OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 13 children with WAS. RESULTS: All 13 children were boys, with a median age of onset of 3 months (range 1-48 months) and a median age of 24 months (range 1-60 months) at the time of diagnosis. Of the 13 children, only 3 had typical WAS and the remaining 10 children had X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT). The mean WAS score was 2 (range 1-3), the mean platelet count was 20.5×10/L [range (13-46)×10/L], and the mean platelet volume was 8.1 fl (range 6.7-12.1 fl). Lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins were measured for 4 children, among whom 1 (25%) had a reduction in both the percentage of CD3T cells per lymphocyte and lymphocyte per nuclear cells, 1(25%) had a reduction in CD3CD56 NK cells. Among these 4 children, 1 (25%) had an increase in IgG, 2 (50%) had a reduction in IgM, 1 (25%) had a reduction in IgA, and 4 (100%) had an increase in IgE. A total of 14 gene mutations belonging to 13 types were found in 13 children, among which there were 9 missense mutations (65%), 2 splicing mutations (14%), 2 nonsense mutation (14%), and 1 frameshift mutation (7%). The median follow-up time was 39 months (range 3-62 months), and all 13 children survived. CONCLUSIONS Children with WAS often have a young age of onset, and most of them are boys. Major clinical features include thrombocytopenia with a reduction in platelet volume. Missense mutation is the main type of gene mutation.
Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene mutation of patients with WAS gene defect and its correlation with clinical manifestations. METHODS: Thirty-one patients consulted in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from January 2013 to February 2018 were enrolled in this study. The hot pot mutations of WAS gene in 31 patients were detected and related clinical phenotypes were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All patients were male. The median onset age was 1 month (range, 0-83 months). Nine mutants were reported as novel mutations among 25 mutants detected in 31 patients, including c.1234_1235dupCC, c.1093-1097delG, c.28-30dupC, c.436G>T, c.273 + 10_273 + 11dupCC, c.995_996insG, c.1010T>A, c.332_333delCC and c.683C>T mutations. There were 25 cases of classic WAS which mutations included missense mutation, deletion mutation, insertion mutation, splicing mutation and nonsense mutation, 2 cases of X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) were induced by missense mutation, 1 case of intermittent X-linked thrombocytopenia (IXLT) was induced by splicing mutation, 2 cases of X-linked pancytopenia were induced by missense mutation. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and glucocorticoid therapy in IXLT patient was effective, and remission could be sustained, platelets could be increased in the short-term in treated XLT patients, but only a small part of classic WAS patients(8.0%) showed transient response to it, the IVIG and glucocorticoid therapy did not improve the status of platelet in XLP patients. Immune laboratory examination showed that CD3 was decreased in 60.0% patients, CD19 was decreased in 12.0% patients, and CD56CD16 in 4 patients was decreased, accounting for 16.0%. Out of 24 patients, 22 patients were alive after treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 4 patients who were not given HSCT died of brain bleeding and severe infection, 1 patient diagnosed as IXLT got remission and survived. CONCLUSION WAS gene defect is an important basis for the diagnosis of WAS and related diseases. IVIG plus glucocorticoid therapy is less effective for fewer patients, the HSCT is an effective treatment for WAS.
Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutation of the WAS gene in a Chinese family affected with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were collected from the proband and his family members. All exons and flanking regions of the WAS gene were subjected to PCR amplification - Sanger sequencing as well as restriction endonuclease analysis. Plasma level of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) was also determined for all family members.

RESULTSA hemizygous mutation (c.257G>A) of the WAS gene was identified in all patients from the family, for which the patient's mother was heterozygous. The same mutation was not found among healthy members of the family. Compared with unaffected members, all patients had a higher level of BAFF.

CONCLUSIONThe c.257G>A mutation of the WAS gene probably underlies the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in this family.

B-Cell Activating Factor ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and immunological laboratory features, gene mutations, treatment and prognosis in children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS).

