X-linked sideroblastic anaemia (XLSA) is commonly due to mutations in the ALAS2 gene and predominantly affects hemizygous males. Heterozygous female carriers of the ALAS2 gene mutation are often asymptomatic or only mildly anaemic. XLSA is usually characterized by microcytic erythrocytes (reduced mean corpuscular volume (MCV)) and hypochromia, along with increased red cell distribution width. However, in females with XLSA the characteristic laboratory findings can be dimorphic and present with macrocytic (elevated MCV) in addition to microcytic red cells.
We report a case of fetal anaemia, presenting in the early third trimester of pregnancy, in a female fetus. Ultrasound findings at 29 weeks were of cardiomegaly, prominent umbilical veins, a small rim of ascites, and mean cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) value above 1.5 Multiples of the Median (MoM). She underwent non-invasive prenatal testing that determined the rhesus genotype of the fetus to be rhesus B negative. No red blood cell antibodies were reported. Other investigations to determine the underlying cause of fetal anaemia included microarray comparative genomic hybridization, serology to exclude congenital infection and a peripheral blood film and fetal bilirubin to detect haemolysis. The maternal grandmother had a history of sideroblastic anaemia diagnosed at the age of 17 years. The mother had mild macrocytic anaemia with haemoglobin of 10.4 g/dl and MCV of 104 fl. The fetal anaemia was successfully treated with two in utero transfusions (IUTs), and delivery occurred via caesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation. The red cell gene sequencing in both the mother and fetus were heterozygous for an ALAS2 mutation causing in utero manifestations of XLSA. The haemoglobin on discharge to the local hospital at five days of age was 19.1 g/dl. Subsequently, the infant became anaemic, requiring regular 3-4 monthly blood transfusions and demonstrating overall normal development. Her anaemia was unresponsive to pyridoxine.
This is one of four cases reporting multiple female members presenting with discordant clinical features of XLSA from being entirely asymptomatic to hydropic in utero. Our report is novel in that there are no previous cases in the literature of anaemia in a female fetus heterozygous for ALAS2 mutation.

暂无摘要。

Givosiran (Givlaari®) is an δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 (ALAS1)-directed small interfering RNA (siRNA) approved for the treatment of acute hepatic porphyria (AHP). In the phase 3 ENVISION trial, givosiran significantly reduced the annualized rate of composite porphyria attacks (i.e. attacks requiring hospitalization, urgent healthcare visit or intravenous hemin administration at home) compared with placebo in patients with recurrent acute intermittent porphyria (the most common type of AHP) attacks. Givosiran also improved several other outcomes, including hemin use and pain (the cardinal symptom of AHP). While generally well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile, the drug may increase the risk of hepatic and kidney adverse events. Givosiran offers the convenience of once-monthly subcutaneous administration. Available evidence indicates that givosiran is an important newer therapeutic option for patients with AHP and severe recurrent attacks.

暂无摘要。

OBJECTIVE: To raise awareness of molecular pathogenesis and treatment of congenital sideroblastic anemia (CSA).
METHODS: A complete blood count and iron metabolism were detected from the proband and other members of the family. Mutation analysis was performed on the complete coding regions of ALAS2 gene by common polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genomic DNA as a template from members the family. ALAS2 mutations were detected by direct sequencing and mutation types were confirmed by sequencing followed by plasmid cloning.
RESULTS: The proband male presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia (hemoglobin 84 g/L, mean corpuscular volume 64 fL, mean corpuscular hemoglobin 16.5 pg), and iron overload (serum iron 44.7 μmol/L, serum ferritin 3 123 μg/L and transferrin saturation 0.84). A mutation 466 A>G predicting a Lys156Glu amino acid change was identified in the proband and 3 females from the family. The proband was hemizygous for this mutation and presented with microcytic anemia and iron overload, while all 3 heterozygous females showed marginally increased red cell distribution width without any other symptoms. The proband treated with 300 mg of pyridoxine per day and iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine for one year had durable hematopoietic patients improvements, including increase in hemoglobin to 98 g/L and decrease in serum ferritin to 1 580 μg/L.
CONCLUSIONS: This was a novel K156E substitution in ALAS2 gene identified in a 3-generation pedigree in China. Our findings emphasized the importance of gene based diagnosis of CSA, and CSA patient with ALAS2 mutation responded to pyridoxine treatment.

Environmental pollution of heavy metals is very abundant nowadays from industry, chemicals, old paints, and pipes or resulting from previous contaminants accumulating in the food chain. Most of the iron demands of the body are needed for heme synthesis and assembly, but iron is also required for Fe-S cluster proteins and other redox enzymes. Heme is an essential, iron-binding molecule used as a prosthetic group of hemoproteins or as a regulator in multiple cellular pathways. In this review, we focused on the effect of exposure to heavy metals, such as Pb, Ga, Cu, Kd, Hg and Al, on heme synthesis as the main iron-sequestering process of the human body. These metals compete with iron on transporters, reduce the cellular iron pool and moreover, bind to proteins, and cause physical and mental disturbances. Heavy metals mainly impair various aspects of the heme synthesis pathway: gene expression, enzyme activity, and iron integration into protoporphyrin IX. Main risk factors are described as well as effects on iron dependent processes in order to increase public awareness to the distribution of heavy metals in our close environment and the harsh consequences of exposure, even in low doses.

It was thought that delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Actually there are two isozymes of ALAS and ALAS2 (erythroid delta-aminolevulinate synthase), they play the leading role in the hemoglobin biosynthetic pathway. Mutations in ALAS2 gene causes X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA). About 25 different mutations in ALAS2 gene have been identified in XLSA patients and two of them were reported by our laboratory. It is possible to cure the patients with XLSA by gene therapy because it is a single gene disorder.

Sideroblastic Anaemias are characterised by a) chronic hypochromic anemia, b) ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow, c) an increase in total body iron, d) ineffective erythropoiesis and e) often abnormal concentrations of F.E.P. A classification of Sideroblastic Anaemia is given and the pathophysiology of Sideroblastic Anaemia is discussed. A series of seven paediatric cases with Sideroblastic Anaemia is presented and the results of studies of the iron, vitamin B6 and porphyrin metabolism are discussed. In two cases arguments for an ALA-synthetase deficiency are given. All five males were diagnosed as hereditary X-linked Sideroblastic Anaemia, one female as I.R.S.A. and the other female, who showed the features of the X-linked type, as congenital Sideroblastic Anaemia.

暂无摘要。

暂无摘要。