Clinical Description
SCARB2-related action myoclonus – renal failure syndrome (SCARB2-AMRF) comprises a continuum of two major (and ultimately fatal) manifestations: progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME) and renal involvement that can range from mild proteinuria to steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) (see Table 2). In some instances, renal involvement is not observed; thus, PME without proteinuria caused by biallelic SCARB2 pathogenic variants is considered to be one end of the spectrum of SCARB2-AMRF [Tian et al 2018, Atasu et al 2022]. Of note, while all reported individuals developed neurologic findings, renal manifestations were reported to predate neurologic involvement by decades in some instances. Thus, the absence of neurologic involvement should not preclude consideration of SCARB2-AMRF in individuals with kidney disease [Badhwar et al 2004].
The age of onset varies, even within the same family.
Neurologic manifestations can appear before (in one third of affected individuals), simultaneously, or after renal manifestations. In juvenile
SCARB2-AMRF, onset is usually in the late teenage years or early in the third decade [
Badhwar et al 2004].
In some persons renal manifestations occur early (late childhood or early teenage years) and neurologic involvement much later (late in the third decade or early in the fourth decade) [
Badhwar et al 2004,
Hopfner et al 2011].
The neurologic and renal manifestations progress independently. Of note, the neurologic manifestations are not the result of a metabolic encephalopathy due to renal involvement (chronic kidney disease [CKD] or ESKD) and are not improved by treatment of the renal disease by either dialysis or by kidney transplantation [Andermann et al 1986, Badhwar et al 2004]. The use of anti-rejection medications such as cyclosporine known to induce tremor can mistakenly be blamed for the emergence of myoclonus before a molecular diagnosis of SCARB2-AMRF is established.
Even in the same family, the number and range of clinical manifestations and the order of their appearance can vary. Neurologic manifestations may occur first or in isolation in some family members, and renal manifestations may occur first or in isolation in other family members [Badhwar et al 2004].
Renal manifestations can be variable even within the same family, including proteinuria, reduced creatinine clearance, CKD, or ESKD. Some individuals do not develop kidney disease [Atasu et al 2022].
The disease progresses relentlessly, with neurologic deterioration (especially increasing severity of myoclonus) and/or ESKD leading to death within seven to 15 years after onset.
Neurologic Disease
Fine tremor. Usually noted in the second or third decade of life beginning with bilateral fine rhythmic tremor of the fingers noted during delicate movement such as isometric contractions or posture, writing, or by intention of movement [Tian et al 2018, Atasu et al 2022]. The tremor can be relieved by alcohol [Andermann et al 1986, Andermann 2011, Guerrero-López et al 2012]. It becomes progressively worse until it is masked by myoclonic jerks.
Action myoclonus usually appears within ten years of tremor onset (third decade of life) as jerking movements first of the upper extremities and then of the lower extremities. Action myoclonus is typically triggered by movements or intended movements. Action myoclonus can be asynchronous, multifocal, and of variable severity. Action myoclonus can also be reflex sensitive to touch over the distal extremities and can be exacerbated by anxiety, excitement, stress, fatigue, auditory stimuli, or startle [Badhwar et al 2004, Perandones et al 2012, Zeigler et al 2014].
With time, myoclonic jerks involve the proximal limbs. Their amplitude and frequency increase by movements of the limbs, typically by walking down stairs. Action myoclonus can also involve the trunk. Attempts at speaking and executed speech can induce myoclonus of the bulbar musculature, contributing to the dysarthria.
Myoclonus can also be "negative" and characterized by a sudden cessation of postural tone that leads to postural lapses. This is particularly prominent in the standing position, where postural lapses of the antigravity muscles create a "bouncing" stance [Toro et al 1995].
Action myoclonus is often the most disabling neurologic manifestation and may prevent affected individuals from performing activities of daily living such as speaking, swallowing food, or walking [Andermann et al 1986, Badhwar et al 2004, Vadlamudi et al 2006].
Myoclonus at rest. Subtle myoclonic movements of the eyelids, jaws, and perioral musculature appear at rest and while speaking. They represent the absence of complete relaxation. Ocular dysmetria can occur later in the disease course.
Seizures, a common feature of SCARB2-AMRF, usually present within a few years of myoclonus (second or third decade of life). Both myoclonic seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (in some instances progressing to status epilepticus) have been described. Seizures can be diurnal or nocturnal. Light stimulation, eye closure, and TV viewing have all been reported triggers [Rubboli et al 2011].
EEG findings. Although background activity may be normal in some individuals, over time it slowly progresses to include diffuse slowing at 6.5-7.5 Hz. Low-voltage spike and spike/polyspike-wave discharges may be present [Badhwar et al 2004]. As in most PME syndromes, myoclonic jerks are often preceded by a contralateral and somatotopically organized cortical discharge originating in the motor cortex (cortical or epileptic myoclonus).
Intermittent photic stimulation may produce whole-body myoclonus with multiple spikes in the EEG record associated with slow waves. These generalized spike/polyspike-wave bursts can outlast the duration of light stimulation [Rubboli et al 2011].
