Whole genome sequencing identifies pathogenic RNU4ATAC variants in a child with recurrent encephalitis, microcephaly, and normal stature

Abstract

Biallelic pathogenic variants in RNU4ATAC have been linked to microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type 1 (MOPD1). Although children with MOPD1 have been reported to show profound, life-limiting clinical decompensation at the time of a febrile illness, these episodes including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings have not been well characterized. We present acute MRI brain findings for a 10-year-old girl with homozygous variants in RNU4ATAC (NR_023343.1) n.55G>A, who presented with two episodes of clinical decompensation associated with a febrile illness in early childhood. The pathogenic variants were identified by whole genome sequencing as RNU4ATAC is not captured in most exome products. Her MRI of the brain revealed symmetric, diffusion restriction of the deep gray nuclei that initially pointed to a mitochondrial disease or acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Her phenotype included microcephaly and profound cognitive impairment that can be seen with MOPD1. However, she did not demonstrate clinical or radiographic evidence of a spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia or "primordial dwarfism" that is characteristic of this disease. As such, the predominant neurological presentation of this child represents an atypical variant of RNU4ATAC-associated disease and should be a diagnostic consideration for geneticists and neurologists caring for children, particularly in the event of an acute clinical decline.