Clinical Focus


  • Clinical Genetics
  • Biochemical Genetics

Academic Appointments


Administrative Appointments


  • Program Director, Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship Program (2020 - Present)
  • Associate Program Director, Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship Program (2017 - 2020)

Honors & Awards


  • Phi Beta Kappa, Northwestern University (2001)
  • Summa cum laude, Northwestern University (2002)
  • Dr. Koch Memorial Scholarship Recipient, National PKU Alliance (2012)

Professional Education


  • Residency: Kaiser Permanente Northern California GME Programs (2011) CA
  • Internship: Kaiser Permanente Northern California GME Programs (2009) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Clinical Biochemical Genetics (2015)
  • Board Certification: American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Clinical Genetics (2013)
  • Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) (2014) CA
  • Residency: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) (2013) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (2011)
  • Medical Education: University of Illinois at Chicago (2008) IL

All Publications


  • Mitochondrial HMG-CoA Synthase Deficiency: A Cyclic Vomiting Mimic Without Reliable Biochemical Markers. Journal of investigative medicine high impact case reports Niehaus, A. D., Cooper, H., Lee, C. U. 2024; 12: 23247096241267154

    Abstract

    Here, we report an individual, eventually diagnosed with HMG-CoA synthase deficiency, who presented with a cyclic vomiting phenotype. HMG-CoA synthase deficiency is a rare disorder affecting ketone body synthesis in which affected individuals typically present at a young age with hypoketotic hypoglycemia, lethargy, encephalopathy, and hepatomegaly, usually triggered by catabolism (e.g., infection or prolonged fasting). This individual presented with recurrent episodes of vomiting and lethargy, often associated with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, at 3 years of age. Metabolic labs revealed nonspecific abnormalities in her urine organic acids (showing mild elevation of dicarboxylic acids with relatively low excretion of ketones) and a normal acylcarnitine profile. Given her clinical presentation, as well as a normal upper gastrointestinal series, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsies, and abdominal ultrasound, she was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome at 3 years of age. Molecular testing completed at 7 years of age revealed a previously reported pathogenic sequence variant (c.1016+1G>A) and a novel likely pathogenic deletion (1.57 kB deletion, including exon 1) within HMGCS2 consistent with HMG-CoA synthase deficiency. This individual's presentation, mimicking cyclic vomiting syndrome, widens the clinical spectrum of HMG-CoA synthase deficiency. In addition, this case highlights the importance of molecular genetic testing in such presentations, as this rare disorder lacks specific metabolic markers.

    View details for DOI 10.1177/23247096241267154

    View details for PubMedID 39143735

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11325301

  • Clinicopathologic Features of IDEDNIK (MEDNIK) Syndrome in a Term Infant: Histopathologic Features of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Report of a Novel AP1S1 Variant. Pediatric and developmental pathology : the official journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society Lu, J. G., Namjoshi, S. S., Niehaus, A. D., Tahata, S., Lee, C. U., Wang, L., McDonnell, E., Seely, M., Martin, M. G., Hazard, F. K. 2023: 10935266231177402

    Abstract

    Inherited syndromes of congenital enteropathy are rare, with many genetic causes described. Mutations of the AP1S1 gene results in the syndrome of intellectual disability, enteropathy, deafness, peripheral neuropathy, ichthyosis, and keratoderma (IDEDNIK, formerly in the medical literature as MEDNIK). The clinicopathologic features of the enteropathy in IDEDNIK syndrome have not been fully explored. We describe a female infant who presented with metabolic acidosis, lethargy, and 14 watery stools per day. In the intensive care unit she required parenteral nutrition. She was found to have a novel homozygous pathogenic variant in the AP1S1 gene c.186T>G (p.Y62*). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy at 6months of age were grossly normal. However, histologic sections of the duodenum showed mild villous blunting and enterocytes with cytoplasmic vacuoles. CD10 immunostaining highlighted the disrupted brush border. MOC31 immunostaining was wild-type with a membranous pattern of expression. Electron microscopy of the duodenum showed scattered enterocytes cells with shortened and disrupted apical microvilli. Although there is a mixed gap diarrhea and disrupted brush border, there are no significant inclusions typical of microvillus inclusion disease, nor tufted enterocytes typical of tufting enteropathy, making the clinical and histopathologic features for this syndrome unique.

