Phenotypic variability in a large kindred with spastic paraplegia associated with a novel REEP1 variant

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive characterization of a large Estonian family spanning five generations with seventeen individuals affected by spastic paraplegia associated with a novel variant in the receptor expression-enhancing protein-1 (REEP1) gene.

Comprehensive clinical evaluation, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological studies were performed on six patients who provided oral and written consent. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the index case. Targeted carrier testing was done in all other available affected and at-risk relatives.

Four individuals presented with pure spastic paraplegia, with onset from early childhood to adult age. None had bladder or bowel dysfunction. Two subjectively asymptomatic mutation carriers displayed pyramidal signs on examination. Imaging of the neuroaxis was normal in three patients, three had MRI findings interpreted as unrelated. Motor evoked potential (MEP) was abnormal in five; the patient with the longest disease duration had additional somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) abnormalities. The novel splice-site variant, c.32 + 1G > C in the REEP1 gene, found in the index case, co-segregates with disease in the family. Expressivity in this family is variable.

Our findings are in keeping with previous descriptions of the SPG31 spectrum. The phenotype associated with splice variants is not necessarily more severe than other conventional REEP1 variants. As for other forms of familial spastic paraplegias, the factors modulating variable expressivity in SPG31 are still unknown.