Clinical Description
The phenotype of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase (PRS) deficiency is now known to be a continuum encompassing three previously clinically defined disorders – Arts syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy X type 5 (CMTX5), and X-linked nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (DFNX1). Arts syndrome (characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, ataxia, sensorineural hearing impairment, and progressive optic atrophy and/or retinopathy), CMTX5 (characterized by peripheral neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, and optic neuropathy), and DFNX1 were initially thought to represent distinct phenotypes. However, following the observation in a single family of a male with features of CMTX5 and Arts syndrome and a female with prelingual DFNX1, Synofzik et al [2014] concluded that these disorders are not distinct entities, but rather clusters on a phenotypic continuum associated with PRS deficiency.
Subsequent reports confirmed this observation and further expanded the PRS deficiency phenotype:
Detailed clinical and neurophysiologic examination of males diagnosed with
PRPS1-related hearing loss revealed peripheral neuropathy ranging from subclinical axonal motor neuropathy to axonal sensorimotor neuropathy [
Robusto et al 2015].
Thus, the phenotypic spectrum of PRS deficiency can range from profound congenital sensorineural hearing impairment, intellectual disability, delayed motor development, and progressive optic atrophy [Arts et al 1993, de Brouwer et al 2007] to relatively later-onset, somewhat milder manifestations, such as mild sensorineural hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, gait ataxia, and normal cognitive abilities.
To date, 40 families have been identified with PRS deficiency [Mercati et al 2020, Puusepp et al 2020, Rezende Filho et al 2021, Shirakawa et al 2022]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports.
Affected Males
Sensorineural hearing loss can be prelingual to postlingual with onset ranging from congenital to age 20 years. It can be progressive or non-progressive, and severe to profound [Liu et al 2010, Liu et al 2013, Kim et al 2016].
Early-onset hypotonia and delayed motor development. Hypotonia, which is usually mild, may be noted in infancy. Attainment of motor milestones may be mildly to moderately delayed.
Peripheral motor and sensory neuropathy. Onset of peripheral neuropathy is between ages two and 12 years [de Brouwer et al 2007]. The lower extremities are affected earlier and more severely than the upper extremities. The initial manifestation is often foot drop or gait disturbance. Deep tendon reflexes are usually absent. Motor signs predominate, but impaired sensory function may accompany motor dysfunction or develop during disease progression. With advancing disease, affected individuals may become dependent on crutches or a wheelchair.
Sural nerve biopsy showed the following:
Loss of myelinated fibers without signs of demyelination or axonal degeneration in a boy age five years with Arts syndrome from the original Dutch family reported by
Arts et al [1993].
Mild paranodal demyelination indicative of peripheral neuropathy in a boy age two years, who had absent lower limb deep tendon reflexes and nerve conduction studies indicative of peripheral neuropathy [
de Brouwer et al 2007].
Intellectual disability (ID) is mild to moderate. Brain MRI shows nonspecific abnormalities (e.g., reduction of white matter in the brain, which would indicate demyelination) [de Brouwer et al 2007].
Liability to infections, especially upper respiratory tract infections, resulted in death before age six years in 12 of the 15 boys from the two Dutch families reported with Arts syndrome [Arts et al 1993]. During infection, the acute deterioration in muscle strength in the otherwise slowly progressive muscle weakness could result in respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation.
Ophthalmologic involvement. Onset of visual impairment is between ages seven and 20 years. Optic neuropathy and retinopathy can progress with time.
Heterozygous Females
Heterozygous females can show isolated and/or milder manifestations, most notably late-onset (age >20 years) hearing impairment that can be either symmetric or asymmetric and ranges from mild to moderate [Liu et al 2013]. In the family described by Almoguera et al [2014], both the female proband and her mother had peripheral neuropathy and ophthalmologic manifestations (retinal dystrophy and optic atrophy). One affected sister had a milder phenotype limited to ophthalmologic findings. Ataxia, hypotonia, and hyperreflexia have been reported as well [Arts et al 1993].
Genotype-Phenotype Correlations
In the wide and continuous spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with PRPS1 missense variants that result in a loss of function, a relationship between the type (location) of disruption of the PRS-I enzyme and phenotype has been suggested. The most severe phenotypes are caused by variants that are predicted to affect allosteric and active sites, and the milder phenotypes are caused by variants that are predicted to disrupt the structure locally [de Brouwer et al 2010].
In females, who predictably have less severe manifestations, the ratio of X-chromosome inactivation adds an additional variable in predicting clinical outcome [Synofzik et al 2014].