Early Severe Cortical Involvement and Novel FUCA1 Mutations in a Pediatric Fucosidosis Case

Abstract

Background: Biallelic pathogenic variants in the FUCA1 gene are associated with fucosidosis. This report describes a 4-year-old boy presenting with psychomotor regression, spasticity, and dystonic postures.

Methods and results: Trio-based whole exome sequencing revealed two previously unreported loss-of-function variants in the FUCA1 gene. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings included corpus callosum hypoplasia, white matter hypomyelination, and alterations in the globus pallidi, alongside markedly reduced cortical thickness.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that cortical atrophy may occur in the early stages of fucosidosis. Early diagnosis is imperative for genetic counseling, timely investigations, and initiating early therapeutic interventions to potentially mitigate more extensive brain involvement.

Keywords: FUCA1 gene; cortical thickness; fucosidosis; neuroimaging.