Presentation
Growth deficiency was present (mean weight percentile: 15%; mean height percentile: 8%). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The girl presented recurrent episodes of severe acute heart failure, progressive muscle weakness, and had a fatal septic shock at 3years. [zora.uzh.ch]
A fever may also be present. Diarrhea and/or constipation. Weak muscle tone may lead to fatigue and difficulty exercising. [news-medical.net]
Clinical description Clinical presentation is highly variable. [orpha.net]
Entire Body System
- Poor Feeding
Heart failure in young children tends to cause rapid, laboured breathing and poor feeding. Sweating with feeds is common. [contact.org.uk]
Respiratoric
- Tachypnea
Besides tachypnea and some apneic episodes there were no clinical symptoms. However, he needed slight oxygen supply (flow ½ liter/min), that increased when physically more active. No seizures were recorded. [enlivenarchive.org]
Course
- Mild Clinical Course
Differing clinical courses and outcomes in two siblings with Barth syndrome and left ventricular noncompaction. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Gastrointestinal
- Failure to Thrive
[…] to thrive as infants, poor muscle tone, difficulty with fine finger movements and walking, lack of stamina and frequent serious bacterial infections. [nicklauschildrens.org]
Signs and symptoms of Barth syndrome include: skeletal muscle abnormalities delayed gross motor skill development weak muscle tone frequent infections failure to thrive in infants and other abnormalities in growth exercise intolerance or lack of stamina [childrenshospital.org]
Such abnormal weight-for-height ratios in Barth syndrome are rarely caused by nutritional failure-to-thrive, but are a "normal" characteristic of Barth syndrome. [web.archive.org]
These symptoms can include: Heart conditions such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and cardiomyopathy Failure to thrive Delays in meeting developmental milestones Delays in the acquisition of gross motor skills Exercise intolerance Muscle weakness Easily [verywellhealth.com]
Abstract Barth syndrome (MIM 302060) is an X‐linked condition that includes dilated cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, failure to thrive, abnormal mitochondria, and 3‐methylglutaconic aciduria. [dx.doi.org]
Cardiovascular
- Palpitations
Cardiologically, he had never experienced syncope and presented with occasional episodes of chest pain and palpitations. [revespcardiol.org]
A low threshold for performing an electrophysiologic study to assess for a potentially serious arrhythmia is appropriate, especially in the presence of symptoms such as palpitations and syncope, abnormal arrhythmia screening tests, or a family history [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Chest Pain
Cardiologically, he had never experienced syncope and presented with occasional episodes of chest pain and palpitations. [revespcardiol.org]
Face, Head & Neck
- Round Face
Common signs and symptoms include; distinctive facial features with a round face and full cheeks, large ears, deep-set eyes, big chin, heart muscle weakness which presents as heart failure and/or arrhythmias including sudden death, growth delay and failure [nicklauschildrens.org]
They have a round face with prominent chin and full cheeks. The ears are large, and they have deep set eyes. The facial features become less noticeable with age. [rarediseases.org]
face Circular face Round facial appearance Round facial shape [ more ] 0000311 Skeletal myopathy 0003756 X-linked recessive inheritance 0001419 Showing of 29 | Last updated: 12/1/2018 Barth syndrome is caused by mutations in the TAZ gene, which is located [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]
Neurologic
- Abnormal Gait
[…] disturbance Abnormal gait Abnormal walk Impaired gait [ more ] 0001288 Granulocytopenia 0001913 Growth delay Delayed growth Growth deficiency Growth failure Growth retardation Poor growth Retarded growth [ more ] 0001510 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Enlarged [rarediseases.info.nih.gov]
- Neglect
However, not all report on metabolic changes, so they might have been neglected [1,2,8, 10,11,14-22]. [enlivenarchive.org]
Workup
Clinical testing and workup As a part of routine follow up, growth and height of the children are monitored regularly. Annual cardiac follow up using ECG, echocardiogram and Holter monitor is considered. [rarediseases.org]
Initial lumbar puncture and sepsis workup were normal. Blood chemistry showed normal values. Pyruvate was initially elevated [2.37 mg/dL (0.36-0-59) (= 262 µmol/L)]. [enlivenarchive.org]
Although diagnostic workup, including bone marrow biopsy, had been negative to date, he began receiving biweekly injections of granulocyte colony stimulating factor with a beneficial effect [8]. [journals.lww.com]
Laboratory workup for neutrophil dysfunctions: numerical and functional defects. J Immunol Methods. 1999 ; 232 : 211 -229. ↵ Murdoch C, Finn A. Chemokine receptors and their role in inflammation and infectious diseases. [dx.doi.org]
PR Interval
- Short PR Interval
A recent electrocardiogram (ECG) was essentially unremarkable ( Figure 1 ), showing in sinus rhythm a slightly short PR interval (0.12 ms), and mildly high voltage QRS, in particular deep S waves in V1-V2 with ST elevation with an early repolarization [revespcardiol.org]
QT, RR, ST Intervals
- ST Elevation
