Clinical Description
Most individuals with HNRNPH2-related neurodevelopmental disorder (HNRNPH2-NDD) have symptoms early in life, before age 12 months. The major features of HNRNPH2-NDD are developmental delay / intellectual disability, motor and language delays, behavioral and psychiatric disorders, and growth and musculoskeletal abnormalities. Minor features include dysmorphic facies, gastrointestinal disturbances, epilepsy, and visual defects.
To date, 49 individuals from 45 families with pathogenic variants in HNRNPH2 have been identified [Harmsen et al 2019, Jepsen et al 2019, Somashekar et al 2020, Bain et al 2021, Gillentine et al 2021, White-Brown et al 2022]. Initially, because the only affected individuals were phenotypic females presumed to be 46,XX, it was hypothesized that affected 46,XY individuals were embryonic lethal. However, at least 16 affected 46,XY individuals have now been reported [Harmsen et al 2019, Jepsen et al 2019, Gillentine et al 2021, Somashekar et al 2020, Bain et al 2021, Kreienkamp et al 2022].
At least one unaffected mother of an affected female was found to have the same HNRNPH2 pathogenic variant as her daughter. This unaffected mother had significantly skewed X-chromosome inactivation [White-Brown et al 2022]. There is not enough information on affected females versus affected males to make any generalizations about phenotypic differences between the two sexes.
Developmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID) has been reported in all affected individuals and is one of the major phenotypic features of HNRNPH2-NDD. The degree of disability is most commonly in the moderate-to-severe range.
Speech and language is severely affected, with the majority of affected individuals being nonverbal or minimally verbal and others with speech apraxia or difficulties with articulation. In those who acquired speech, most did so between ages one and five years.
Most affected individuals have delays in the acquisition of both gross and fine motor skills in infancy. Many affected individuals are nonambulatory. All affected individuals significantly benefit from intensive therapy services, and many also use orthoses in addition to other devices. Referral to a rehabilitation specialist / physiatrist and orthopedist is recommended for appropriate supports. Most individuals require significant support in daily activities.
Many affected individuals have low cognitive skills and low adaptive skill sets using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Most cognitive scales show floor effects below the first centile for many testing domains of standardized cognitive assessment. Most individuals require special education and support in daily activities into adulthood.
Behavioral and psychiatric problems have been validated with formal testing in almost half (47%) of affected individuals.
The most common diagnoses include anxiety (68%), self-injurious behaviors (38%), and autism spectrum disorder (34%).
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was diagnosed in about 15% of affected individuals, but a higher number of caregivers reported concerns regarding attention, hyperactivity, and distractibility.
Some affected individuals demonstrated stereotypies and intermittent developmental regression that can be suggestive of Rett syndrome (see
MECP2 Disorders).
Other neurodevelopmental features
Abnormal muscle tone. Most affected individuals have abnormalities of tone (most commonly hypotonia but also hypertonia), often first observed before age 12 months. Spasticity / muscle rigidity has been noted in about 33% of affected individuals. Some affected individuals have been given a clinical diagnosis of cerebral palsy based on their tone and muscle issues.
Weakness. Most affected individuals have generalized muscle weakness and decreased muscle bulk.
Electromyography done on one affected individual showed selective lower extremity denervation.
Of three affected individuals who underwent muscle biopsy, two were found to have abnormalities and the third was normal. One affected individual was found to have mild type II fiber atrophy; the other affected individual had reduced activity in the respiratory chain enzymes in complexes II and III.
Movement disorders. Reported abnormal movements have included the following:
Motor planning problems
Ataxia
Stereotypies
Clumsiness
Abnormal gait
Intermittent developmental regression. Caregivers have reported regression during episodes of illness or after a clinical seizure, followed by recovery of the lost skill once the episode resolves.
Seizures have been reported in about 39% of affected individuals, and another 10% have abnormal EEG findings without any known clinical correlation. One affected individual had refractory seizures. In general, affected individuals have responded well to levetiracetam and valproic acid (see Management).
