NGLY1 deficiency: Novel patient, review of the literature and diagnostic algorithm

Together with the lysosomal storage diseases, NGLY1 deficiency is a congenital disorder of deglycosylation (NGLY1-CDDG). Since the first report in 2012, 26 patients have been described. All but one were diagnosed by exome or genome sequencing; the remaining one was identified by finding an increased concentration of an urinary marker.The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, biochemical, and molecular features of the first Polish patient diagnosed with NGLY1-CDDG, to provide an overview of the literature and to propose a diagnostic algorithm.

A Polish patient presented with global developmental delay, hyperkinetic movement disorder, stagnation of head growth, hypolacrimia, elevated serum transaminases, and hypolipidemia in infancy. Whole exome sequencing revealed two heterozygous nonsense variants in the NGLY1 gene (a novel and an unreported). Literature review revealed global developmental disability in all reported patients, and hyperkinetic movements as well as alacrima/hypolacrima in nearly all.

NGLY1-CDDG should be considered in patients with developmental disability associated with a hyperkinetic movement disorder and alacrimia/hypolacrima. Absence of the latter two symptoms does not rule out this diagnosis.