    View details for DOI 10.1177/10935266231177402

    View details for PubMedID 37278357

  • MT-ATP6 mitochondrial disease identified by newborn screening reveals a distinct biochemical phenotype. American journal of medical genetics. Part A Tise, C. G., Verscaj, C. P., Mendelsohn, B. A., Woods, J., Lee, C. U., Enns, G. M., Stander, Z., Hall, P. L., Cowan, T. M., Cusmano-Ozog, K. P. 2023

    Abstract

    Although decreased citrulline is used as a newborn screening (NBS) marker to identify proximal urea cycle disorders (UCDs), it is also a feature of some mitochondrial diseases, including MT-ATP6 mitochondrial disease. Here we describe biochemical and clinical features of 11 children born to eight mothers from seven separate families who were identified with low citrulline by NBS (range 3-5muM; screening cutoff >5) and ultimately diagnosed with MT-ATP6 mitochondrial disease. Follow-up testing revealed a pattern of hypocitrullinemia together with elevated propionyl-(C3) and 3-hydroxyisovaleryl-(C5-OH) acylcarnitines, and a homoplasmic pathogenic variant in MT-ATP6 in all cases. Single and multivariate analysis of NBS data from the 11 cases using Collaborative Laboratory Integrated Reports (CLIR; https://clir.mayo.edu) demonstrated citrulline <1st percentile, C3>50th percentile, and C5-OH >90th percentile when compared with reference data, as well as unequivocal separation from proximal UCD cases and false-positive low citrulline cases using dual scatter plots. Five of the eight mothers were symptomatic at the time of their child(ren)'s diagnosis, and all mothers and maternal grandmothers evaluated molecularly and biochemically had a homoplasmic pathogenic variant in MT-ATP6, low citrulline, elevated C3, and/or elevated C5-OH. All molecularly confirmed individuals (n=17) with either no symptoms (n=12), migraines (n=1), or a neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) phenotype (n=3) were found to have an A or U mitochondrial haplogroup, while one child with infantile-lethal Leigh syndrome had a B haplogroup.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.63159

    View details for PubMedID 36883293

  • Neonatal lupus is a novel cause of positive newborn screening for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. American journal of medical genetics. Part A Niehaus, A. D., Mendelsohn, B. A., Zimmerman, B., Lee, C. U., Manning, M. A., Cusmano-Ozog, K. P., Tise, C. G. 2023

    Abstract

    We report three unrelated individuals, each exposed to maternal autoantibodies during gestation and found to have elevated very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in the newborn period after screening positive by California newborn screening (NBS) for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Two probands presented with clinical and laboratory features of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE); the third had features suggestive of NLE and a known maternal history of Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. In all three individuals, subsequent biochemical and molecular evaluation for primary and secondary peroxisomal disorders was nondiagnostic with normalization of VLCFAs by 15months of age. These cases add to the expanding differential diagnosis to consider in newborns who screen positive for ALD via elevated C26:0-lysophosphatidylcholine. Though the pathophysiology of how transplacental maternal anti-Ro antibodies damage fetal tissue is not well-understood, we postulate that the VLCFA elevations reflect a systemic inflammatory response and secondary peroxisomal dysfunction that improves once maternal autoantibodies wane after birth. Additional evaluation of this phenomenon is warranted to better understand the intricate biochemical, clinical, and possible therapeutic overlap between autoimmunity, inflammation, peroxisomal dysfunction, and human disease.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.63144