The average age of presentation of first seizure is 8.7 years (range: age 3-34 years).
The semiology of clinical seizures is variable.
Staring episodes (69%) are the most common seizure type.
Febrile seizures are present in 23% of affected individuals.
Other seizure semiologies include tonic-clonic (43%), tonic (38%), spasms (23%), clonic (15%), and myoclonic (15%).
Abnormal EEG findings include diffuse slowing of the background, left-sided posterior and midline epileptic discharges, and paroxysmal activity in the right temporal lobe.
Neuroimaging. Brain MRI is normal in most affected individuals who have undergone imaging; however, some individuals have nonspecific findings, including delayed myelination, decreased cerebellar volume (cerebellar hypoplasia), and abnormal corpus callosum (thinning, dysgenesis, and vertical configuration). Two affected individuals underwent MR spectroscopy, with one showing a lactate peak in the basal ganglia region; the other MR spectroscopy was interpreted as normal.
Respiratory. Three affected individuals have been noted to have breath-holding spells, but in general HNRNPH2-NDD has not been associated with significant respiratory issues.
Sleep disturbances have been observed and are associated with problems falling and staying asleep. Melatonin has been effective in treating these concerns in many affected individuals (see Management) [Author, personal observation]. The sleep disturbances seen in individuals with HNRNPH2-NDD are more likely to be related to issues with sleep onset and maintenance as opposed to sleep apnea.
Growth. Four affected individuals were noted to have intrauterine growth restriction on prenatal ultrasound, but most have anthropometric measurements within the normal range for sex at birth. It should be noted that occipital frontal circumference (OFC) was not available for all affected individuals.
Weight. About half of reported affected individuals (55%) had difficulty gaining weight, which in most cases was attributed to feeding difficulties during infancy (see Gastrointestinal issues in the text following).
Length/height. Six out of 33 affected individuals were reported to be short for their age and sex, with the shortest individual being 5.5 SD below the mean.
Head circumference. About 30% of affected individuals have acquired microcephaly (defined as OFC ≥2 SD below the mean for age and sex). The most severely affected individual had an OFC 4.08 SD below the mean.
Gastrointestinal issues are present in most affected individuals. Feeding problems and chronic constipation are the two most common problems.
Vision involvement. A considerable proportion (67%) of affected individuals have visual defects, with strabismus being the most common finding in about 54%. Other findings include cortical visual impairment (33%), myopia (17%), and decreased visual acuity (13%). One individual was reported to have congenital ptosis.
Hearing deficits have been reported by parents in one quarter of affected individuals, but the type of hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive, or mixed) is not known for many of these reported individuals. Recurrent ear infections and tinnitus have also been reported.
Other associated features
Orthopedic abnormalities have been reported in individuals of all ages and most commonly include:
Rarer findings include:
Navicular bone drop with calcaneal adduction
Bone, muscle, and joint pain
Arthritis and stiffness of joints
Cardiovascular abnormalities. Nonspecific cardiac abnormalities have been observed in four affected individuals, including two with mitral valve prolapse, one with congenital aortic dilatation, and one with an atrial septal defect.
Endocrine. One affected individual had precocious puberty and three had delayed puberty.
Facial features. No recognizable dysmorphic features have been observed. If present, dysmorphic features are nonspecific. Such features may include:
Almond-shaped eyes
Short palpebral fissures
Short philtrum
Long columella
Hypoplastic alae nasi
Full lower lip
Micrognathia
Stroke. One affected individual had a stroke after a first-time seizure at age 34 years. It is unclear if early stroke is a rare finding in affected individuals or if this was a rare co-occurrence of two unrelated findings.
Prognosis. It is unknown whether the life span in HNRNPH2-NDD is abnormal. One reported individual was alive at age 38 years [Bain et al 2021], demonstrating that survival into adulthood is possible. Since many adults with disabilities have not undergone advanced genetic testing, it is likely that adults with this condition are underrecognized and underreported. Based on the available data, the clinical course does not appear to be progressive or degenerative into early adulthood.