Clinical burden, genetic heterogeneity, and diagnostic implications in primary hyperoxaluria type 2

Primary hyperoxaluria type 2 is a rare genetic disorder of oxalate due to a defect in the glyoxalate reductase/hydroxypyruvate reductase enzyme. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes in a pediatric population from a single center in Pakistan.

This study was conducted at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi, from January 2010 to December 2022, involving children under 18 years with nephrocalcinosis. Data collected included demographics, clinical features, laboratory findings, imaging results, family history of kidney stones, and consanguinity. Genetic testing, including next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing, was performed, and patients were followed for 24 months to monitor the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages.

Fifty-two children were diagnosed with primary hyperoxaluria type 2 (PH2) confirmed by genetic testing. The majority were male (56%), between 5 and 10 years of age (46%), and from the Sindh province (62%). Seventeen distinct GRHPR gene mutations were identified, predominantly missense variants. The most frequent mutation was Gly165Asp (observed in 12 patients), followed by Leu6Phe and Trp138Arg (8 and 7 patients, respectively). Six of the identified mutations were novel. At presentation, 30% of children were in CKD stage 5, and this proportion increased to 42% after 24 months of follow-up. Male sex and higher baseline serum creatinine were significant predictors of progression to CKD stage 5.

This is the first reported PH2 cohort from Pakistan, highlights a significant disease burden with diverse GRHPR mutations, with most patients presenting in advanced CKD stage 5 at diagnosis.