    View details for PubMedID 36863699

  • MaP NATURAL HISTORY STUDY: CLINICAL AND BIOMARKER FINDINGS IN METHYLMALONIC ACIDEMIA DUE TO MUT DEFICIENCY Schiff, M., Schwahn, B. C., Chabrol, B., Merritt, J., Vockley, J., Vernon, H., Berry, G. T., Santra, S., Lee, C., Koeberl, D., Li, H., Burton, B., De las Heras, J., Diaz, G., Faria-Urbina, M., Luo, J., Attarwala, H., Sikirica, V., Liang, M., Guey, L. T., Lukacs, C., Martini, P. V., Glaser, R., Carrillo, N. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2023: 84
  • MaP NATURAL HISTORY STUDY: CLINICAL AND BIOMARKER FINDINGS IN PROPIONIC ACIDEMIA Schwahn, B. C., Berry, G. T., Santra, S., Vernon, H., Li, H., Merritt, L., Schiff, M., Chabrol, B., De las Heras, J., Vockley, J., Lee, C., Koeberl, D., Burton, B., Grunewald, S., Morgan, T., Diaz, G., Ficicioglu, C., Luo, J., Attarwala, H., Sikirica, V., Liang, M., Guey, L. T., Lukacs, C., Martini, P. V., Glaser, R., Carrillo, N. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2023: 85
  • MITOCHONDRIAL-ATP6-ASSOCIATED DISEASE PRESENTS WITH DISTINCT PATTERN ON NEWBORN SCREENING: SHOULD IT BE INCLUDED AS A SECONDARY CONDITION? Tise, C., Mendelsohn, B., Lee, C., Woods, J., Hall, P., Tang, H., Rinaldo, P., Cowan, T., Cusmano-Ozog, K. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2022: 247-248
  • ANALYSIS OF URINE HEPARAN SULFATE AND ITS NON-REDUCING ENDS FOR THE FOLLOW-UP OF ABNORMAL NEWBORN SCREENING FOR MPS1 Kaczmarczyk, A., Lasio, L., Viskochil, D., Longo, N., Lund, T., Orchard, P. J., Yang, A. C., Chang, I., Lee, C., Pedro, H., Aliu, E., Siemon, A., Mori, M., Dickson, P., Al-Hertani, W., Ahrens-Nicklas, R., Pasquali, M. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2022: 281-282
  • Carnitine-Acylcarnitine Translocase Deficiency Morales, J. A., Lee, C. U., Enns, G. M., et al GeneReviews. 2022
  • Variable clinical severity in TANGO2 deficiency: Case series and literature review. American journal of medical genetics. Part A Schymick, J., Leahy, P., Cowan, T., Ruzhnikov, M. R., Gates, R., Fernandez, L., Pramanik, G., Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Yarlagadda, V., Wheeler, M., Bernstein, J. A., Enns, G. M., Lee, C. 2021

    Abstract

    Biallelic pathogenic variants in the TANGO2 (transport and Golgi organization 2 homolog) gene have been identified as causing a rare metabolic disorder characterized by susceptibility to recurrent rhabdomyolysis, lactic acidosis, encephalopathy, and life-threatening tachyarrhythmias. Recently published reports suggest variable clinical severity and phenotypes. This study details five new patients from two families with biallelic pathogenic variants in the TANGO2 gene identified by whole exome sequencing and includes the largest number of affected individuals from a single family reported to date. We document significant intrafamilial variability and highlight that milder phenotypes may be underrecognized. We present biochemical and clinical data to help highlight the features that aid in consideration of this condition in the differential with disorders of fatty acid oxidation. We also present a comprehensive literature review summarizing the molecular, clinical, and biochemical findings for 92 individuals across 13 publications. Of the 27 pathogenic variants reported to date, the recurrent exons 3-9 deletion represents the most common variant seen in 42% of individuals with TANGO2 deficiency. Common clinical features seen in >70% of all individuals include acute metabolic crisis, rhabdomyolysis, neurologic abnormalities, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Findings such as elevated creatine kinase, hypothyroidism, ketotic hypoglycemia, QT prolongation, or abnormalities of long-chain acylcarnitines and urine dicarboxylic acids should raise clinical suspicion for this life-threatening condition.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.62543

    View details for PubMedID 34668327

  • Arginine to ornithine ratio as a diagnostic marker in patients with positive newborn screening for hyperargininemia. Molecular genetics and metabolism reports Huang, Y., Sharma, R., Feigenbaum, A., Lee, C., Sahai, I., Sanchez Russo, R., Neira, J., Brooks, S. S., Jackson, K. E., Wong, D., Cederbaum, S., Lacbawan, F. L., Rowland, C. M., Tanpaiboon, P., Salazar, D. 2021; 27: 100735