Follow up over the course of the disease shows a preserved alpha background activity at disease onset, with rare generalized or focal epileptiform discharges. Over the years, irregular slower theta and delta waves progressively intermix with the alpha waves, and the epileptic activity becomes more frequent [Rubboli et al 2011].
Ataxia and dysarthria. Both are commonly seen later in the disease course (i.e., a few years after onset of myoclonus). Some individuals who develop significant progressive ataxia before or around the appearance of myoclonus and/or myoclonic dysmetria that is interpreted as cerebellar in origin have been reported to have "progressive myoclonus ataxia" or recessive spinocerebellar ataxia [Guan et al 2020, Atasu et al 2022].
Peripheral neuropathy. In some families, a sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy (both demyelinating and axonal neuropathy) may be present [Atasu et al 2022].
Some affected individuals may be diagnosed with a predominantly demyelinating peripheral neuropathy before the onset of renal involvement [Badhwar et al 2004, Costello et al 2009, Dibbens et al 2011, Hopfner et al 2011].
Sensorineural hearing loss / deafness can be clinically evident or subclinical even within the same family. Three individuals from a German family and another individual from Australia developed hearing loss in adulthood. Family members with subclinical hearing changes have also been reported [Rubboli et al 2011, Perandones et al 2014].
Cognitive function. While the majority of individuals with SCARB2-AMRF have not been reported to have cognitive impairment, four different families were reported to have dementia, cognitive impairment, and executive dysfunction [Fu et al 2014, Atasu et al 2022].
Brain MRI may show cerebral, cerebellar, brain stem, or cortical atrophy. Normal MRIs have also been reported [Tian et al 2018].
Renal Disease
The initial manifestation of renal disease is mild proteinuria that may progress to nephrotic syndrome and ultimately to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In 15 individuals with AMRF, proteinuria, which occurred in all individuals, was detected between ages nine and 30 years (mean: 20.1 years, median: 19 years); in 12 individuals progression to ESKD requiring dialysis or kidney transplant occurred within zero to eight years of diagnosis (mean: 3.8 years, median: 4.5 years) [Badhwar et al 2004].
The renal manifestations may precede or follow the onset of neurologic findings and can be variable, even within the same family. In two sibs with molecularly confirmed SCARB2-AMRF, the sister presented initially with progressive gait difficulty and loss of fine motor skills, and subsequently was found to have proteinuria. In contrast, her brother presented with ESKD secondary to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and underwent kidney transplantation one year prior to the onset of neurologic manifestations. Of note, another brother had died at age 12 years of ESKD secondary to FSGS [Tanriverdi et al 2022].
In another family, proteinuria was detected in two sisters three to four years following the onset of neurologic manifestations. Both subsequently developed nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria, anasarca, and pleural effusions). One died of Staph aureus and Candida albicans septicemia; the other died of fulminant pneumonia from an unidentified organism [Balreira et al 2008]. Although the treatments they received for the nephrotic syndrome and the details of their infections are not available for review, it is important to note that individuals with proteinuria in the range observed in nephrotic syndrome are at increased risk for infections and hypogammaglobulinemia [Trautmann et al 2020].
Renal histology. FSGS, a histologic pattern of kidney injury affecting the podocytes, is a leading cause of kidney disease worldwide and is a common cause of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), defined as a lack of remission after four to six weeks of standard prednisone treatment. FSGS and SRNS are often used interchangeably, but not all FSGS presents with nephrotic syndrome nor are all instances of FSGS steroid resistant.
FSGS can be classified as primary (idiopathic), secondary (infection/inflammation, malignancy, drug related), and genetic. Individuals with genetic forms of FSGS or SRNS are unlikely to benefit from prolonged immunosuppression [Rood et al 2012, Rosenberg & Kopp 2017, Trautmann et al 2020]. In most published case reports of SCARB2-AMRF, the immunosuppression regimens used to treat the renal manifestations are not available for review; hence, the label "SRNS" cannot be accurately applied in those individuals. However, SRNS is presumed based on the progressive and hereditary nature of the renal disease.
Other Findings
Cardiac disease. In a German family, echocardiography revealed dilated cardiomyopathy at ages 14 and 21 years in two of three affected sibs [Hopfner et al 2011].
Mild generalized muscle atrophy was reported in two individuals who exhibited mild generalized reduced tone and no fasciculations [Zeigler et al 2014, He et al 2018]. Although electromyography in one individual showed signs consistent with chronic motor neuron involvement, this has not been reported in any other individuals with SCARB2-AMRF [Zeigler et al 2014].
Late-Onset SCARB2-AMRF
Disease onset in the fifth or sixth decade has been reported in two Japanese families to date.
Higashiyama et al [2013] reported two sibs with SCARB2-AMRF without kidney failure. The sister presented with myoclonic jerks at age 43 years; her older brother presented with gait difficulties at age 52 years. Both were homozygous for the SCARB2 pathogenic variant c.1385_1390delGATCCAinsATGCATGCACC.
Fu et al [2014] reported a single affected individual from two other Japanese families, one of whom had late-onset disease. This individual presented with gait changes at age 45 years. Of note, he was homozygous for the same pathogenic variant as the two sibs reported by Higashiyama et al [2013]. The two families with reported late-onset SCARB2-AMRF originate from the same geographic area; however, it is unknown if these variants are identical by descent.