ClinVar

Description

In the molecular genetic analysis, the variant c.1966C>A p. (Pro656Thr) can be detected. The amino acid substitution is in a region responsible for binding of the retinoic acid receptor. The variant has been mentioned in the literature in connection with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease [Gonzaga-Jauregui (2015) Cell Rep 12: 1169]. The authors describe a patient in whom the above variant in combination with a second heterozygous MED25 variant (c.1004C>T p.(Ala335Val)) was detected. However, the rating was the second variant Ala335Val was later withdrawn by the authors as a "causal pathogen" in another family with frequent occurrence of CMT [Leal (2018) Neurogenetics 19: 215]. Hereditary motor sensory neuropathy (HMSN), also known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT), is the most commonly inherited peripheral polyneuropathy. It constitutes a group of inherited, progressive, motor and sensory peripheral nerve disorders with properties of demyelination, axonal degeneration, or both. It is classified by clinical characteristics, modes of inheritance, electrophysiologic features, metabolic defects, and specific gene markers. Our patients all walk on tiptoe, so they show similar symptoms. When we genetically test them with our toe walking panel, we find that around 90 per cent of them have a genetic variant that explains their toe walking. These can be assigned, for example, to the area of myopathies (such as variants of the COL6A3 gene), the area of hereditary neuropathies (such as variants of the KMT2C gene) or the area of metabolic diseases (such as variants of the PYGM gene). In a smaller group of patients with almost identical symptoms, no abnormality is found in the genes of our panel, but spastic paraplegia can be detected. In another small group of our toe walkers, no abnormalities can be detected in the genes analysed in our toe walking panel, nor do they suffer from spastic paraplegia, as is also the case with healthy children. In contrast to these, however, they show a tiptoe gait. These patients suffer from infantile cerebral palsy, in which toe walking can also be observed.