    Abstract

    Arginase deficiency is a rare inborn error of metabolism that interrupts the final step of the urea cycle. Untreated individuals often present with episodic hyperammonemia, developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and spasticity in early childhood. The newborn screening (NBS) algorithms for arginase deficiency vary between individual states in the US but often include hyperargininemia and elevated arginine to ornithine (Arg/Orn) ratio. Here, we report 14 arginase deficiency cases, including two patients with positive NBS for hyperargininemia in whom the diagnosis of arginase deficiency was delayed owing to normal or near normal plasma arginine levels on follow-up testing. To improve the detection capability for arginase deficiency, we evaluated plasma Arg/Orn ratio as a secondary diagnostic marker in positive NBS cases for hyperargininemia. We found that plasma Arg/Orn ratio combined with plasma arginine was a better marker than plasma arginine alone to differentiate patients with arginase deficiency from unaffected newborns. In fact, elevated plasma arginine in combination with an Arg/Orn ratio of ≥1.4 identified all 14 arginase deficiency cases. In addition, we examined the impact of age on plasma arginine and ornithine levels. Plasma arginine increased 0.94mumol/L/day while ornithine was essentially unchanged in the first 31days of life, which resulted in a similar increasing trend for the Arg/Orn ratio (0.01/day). This study demonstrated that plasma Arg/Orn ratio as a secondary diagnostic marker improved the detection capability for arginase deficiency in newborns with hyperargininemia, which will allow timely detection of arginase deficiency and hence initiation of treatment before developing symptoms.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2021.100735

    View details for PubMedID 33732618

  • Profound neonatal lactic acidosis and renal tubulopathy in a patient with glycogen storage disease type IXɑ2 secondary to a de novo pathogenic variant in PHKA2. Molecular genetics and metabolism reports Morales, J. A., Tise, C. G., Narang, A., Grimm, P. C., Enns, G. M., Lee, C. U. 2021; 27: 100765

    Abstract

    The phenotype of individuals with glycogen storage disease (GSD) IX appears to be highly variable, even within subtypes. Features include short stature, fasting hypoglycemia with ketosis, hepatomegaly, and transaminitis. GSD IXɑ2 is caused by hemizygous pathogenic variants in PHKA2, and results in deficiency of the phosphorylase kinase enzyme, particularly in the liver. Like other GSDs, GSD IXɑ2 can present with hypoglycemia and post-prandial lactic acidosis, but has never been reported in a newborn, nor with lactic acidosis as the presenting feature. Here we describe the clinical presentation and course of a newborn boy with profound neonatal lactic and metabolic acidosis, renal tubulopathy, and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) diagnosed with GSD IXɑ2 through exome sequencing. Review of the literature suggests this case represents an atypical and severe presentation of GSD IXɑ2 and proposes expansion of the phenotype to include neonatal lactic acidosis and renal tubulopathy.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2021.100765

    View details for PubMedID 34277355

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8261893

  • Unexpected diagnoses in patients with abnormal newborn screening Tise, C., Velez-Bartolomei, F., Morales, J., Lee, C., Bernstein, J., Enns, G. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2021: S354
  • COVID-19 patient impact: A survey of the Gaucher community involving patients, caregivers and family members based in the US to determine impact of the pandemic Ryan, E., Lopez, G., Balwani, M., Barbouth, D., Burrow, T., Ginns, E., Goker-Alpan, O., Grabowski, G., Kartha, R., Kishnani, P., Lau, H., Lee, C., Mistry, P., Maegawa, G., Packman, S., Prada, C., Rosenbloom, B., Lal, T., Schiffmann, R., Weinreb, N., Sidransky, E. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2021: S93
  • Aicardi-Goutières syndrome may present with positive newborn screen for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. American journal of medical genetics. Part A Tise, C. G., Morales, J. A., Lee, A. S., Velez-Bartolomei, F. n., Floyd, B. J., Levy, R. J., Cusmano-Ozog, K. P., Feigenbaum, A. S., Ruzhnikov, M. R., Lee, C. U., Enns, G. M. 2021

    Abstract

    We report three unrelated probands, two male and one female, diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) after screening positive on California newborn screening (CA NBS) for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) due to elevated C26:0 lysophosphatidylcholine (C26:0-LPC). Follow-up evaluation was notable for elevated C26:0, C26:1, and C26:0/C22:0 ratio, and normal red blood cell plasmalogens levels in all three probands. Diagnoses were confirmed by molecular sequencing prior to 12 months of age after clinical evaluation was inconsistent with X-ALD or suggestive of AGS. For at least one proband, the early diagnosis of AGS enabled candidacy for enrollment into a therapeutic clinical trial. This report demonstrates the importance of including AGS on the differential diagnosis for individuals who screen positive for X-ALD, particularly infants with abnormal neurological features, as this age of onset would be highly unusual for X-ALD. While AGS is not included on the Recommended Universal Screening Panel, affected individuals can be identified early through state NBS programs so long as providers are aware of a broader differential that includes AGS. This report is timely, as state NBS algorithms for X-ALD are actively being established, implemented, and refined.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.62160

    View details for PubMedID 33683010

  • MERRF Velez-Bartolomei, F., Lee, C., Enns, G. GeneReviews/University of Washington Seattle. GeneReviews. 2021 ; GeneReviews
  • Gaucher disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection: Emerging management challenges. Molecular genetics and metabolism Mistry, P. n., Balwani, M. n., Barbouth, D. n., Burrow, T. A., Ginns, E. I., Goker-Alpan, O. n., Grabowski, G. A., Kartha, R. V., Kishnani, P. S., Lau, H. n., Lee, C. U., Lopez, G. n., Maegawa, G. n., Packman, S. n., Prada, C. n., Rosenbloom, B. n., Lal, T. R., Schiffmann, R. n., Weinreb, N. n., Sidransky, E. n. 2020

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ymgme.2020.05.002

    View details for PubMedID 32471800

  • Rare Saposin A deficiency: Novel variant and psychosine analysis. Molecular genetics and metabolism Calderwood, L. n., Wenger, D. A., Matern, D. n., Dahmoush, H. n., Watiker, V. n., Lee, C. n. 2019

    Abstract

    Saposin A is a post-translation product of the prosaposin (PSAP) gene that serves as an activator protein of the galactocerebrosidase (GALC) enzyme, and is necessary for the degradation of certain glycosphingolipids. Deficiency of saposin A leads to a clinical picture identical to that of early-infantile Krabbe disease caused by GALC enzyme deficiency. Galactosylsphingosine, also known as psychosine, is a substrate of the GALC enzyme that is known to be elevated in classic Krabbe disease. We present the case of an 18-month-old male with clinical and radiological findings concerning for Krabbe disease who had preserved GALC enzyme activity and negative GALC gene sequencing, but was found to have a homozygous variant, c.257 T > A (p.I86N), in the saposin A peptide of PSAP. Psychosine determination on dried blood spot at 18 months of age was elevated to 12 nmol/L (normal <3 nmol/L). We present this case to add to the literature on the rare diagnosis of atypical Krabbe disease due to saposin A deficiency, to report a novel presumed pathogenic variant within PSAP, and to suggest that individuals with saposin A deficiency may have elevated levels of psychosine, similar to children with classic Krabbe disease due to GALC deficiency.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ymgme.2019.08.001

    View details for PubMedID 31439510

  • TREATMENT WITH CHOLIC ACID LEADS TO RESOLUTION OF RENAL CYSTS IN CONGENITAL BILE ACID SYNTHESIS DISORDER TYPE I Leahy, P. J., Lee, C., Schelley, S. BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. 2019: 208
  • Two de novo novel mutations in one SHANK3 allele in a patient with autism and moderate intellectual disability. American journal of medical genetics. Part A Zhu, W. n., Li, J. n., Chen, S. n., Zhang, J. n., Vetrini, F. n., Braxton, A. n., Eng, C. M., Yang, Y. n., Xia, F. n., Keller, K. L., Okinaka-Hu, L. n., Lee, C. n., Holder, J. L., Bi, W. n. 2018