METHODThe clinical, laboratory characteristics, treatment and prognosis of 132 children with WAS, who visited Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April 2000 to June 2015, were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTAll patients were male. The median age of disease onset was 15 days and the median age at diagnosis was 10 months. Of the 132 cases, 112 had classic WAS, 20 had X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT). The median platelet count was 23×10(9)/L. All cases had the clinical characteristics of WAS including bleeding, eczema, and being susceptible to infection. The initial symptoms include hemorrhage (75.0%) and eczema (16.7%). Twenty-one cases had autoimmune diseases and one patient had leukemia. WAS protein (WASP) expression in 115 cases were measured by flow cytometry, 88 cases were negative, in 12 cases WASP decreased, in 5 cases it was normal, 10 cases had bimodal distribution. Eighty-one kinds of mutations were found in 122 families, including eight kinds of hot-spot mutations, which were 290 C> N / 291G> N (R86C / H / L), 665 C> T (R211X), 155 C> T (R41X), 168 C> T (T45 M), IVS1+ 1 g> t/ a, IVS6 + 5 g> a, IVS8 + 1 g> a and IVS8 + 1to + 6del gtga. Meantime, 29 kinds of novel mutations were found, which were 321T>C, 415C>A, 471C>T, 102-105delC, 521 del C, 1330 del A, IVS2-2 a>c, 168 C>A/1412 C> T, exon1-2 del/1412 C>T, and so on. The proportion of CD3(+) T cells (31.3%), helper T cells (37.3%) and cytotoxic T cells (38.6%) in the peripheral blood declined. The serum levels of IgG (51.1%), IgA (43.3%) and IgE (40.0%) increased, IgM (25.6%) decreased. Of the 132 cases, 72 remain survived, of whom 36 cases received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 14 patients with classic WAS received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. With regular IVIG therapy, the frequency of infections was reduced and the patients' symptoms were improved.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical characteristics of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome were early age of onset, microthrombocytopenia, eczema and recurrent infections. The proportion of T lymphocyte declined, the serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgE increased, and level of IgM decreased in a part of patients. The detection of WAS gene mutation and WAS protein detection was the key diagnostic methods. Regular IVIG can gain more time for children who will receive HSCT and improve their quality of life.

Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the history of a Wiskott- Aldrich syndrome (WAS) family with normal mean platelet volume (MPV), analyse the WASP gene mutation of to better understand its clinical characteristics.

METHODSA four- generation WAS family histories of 22 members were investigated. Peripheral blood samples were collected from propositus and his mother to analyse all exon mutations of WASP gene using sanger sequencing.

RESULTSThe MPV of both propositus and his elder brother were normal. The patient's clinical score was 5, antibodies to PM-Scl, PCNA and PO were positive with very high level of ASO, the patient co- suffered from autoimmune disease, anemia, abnormal renal function, fungal infection and scleritis. A homozygous mutation (C>T) was found at 173 bp of exon 2, corresponding to amino acids Pro (P) 58 abnormally changed to Leu (L). His mother was the carrier of the mutation. Of 112 blood diseases- related genes, mutation frequencies of CBL, CREBBP, DNM2 and ADAMTS13 were higher than normals.

CONCLUSIONThis was the first report the phenotype 173C>T mutation of WASP without eczema, but with normal MPV and autoimmune disease in Chinese, WAS should be recognized earlier and diagnosed correctly by genomic methods.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Humans ; Male ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVEWiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked primary immunodeficiency characterized by microthrombocytopenia, eczema, recurrent infections, and an increased incidence of autoimmunity and malignancies. The patients always have a severe clinical phenotype that can result in death if not diagnosed and treated early in life. The treatment of choice with the best outcome is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, preferably from a matched related donor. But uncertain treatment effect and high treatment cost limit its clinical application. It is the best strategy that avoiding birth of a fetus with defect through prenatal diagnosis at present. This study aimed to analyze the mutation of WASP gene in 4 Chinese families with WAS and to provide prenatal diagnosis for the high-risk fetus.

METHODThe probands of the four WAS families were all males, one of whom was deceased but had a family history and clinical datas integrated. All the patients were detected with blood routine tests, immunological tests and bone marrow examination. PCR and bilateral direct sequencing of PCR product was carried out in the regions of exon and exon-intron boundaries of WASP gene for 3 probands, 4 mothers and 100 unrelated healthy individuals as control. Prenatal diagnosis was provided for the two fetuses at the first trimester by mutation analysis.

RESULTFour WASP gene mutations were detected: c.91A > G (p.E31K), c.665C > T (p.R211X), c.397G > A (p.E133K), c.952-953delCC (p. P317fsX18), among which c.952-953delCC (p. P317fsX18) was first reported. Mothers in Family 2, 3 and 4 were carriers of WASP gene mutation, but family 1 was considered as a de-novo mutation. None of the 100 unaffected subjects had the above mutants. Prenatal diagnosis indicated that the fetus in family 2 was male and carried the same mutation as the proband, so the fetus was presumably to be a patient. The parents decided to receive an induced abortion. Following the termination of the pregnancy, the result of gene analysis of the aborted tissues was consistent with prenatal diagnosis. The fetus in family 3 was normal male confirmed by normal test results six months after birth.

