Latest Articles

Open access Original Article | April 30, 2025
A novel biallelic frameshift variant in MYO15A causing nonsyndromic hearing loss in a Saudi family
Faisal Almalki
Year: 2025

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss is among the most common sensory defects worldwide. Nonsyndromic hearing loss accounts for 70% of inherited hearing loss. The genetic causes of nonsyndromic hearing loss are considered heterogeneous. The high rate of consanguineous marriages in Saudi Arabia increases the population's prevalence of autosomal recessive inheritance patterns. 

Objective: To discover a novel variant for nonsyndromic hearing loss patients.

 
Methods: A family with two hearing-impaired children was recruited. Targeted exome sequencing, the Twist Exome 2.0 kit (Twist Bioscience) using the Novaseq X plus platform, was used to identify the variant. Sanger sequencing was carried out to confirm the finding and perform segregation analysis. MutationTaster tool was used to determine the pathogenicity effect on the protein structure.


Results: A homozygous two-bp duplication variant on the (c.8813_8814dup) MYO15A gene was identified in a Saudi family of two hearing-impaired children. Sanger sequencing confirmed the variant in the affected children and their parents. The prediction tool indicated the frameshift effect on the protein level, which leads to protein function disruption. Based on ACMG guidelines, it’s classified as a pathogenic variant. 


Conclusion: A novel biallelic frameshift variant in MYO15A causes nonsyndromic hearing loss in a Saudi family. This variant is considered rare and isolated to the Saudi population. Expanded genotype-phenotype correlations for hearing loss patients are likely to confirm the findings and reveal novel variants.


Open access Case Report | May 06, 2025
A Challenging Metabolic Acidosis Management Case in a Young Patient with Transalodase Defeciency, T1DM, and pRTA
Hajar AlAkee , Abdullah AlZaben , Mohsen AlAtawi , Mhammed Aldubayee , Wafaa AlEyaid
Year: 2025

Background: Transaldolase deficiency (TALDO-D, Eyaid syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the
pentose phosphate pathway. It can present prenatally with intrauterine growth restriction or oligohydramnios; neonatally with dysmorphic features, cardiovascular defects, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, and thrombocytopenia; or later with a milder phenotype. The present case report aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and confidence in treating patients with rare metabolic disorders that are further complicated by complex presentation.

Case Presentation: We present a rare case of a 14-year-old girl diagnosed with Eyaid Syndrome - TALDO-D based on clinical and molecular findings of a homozygous pathogenic variant in the TALDO1 gene, c.793del,p.(Gln265Argfs*56). She developed type 1 diabetes around the age of nine and was found to have a baseline non-anion gap metabolic acidosis that persisted despite adequate diabetes management. An extensive workup for possible renal causes, given that they are part of her primary syndrome, revealed proximal renal tubular acidosis. During an emergency department visit, she presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Laboratories showed severe metabolic acidosis (pH of 6.93, HCO3–of 3.3), marking the beginning of her challenging management approach.

Conclusion: The patient in this case report has shown an excellent response to sodium bicarbonate in a well monitored clinical and biochemical setting. However, given the rarity and complexity of such cases, it isimperative to conduct a comprehensive literature review involving all relevant subspecialties and report similar challenging cases to establish evidence-based clinical practices for the high-quality management of this rare patient population.