    Abstract

    SHANK3 encodes for a scaffolding protein that links neurotransmitter receptors to the cytoskeleton and is enriched in postsynaptic densities of excitatory synapses. Deletions or mutations in one copy of the SHANK3 gene cause Phelan-McDermid syndrome, also called 22q13.3 deletion syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder with common features including global developmental delay, absent to severely impaired language, autistic behavior, and minor dysmorphic features. By whole exome sequencing, we identified two de novo novel variants including one frameshift pathogenic variant and one missense variant of unknown significance in a 14-year-old boy with delayed motor milestones, delayed language acquisition, autism, intellectual disability, ataxia, progressively worsening spasticity of the lower extremities, dysmorphic features, short stature, microcephaly, failure to thrive, chronic constipation, intrauterine growth restriction, and bilateral inguinal hernias. Both changes are within the CpG island in exon 21, separated by a 375 bp sequence. Next generation sequencing of PCR products revealed that the two variants are most frequently associated with each other. Sanger sequencing of the cloned PCR products further confirmed that both changes were on a single allele. The clinical presentation in this individual is consistent with other patients with a truncating mutation in exon 21, suggesting that the missense change contributes none or minimally to the phenotypes. This is the first report of two de novo mutations in one SHANK3 allele.

    View details for PubMedID 29423971

  • A NOVEL AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT SYNDROME RESULTING FROM VARIANTS IN CDC42 Foskett, G. K., Lee, C., Calderwood, L., Stevenson, D. BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. 2018: 170–71
  • Biochemical characteristics of newborns with carnitine transporter defect identified by newborn screening in California. Molecular genetics and metabolism Gallant, N. M., Leydiker, K. n., Wilnai, Y. n., Lee, C. n., Lorey, F. n., Feuchtbaum, L. n., Tang, H. n., Carter, J. n., Enns, G. M., Packman, S. n., Lin, H. J., Wilcox, W. R., Cederbaum, S. D., Abdenur, J. E. 2017

    Abstract

    Carnitine transporter defect (CTD; also known as systemic primary carnitine deficiency; MIM 212140) is due to mutations in the SLC22A5 gene and leads to extremely low carnitine levels in blood and tissues. Affected individuals may develop early onset cardiomyopathy, weakness, or encephalopathy, which may be serious or even fatal. The disorder can be suggested by newborn screening. However, markedly low newborn carnitine levels can also be caused by conditions unrelated to CTD, such as the low carnitine levels often associated with normal pregnancies and some metabolic disorders occurring in the mother. In order to clarify the biochemical characteristics most useful for identification of CTD in newborns, we examined California Department of Public Health newborn screening data for CTD from 2005 to 12 and performed detailed chart reviews at six metabolic centers in California. The reviews covered 14 cases of newborn CTD, 14 cases of maternal disorders (CTD, 6 cases; glutaric aciduria, type 1, 5; medium-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, 2; and cobalamin C deficiency, 1), and 154 false-positive cases identified by newborn screening. Our results show that newborns with CTD identified by NBS exhibit different biochemical characteristics, compared to individuals ascertained clinically. Newborns with CTD may have NBS dried blood spot free carnitine near the lower cutoff and confirmatory plasma total and free carnitine levels near the normal lower limit, particularly if obtained within two weeks after birth. These findings raise the concern that true cases of CTD may exist that could have been missed by newborn screening. CTD should be considered as a possible diagnosis in cases with suggestive clinical features, even if CTD was thought to be excluded in the newborn period. Maternal plasma total carnitine and newborn urine total carnitine values are the most important predictors of true CTD in newborns. However, biochemical testing alone does not yield a discriminant rule to distinguish true CTD from low carnitine in newborns due to other causes. Because of this biochemical variability and overlap, molecular genetic testing is imperative to confirm CTD in newborns. Additionally, functional testing of fibroblast carnitine uptake remains necessary for cases in which other confirmatory testing is inconclusive. Even with utilization of all available diagnostic testing methods, confirmation of CTD ascertained by NBS remains lengthy and challenging. Incorporation of molecular analysis as a second tier step in NBS for CTD may be beneficial and should be investigated.