CONCLUSIONThe 4 mutations of the WASP gene probably were causative to the families of WAS, among which c.952-953delCC was reported for the first time. Prenatal diagnosis by DNA sequencing is the effective method to avoid birth of WAS patient.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics ; X-Linked Combined Immunodeficiency Diseases

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of gene analysis of amniotic fluid exfoliated cells and WASP detection from cord blood in prenatal diagnosis of high-risk fetus with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

METHODSeven patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome were diagnosed by gene analysis and WASP detected by flow cytometry from 2008 to 2010. After detailed inquiry for medical history and gene analysis of related family members, seven pedigree trees were drawn, including 15 carriers of abnormal genes. From 2008 to 2011, seven samples of amniotic cell gotten by amniocentesis were collected from seven high-risk pregnant women with abnormal gene during 18 to 20 gestational weeks. WASP gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from DNA of amniotic cell gotten and sequencing was performed directly on the PCR products forward and reversely. Embryo blood sample was collected from one high-risk fetus by needle puncture of umbilical blood vessel and WASP expression was detected by flow cytometry. Karyotyping was performed in amniotic cell gotten cultivated by orthotopic slice and G band staining. Gene analysis of WASP, WASP expression detected by flow cytometry and evaluation of immune function were reexamined in high-risk fetus after delivery.

RESULTAmniocentesis and culture of amniotic cell succeeded in all the seven fetuses. Gene analysis and karyotyping showed that one male fetus and four female fetuses were normal and two female fetuses were carriers. WASP expression detected from embryo blood sample of the patient was normal. After delivery, the result of gene analysis, WASP detection and evaluation of immune function was the same as that of prenatal diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONKaryotyping, gene analysis and WASP detection of cord blood can provide reliable service of prenatal diagnosis for high-risk pregnant women with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Amniocentesis ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; blood ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical features, laboratory alterations and gene mutations of 6 patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS).

METHODST lymphocyte subtypes were measured by flow cytometer. The routine blood tests including platelet count and mean platelet volume were performed by complete blood analyzer Sysmex XE2100. Serum immunoglobulin was measured by immunoturbidimetry. Mutations in WAS protein (WASP) gene (including all the exons and exon-intron boundaries and 3', 5' untranslation region) of 6 patients and their family members were identified by PCR and sequencing.

RESULTSThe patients presented with petechiae, easy bruise, eczema, bloody diarrhea, recurrent infection and fever, and the clinical scores were 3 or 4. They were thrombocytopenia with smaller mean platelet volume, anemia and leukocytosis. Megakaryocyte number was normal or slightly increased in bone marrow. In the probands, the percentage of CD3+ T cells was decreased, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was abnormal, while the fractions of CD19+ and CD16+ CD56+ cells were in normal range. In most of the patients, the serum levels of IgG and IgA were increased. Six mutations were identified in the patients, including 10250 C-->T, and five novel mutations: 6783 C-->G,10216-10221 Ins G, 9964 Del T,10192-10203 Del GCCTGCCGGGG and 10052-10059 del GCTACTG. The 6783 C-->G in exon 3 resulted in premature stop at Tyr102, and the remaining four mutations in exon 10 resulted in frame shift and premature stop.

CONCLUSIONThe main characteristics of these WAS patients were thrombocytopenia with smaller mean platelet volume and immunological disturbance. Their gene mutations were deletion, insertion or nonsense mutations. All the patients had been misdiagnosed as ITP, indicating the importance of differential diagnosis.

Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Sequence Deletion ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThis study investigated the history and gene mutations of a family with X-linked thrombocytopenia, in order to understand the clinical characteristic and molecular pathogenesis of the disease.

METHODSA three-generation X-linked thrombocytopenia family with 13 family members was investigated using PCR-DNA direct sequencing method to screen the exons of WASP gene for mutation analysis.

RESULTSThe WASP gene sequencing of the proband revealed a missense mutation in exon 2 (G291A), resulting in a change of amino acid 86 from arginine to histidine. The patient's mother was the carrier of the heterozygosis mutation in X-chromosome.

CONCLUSIONSWASP mutations may be attributed to the molecular mechanism of X-linked thrombocytopenia. G291A is one of the mutations of WASP.

Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Thrombocytopenia ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

Humans ; Mutation ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics