness, and serum proteomic profiling compatible with a NMJ defect. Moreover, muscle fatigue improved after treatment with CMS-specific medication. Although the link between PTPN11 gene and neuromuscular transmission is unconfirmed, an increasing number of patients with RASopathies are affected by muscle weakness and fatigability. Hence, NS or LPDR1 should be considered in children with suspected CMS but negative genetic workup for known CMS genes or additional symptoms indicative of NS, such as facial dysmorphism or intellectual disability.
- Clinical variability of early-onset congenital myasthenic syndrome due to biallelic RAPSN mutations in Brazil(2018) ESTEPHAN, Eduardo de Paula; ZAMBON, Antonio Alberto; MARCHIORI, Paulo Euripedes; SILVA, Andre Macedo Serafim da; CALDAS, Vitor Marques; MORENO, Cristiane Araujo Martins; REED, Umbertina Conti; HORVATH, Rita; TOPF, Ana; LOCHMUELLER, Hanns; ZANOTELI, EdmarMutations in RAPSN are an important cause of congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS), leading to endplate acetylcholine receptor deficiency. We present three RAPSN earlyonset CMS patients (from a Brazilian cohort of 61 CMS patients). Patient 1 and patient 2 harbor the mutation p.N88K in homozygosity, while patient 3 harbors p.N88K in compound heterozygosity with another pathogenic variant (p.V165M; c.493G > A). At onset, patient 3 presented with more severe symptoms compared to the other two, showing generalized weakness and repeated episodes of respiratory failure in the first years of life. During adolescence, she became gradually less symptomatic and does not require medication anymore, presenting better long-term outcomes than patients 1 and 2. This case series illustrates the variability of RAPSN earlyonset CMS, with patient 3, despite severe onset, revealing an almost complete reversal of myasthenic symptoms, not limited to apneic episodes. Moreover, it suggests that RAPSN CMS may be underdiagnosed in nonEuropean countries.
- Congenital myasthenic syndrome: Correlation between clinical features and molecular diagnosis(2022) ESTEPHAN, Eduardo P.; ZAMBON, Antonio A.; THOMPSON, Rachel; POLAVARAPU, Kiran; JOMAA, Danny; TOPF, Ana; HELITO, Paulo V. P.; HEISE, Carlos O.; MORENO, Cristiane A. M.; SILVA, Andre M. S.; KOUYOUMDJIAN, Joao A.; MORITA, Maria da Penha; REED, Umbertina C.; LOCHMULLER, Hanns; ZANOTELI, EdmarObjectives To present phenotype features of a large cohort of congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) and correlate them with their molecular diagnosis. Methods Suspected CMS patients were divided into three groups: group A (limb, bulbar or axial weakness, with or without ocular impairment, and all the following: clinical fatigability, electrophysiology compatible with neuromuscular junction involvement and anticholinesterase agents response), group B (limb, bulbar or axial weakness, with or without ocular impairment, and at least one of additional characteristics noted in group A) and group C (pure ocular syndrome). Individual clinical findings and the clinical groups were compared between the group with a confirmed molecular diagnosis of CMS and the group without molecular diagnosis or with a non-CMS molecular diagnosis. Results Seventy-nine patients (68 families) were included in the cohort: 48 in group A, 23 in group B and 8 in group C. Fifty-one were considered confirmed CMS (30 CHRNE, 5 RAPSN, 4 COL13A1, 3 DOK7, 3 COLQ, 2 GFPT1, 1 CHAT, 1 SCN4A, 1 GMPPB, 1 CHRNA1), 7 probable CMS, 5 non-CMS and 16 unsolved. The chance of a confirmed molecular diagnosis of CMS was significantly higher for group A and lower for group C. Some individual clinical features, alterations on biopsy and electrophysiology enhanced specificity for CMS. Muscle imaging showed at least mild alterations in the majority of confirmed cases, with preferential involvement of soleus, especially in CHRNE CMS. Conclusions Stricter clinical criteria increase the chance of confirming a CMS diagnosis, but may lose sensitivity, especially for some specific genes.