    View details for PubMedID 28711408

  • Molecular and clinical spectra of FBXL4 deficiency. Human mutation El-Hattab, A. W., Dai, H. n., Almannai, M. n., Wang, J. n., Faqeih, E. A., Al Asmari, A. n., Saleh, M. A., Elamin, M. A., Alfadhel, M. n., Alkuraya, F. S., Hashem, M. n., Aldosary, M. S., Almass, R. n., Almutairi, F. B., Alsagob, M. n., Al-Owain, M. n., Al-Sharfa, S. n., Al-Hassnan, Z. N., Al Rahbeeni, Z. n., Al-Muhaizea, M. A., Makhseed, N. n., Foskett, G. K., Stevenson, D. A., Gomez-Ospina, N. n., Lee, C. n., Boles, R. G., Schrier Vergano, S. A., Wortmann, S. B., Sperl, W. n., Opladen, T. n., Hoffmann, G. F., Hempel, M. n., Prokisch, H. n., Alhaddad, B. n., Mayr, J. A., Chan, W. n., Kaya, N. n., Wong, L. C. 2017

    Abstract

    F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 4 (FBXL4) is a mitochondrial protein whose exact function is not yet known. However, cellular studies have suggested that it plays significant roles in mitochondrial bioenergetics, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance, and mitochondrial dynamics. Biallelic pathogenic variants in FBXL4 are associated with an encephalopathic mtDNA maintenance defect syndrome that is a multisystem disease characterized by lactic acidemia, developmental delay, and hypotonia. Other features are feeding difficulties, growth failure, microcephaly, hyperammonemia, seizures, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, elevated liver transaminases, recurrent infections, variable distinctive facial features, white matter abnormalities and cerebral atrophy found in neuroimaging, combined deficiencies of multiple electron transport complexes, and mtDNA depletion. Since its initial description in 2013, 36 different pathogenic variants in FBXL4 were reported in 50 affected individuals. In this report, we present 37 additional affected individuals and 11 previously unreported pathogenic variants. We summarize the clinical features of all 87 individuals with FBXL4-related mtDNA maintenance defect, review FBXL4 structure and function, map the 47 pathogenic variants onto the gene structure to assess the variants distribution, and investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation. Finally, we provide future directions to understand the disease mechanism and identify treatment strategies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

    View details for PubMedID 28940506

  • De novo mutations on maternal alleles in two patients with neuronopathic Gaucher disease Sabbadini, M., Oglesbee, D., Foster-Barber, A., Segal, S., Alhariri, A., Lee, C., Muller, E., Packman, S. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2015: 359–60
  • GAUCHER DISEASE AND LANGERHANS CELL HISTIOCYTOSIS Alhariri, A., Lee, C., Muller, E., Sabbadini, M., Oglesbee, D., Fisher, J., Segal, S., Packman, S. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2014: 267–68
  • Germline loss-of-function mutations in LZTR1 predispose to an inherited disorder of multiple schwannomas NATURE GENETICS Piotrowski, A., Xie, J., Liu, Y. F., Poplawski, A. B., Gomes, A. R., Madanecki, P., Fu, C., Crowley, M. R., Crossman, D. K., Armstrong, L., Babovic-Vuksanovic, D., Bergner, A., Blakeley, J. O., Blumenthal, A. L., Daniels, M. S., Feit, H., Gardner, K., Hurst, S., Kobelka, C., Lee, C., Nagy, R., Rauen, K. A., Slopis, J. M., Suwannarat, P., Westman, J. A., Zanko, A., Korf, B. R., Messiaen, L. M. 2014; 46 (2): 182-?

    Abstract

    Constitutional SMARCB1 mutations at 22q11.23 have been found in ∼50% of familial and <10% of sporadic schwannomatosis cases. We sequenced highly conserved regions along 22q from eight individuals with schwannomatosis whose schwannomas involved somatic loss of one copy of 22q, encompassing SMARCB1 and NF2, with a different somatic mutation of the other NF2 allele in every schwannoma but no mutation of the remaining SMARCB1 allele in blood and tumor samples. LZTR1 germline mutations were identified in seven of the eight cases. LZTR1 sequencing in 12 further cases with the same molecular signature identified 9 additional germline mutations. Loss of heterozygosity with retention of an LZTR1 mutation was present in all 25 schwannomas studied. Mutations segregated with disease in all available affected first-degree relatives, although four asymptomatic parents also carried an LZTR1 mutation. Our findings identify LZTR1 as a gene predisposing to an autosomal dominant inherited disorder of multiple schwannomas in ∼80% of 22q-related schwannomatosis cases lacking mutation in SMARCB1.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/ng.2855

