2.KMT2B-Related Dystonia in Indian Patients With Literature Review and Emphasis on Asian Cohort
Debjyoti DHAR ; Vikram V HOLLA ; Riyanka KUMARI ; Neeharika SRIRAM ; Jitender SAINI ; Ravi YADAV ; Akhilesh PANDEY ; Nitish KAMBLE ; Babylakshmi MUTHUSAMY ; Pramod Kumar PAL
Journal of Movement Disorders 2023;16(3):285-294
Objective:
aaMutations in the KMT2B gene have been identified in patients previously diagnosed with idiopathic dystonia. Literature on KMT2B-related dystonia is sparse in the Indian and Asian populations.
Methods:
aaWe report seven patients with KMT2B-related dystonia studied prospectively from May 2021 to September 2022. Patients underwent deep clinical phenotyping and genetic testing by whole-exome sequencing (WES). A systematic literature search was performed to identify the spectrum of previously published KMT2B-related disorders in the Asian subcontinent.
Results:
aaThe seven identified patients with KMT2B-related dystonia had a median age at onset of four years. The majority experienced onset in the lower limbs (n = 5, 71.4%), with generalization at a median duration of 2 years. All patients except one had complex phenotypes manifesting as facial dysmorphism (n = 4), microcephaly (n = 3), developmental delay (n = 3), and short stature (n = 1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities were present in four cases. WES revealed novel mutations in the KMT2B gene in all patients except one. Compared to the largest cohort of patients with KMT2B-related disorders, the Asian cohort, comprising 42 patients, had a lower prevalence of female patients, facial dysmorphism, microcephaly, intellectual disability, and MRI abnormalities. Protein-truncating variants were more prevalent than missense variants. While microcephaly and short stature were more common in patients with missense mutations, facial dysmorphism was more common in patients with truncating variants. Deep brain stimulation, performed in 17 patients, had satisfactory outcomes.
Conclusion
aaThis is the largest series of patients with KMT2B-related disorders from India, further expanding the clinico-genotypic spectrum. The extended Asian cohort emphasizes the unique attributes of this part of the world.
3.AI-CoV Study: Autoimmune Encephalitis Associated With COVID-19 and Its Vaccines—A Systematic Review
MM SAMIM ; Debjyoti DHAR ; Sheetal GOYAL ; Treshita DEY ; Naznin PARVIN ; Rutul D. SHAH ; Vikram SINGH ; Sampurna CHOWDHURY ; Bhavesh Mohan LAL ; Nibu VARGHESE ; Abhishek GOHEL ; Abhishek CHOWDHURY ; Aritra CHATTERJEE ; Shahyan SIDDIQUI
Journal of Clinical Neurology 2022;18(6):692-710
Background:
and Purpose Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an underexplored condition. This study aims to systematically review the clinico-investigational and pathophysiologic aspects of COVID-19 and its vaccines in association with AIE, and identify the factors predicting neurological severity and outcomes.
Methods:
Relevant data sources were searched using appropriate search terms on January 15, 2022. Studies meeting the criteria for AIE having a temporal association with COVID-19 or its vaccines were included.
Results:
Out of 1,894 citations, we included 61 articles comprising 88 cases: 71 of COVID-19-associated AIE, 3 of possible Bickerstaff encephalitis, and 14 of vaccine-associated AIE.There were 23 definite and 48 possible seronegative AIE cases. Anti-NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; n=12, 16.9%) was the most common definite AIE. Males were more commonly affected (sex ratio=1.63) in the AIE subgroup. The neurological symptoms included altered mental state (n=53, 74.6%), movement disorders (n=28, 39.4%), seizures (n=24, 33.8%), behavioural (n=25, 35.2%), and speech disturbances (n=17, 23.9%). The median latency to AIE diagnosis was 14 days (interquartile range=4–22 days). Female sex and ICU admission had higher risks of sequelae, with odds ratio (OR) of 2.925 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.005–8.516) and 3.515 (95% CI=1.160–10.650), respectively. Good immunotherapy response was seen in 42/48 (87.5%) and 13/13 (100%) of COVID-19-associated and vaccine-associated AIE patients, respectively. Sequelae were reported in 22/60 (36.7%) COVID-19 associated and 10/13 (76.9%) vaccine-associated cases.
Conclusions
The study has revealed diagnostic, therapeutic, and pathophysiological aspects of AIE associated with COVID-19 and its vaccines, and its differences from postinfectious AIE.Systematic review registration PROSPERO registration number CRD42021299215