UDP-glucose dehydrogenase variants cause dystroglycanopathy

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 Jun;12(6):1302-1308. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70002. Epub 2025 Apr 17.

Abstract

UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) variants have been associated with hypotonia, developmental delay, and epilepsy. We report the first pathologic evidence of dystroglycanopathy in siblings with UGDH variants. Both presented around 6 months with developmental delay and elevated creatinine kinase. Sibling A developed epilepsy at age 9 years. Muscle biopsy from sibling A showed necrotizing myopathy with reduced matriglycan immunostaining. Western blot revealed α-dystroglycan with abnormally low molecular weight. The siblings shared pathogenic UGDH variants in trans: c.305G>A p.(R102Q) is predicted to disrupt protein structure and function; c.265-6C>G is deleterious to splicing. We propose that UGDH is an additional dystroglycanopathy gene.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Developmental Disabilities* / genetics
  • Dystroglycans* / metabolism
  • Epilepsy / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Siblings
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase* / genetics

Substances

  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase
  • Dystroglycans