    View details for Web of Science ID 000331208300016

    View details for PubMedID 24362817

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4352302

  • PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN MAPLE SYRUP URINE DISEASE Sparks, T., Lee, C., Li, B., Packman, D. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2014: 199
  • Teaching NeuroImages: Infant with glutaric aciduria type 1 presenting with infantile spasms and hypsarrhythmia NEUROLOGY Young-Lin, N., Shalev, S., Glenn, O. A., Gardner, M., Lee, C., Wynshaw-Boris, A., Gelfand, A. A. 2013; 81 (24): E182–E183

    Abstract

    A 7-month-old boy with glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) presented with 1 week of clustered flexor spasms. Examination revealed mild axial hypotonia without encephalopathy. Video-EEG monitoring revealed hypsarrhythmia and infantile spasms (figure, A). MRI showed acute basal ganglia injury (figure, B). After 3 weeks of prednisolone treatment, 5-month follow-up showed continued resolution of hypsarrhythmia and spasms.

    View details for DOI 10.1212/01.wnl.0000437291.75075.53

    View details for Web of Science ID 000330772300002

    View details for PubMedID 24323445

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3863345

  • Homozygosity for a FBN1 missense mutation causes a severe Marfan syndrome phenotype CLINICAL GENETICS HOGUE, J., Lee, C., JELIN, A., Strecker, M. N., Cox, V. A., Slavotinek, A. M. 2013; 84 (4): 392-393

    View details for DOI 10.1111/cge.12073

    View details for Web of Science ID 000324297800018

    View details for PubMedID 23278365

  • The phenotype of Floating-Harbor syndrome: clinical characterization of 52 individuals with mutations in exon 34 of SRCAP ORPHANET JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES Nikkel, S. M., Dauber, A., de Munnik, S., Connolly, M., Hood, R. L., Caluseriu, O., Hurst, J., Kini, U., Nowaczyk, M. J., Afenjar, A., Albrecht, B., Allanson, J. E., Balestri, P., Ben-Omran, T., Brancati, F., Cordeiro, I., da Cunha, B. S., Delaney, L. A., Destree, A., Fitzpatrick, D., Forzano, F., Ghali, N., Gillies, G., Harwood, K., Hendriks, Y. M., Heron, D., Hoischen, A., Honey, E. M., Hoefsloot, L. H., Ibrahim, J., Jacob, C. M., Kant, S. G., Kim, C. A., Kirk, E. P., Knoers, N. V., Lacombe, D., Lee, C., Lo, I. F., Lucas, L. S., Mari, F., Mericq, V., Moilanen, J. S., Moller, S. T., Moortgat, S., Pilz, D. T., Pope, K., Price, S., Renieri, A., Sa, J., Schoots, J., Silveira, E. L., Simon, M. E., Slavotinek, A., Temple, I. K., van der Burgt, I., de Vries, B. B., Weisfeld-Adams, J. D., Whiteford, M. L., Wierczorek, D., Wit, J. M., Yee, C. F., Beaulieu, C. L., White, S. M., Bulman, D. E., Bongers, E., Brunner, H., Feingold, M., Boycott, K. M. 2013; 8

    Abstract

    Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS) is a rare condition characterized by short stature, delays in expressive language, and a distinctive facial appearance. Recently, heterozygous truncating mutations in SRCAP were determined to be disease-causing. With the availability of a DNA based confirmatory test, we set forth to define the clinical features of this syndrome.Clinical information on fifty-two individuals with SRCAP mutations was collected using standardized questionnaires. Twenty-four males and twenty-eight females were studied with ages ranging from 2 to 52 years. The facial phenotype and expressive language impairments were defining features within the group. Height measurements were typically between minus two and minus four standard deviations, with occipitofrontal circumferences usually within the average range. Thirty-three of the subjects (63%) had at least one major anomaly requiring medical intervention. We did not observe any specific phenotype-genotype correlations.This large cohort of individuals with molecularly confirmed FHS has allowed us to better delineate the clinical features of this rare but classic genetic syndrome, thereby facilitating the development of management protocols.

    View details for DOI 10.1186/1750-1172-8-63

    View details for Web of Science ID 000319314600001

    View details for PubMedID 23621943

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3659005