A recent electrocardiogram (ECG) was essentially unremarkable ( Figure 1 ), showing in sinus rhythm a slightly short PR interval (0.12 ms), and mildly high voltage QRS, in particular deep S waves in V1-V2 with ST elevation with an early repolarization [revespcardiol.org]
Treatment
Treatment - Barth syndrome Treatment is directed toward the specific symptoms that are apparent in each individual. The treatment of Barth syndrome is generally directed toward the specific symptoms that are apparent in each individual. [checkorphan.org]
Management and treatment Treatment is essentially supportive and multidisciplinary. Cardiac failure is treated with conventional drugs or by cardiac transplantation if refractory. [orpha.net]
“We aim to reveal a new direction for BTHS treatment based on activation of PDH and/or supplementation of deficient metabolites,” said Greenberg. [newsroom.wayne.edu]
Current treatment strategies are merely ameliorative in nature and up to 30% of patients still succumb to the disease early in life. A curative treatment is still an unmet need. [digital.lib.washington.edu]
Treatment There is no specific treatment for Barth syndrome. Bacterial infections caused by neutropenia can be effectively treated with antibiotics. [brainfacts.org]
Prognosis
Diagnosis - Barth syndrome Prognosis - Barth syndrome Prognosis has greatly improved with early detection and improvements in treatment and management. Patients are already surviving into their 40s and are expected to live beyond this age. [checkorphan.org]
Prognosis Prognosis has greatly improved with early detection and improvements in treatment and management. Patients are already surviving into their 40s and are expected to live beyond this age. [orpha.net]
Prognosis Early and accurate diagnosis is key to prolonged survival for boys born with Barth syndrome. Severe infections and cardiac failure are common causes of death in affected children. [brainfacts.org]
Early and accurate diagnosis can help medical treatment and improve prognosis. Despite poor prognosis of Barth syndrome during infancy, patients can survive until adulthood. [revespcardiol.org]
Therefore, early diagnosis and management, with recognition of a wide range of phenotypes, are important for improving the prognosis of Barth syndrome. [ci.nii.ac.jp]
Etiology
Etiology BTHS is caused by mutations in the TAZ gene (tafazzin; Xq28) which encodes Taz1p acyltransferase involved in the metabolism of cardiolipin, a major phospholipid in inner mitochondrial membranes. [orpha.net]
To evaluate the implication of TAZ gene in the etiology of DCM and left ventricular non-compaction we studied the TAZ gene in 48 DCM and left ventricular non-compaction patients. [revespcardiol.org]
Cardiolipin metabolism and its causal role in the etiology of the inherited cardiomyopathy Barth syndrome. Chem Phys Lipids. 2015;193:1-10. Reynolds S. [rarediseases.org]
Epidemiology
Summary Epidemiology Prevalence is estimated at 1/454,000 and incidence at 1/140,000 (South-West England, South Wales) to 1/300,000-1/400,000 live births (USA). BTHS affects male patients. [orpha.net]
Florida has run a research investigation exploring the TAZ gene that has shown initial promising results, but more research and pre-clinical and clinical testing needs to be done before the gene therapy is approved by the FDA as a treatment. [14] [15] Epidemiology [en.wikipedia.org]
Pathophysiology
Phosphokinome Analysis of Barth Syndrome Lymphoblasts Identify Novel Targets in the Pathophysiology of the Disease. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 2026. [mdpi.com]
Here, we combined patient-derived and genetically engineered induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with tissue engineering to elucidate the pathophysiology underlying the cardiomyopathy of Barth syndrome (BTHS), a mitochondrial disorder caused by mutation [miami.pure.elsevier.com]
This objective fits into our broad goals to understand the function of cardiolipin in mitochondria and to unravel the molecular pathophysiology of BTHS. [grantome.com]
“Because it is a relatively newly diagnosed disease, there is still much to learn regarding its pathophysiology and relation to impaired skeletal muscle and heart function.” [outlook.wustl.edu]
Several model systems for Barth syndrome have been developed to elucidate the disease pathophysiology. Mouse model of Barth syndrome provide new insight into the role of tafazzin. [els.net]
Prevention
For example, antibiotics may be provided as a preventive (prophylactic) therapy during neutropenia to prevent the onset of infection. Other treatment for this disorder is typically symptomatic and supportive. Resources - Barth syndrome [checkorphan.org]
Preventative daily antibiotics will reduce the risk of bacterial infection if boys are severely neutropenic. [contact.org.uk]
This phenotype can be genetically suppressed by inactivation of the gene encoding a calcium-independent phospholipase A(2), iPLA2-VIA, which also prevents cardiolipin depletion/monolysocardiolipin accumulation, although in wild-type flies inactivation [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
For example, antibiotics may be provided as a preventive (prophylactic) therapy during neutropenia to prevent the onset of infection. Giving uncooked cornstarch before bedtime is recommended to prevent muscle loss. [rarediseases.org]
Treatment is focused on reducing symptoms and preventing complications. [nicklauschildrens.org]