Although the diurnal fluctuation of motor dysfunction, reversible with small doses of dopamine, is a cornerstone for the phenotype of the autosomal dominant Segawa syndrome, the non-motor symptoms of this neurotransmitter deficiency have still received limited attention. This study aims to evaluate non-motor symptoms of this dopa-responsive dystonia through an intrafamilial comparative cross-sectional study. Seventeen individuals with a c.IVS5 + 3insT (c.626 + 3insT) variation in the GTP cyclohydrolase-1 gene (GCH1, HGNC: 4193) and 34 intrafamilial controls were studied using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Wiener Matrizen Test 2, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the MINI/MINI PLUS Questionnaires, the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF Instrument and a drug use assessment questionnaire. No significant difference was found between the groups in the prevalence of sleep disorders and in cognitive function. Nevertheless, generalized anxiety disorder (p = 0.050) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in childhood (p = 0.011) were observed only in individuals without the molecular variation. The group with the GCH1 variation presented a worse perception about how safe they feel in their daily lives (p = 0.034), less satisfaction with themselves (p = 0.049) and with their relationships (p = 0.029), and a higher prevalence of past major depressive episodes before use of L-Dopa (p = 0.046). Low dopamine could have been protective against generalized anxiety disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in childhood in Segawa group individuals. The prevalence of depression was higher in individuals with the molecular variant prior to the L-Dopa treatment. Considering it, the penetrance estimates for the variant carriers increased from 58.8% to up to 88% in this large studied family. Additionally, neuropsychiatric tests of all individuals with a molecular diagnosis in an affected family are a valuable instrument for its clinical management.

Mutations in the GCH-1 gene are associated with Autosomal Dominant Dopamine Responsive Dystonia (DYT 5). One of the hallmarks of this condition is dramatic and sustained response to low doses of levodopa. We present the case of a 22 year old female patient with genetically confirmed GCH-1 Dopa-Responsive Dystonia who had no response to low dose Levodopa but who achieved symptom control on a total dose of 900 mg/day. Autosomal Dominant Dopa-Responsive Dystonia is a phenotypical heterogenous condition that, in some cases, may require high doses of levodopa for treatment response. Mutations in the GCH-1 gene are associated with Autosomal Dominant Dopamine Responsive Dystonia which is typically defined by dramatic responses to low doses of levodopa. We report a patient with genetically confirmed Dopa-Responsive Dystonia who had no response to low dose Levodopa but who achieved symptom control with 900 mg/day. GTP cyclohydrolase 1-deficient dopa-responsive dystonia (GTPCH1-deficient DRD) is characterized by childhood-onset dystonia and a dramatic and sustained response to low doses of oral administration of levodopa. This disorder typically presents with gait disturbance caused by foot dystonia, later development of parkinsonism, and diurnal fluctuation of symptoms (aggravation of symptoms toward the evening and alleviation of symptoms in the morning after sleep). Initial symptoms are often gait difficulties attributable to flexion-inversion (equinovarus posture) of the foot. Occasionally, initial symptoms are arm dystonia, postural tremor of the hand, or slowness of movements. Brisk deep-tendon reflexes in the legs, ankle clonus, and/or the striatal toe (dystonic extension of the big toe) are present in many affected individuals. In general, gradual progression to generalized dystonia is observed. Intellectual, cerebellar, sensory, and autonomic disturbances generally do not occur. The diagnosis of GTPCH1-deficient DRD is established in a proband by identification of a heterozygous pathogenic variant in GCH1 by molecular genetic testing. In individuals with a suspected diagnosis of GTPCH1-deficient DRD and no identifiable GCH1 pathogenic variants, biochemical testing may be necessary. Treatment of manifestations: Initial suggested dose of levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor (DCI): Children age <6 years: 1-10 mg/kg levodopa/DCI daily, administered in multiple doses. Children age ≥6 years: 25-50 mg levodopa/DCI 1-3x daily. Adults: 50 mg levodopa/DCI 1-3x daily. For all, dose should be changed slowly and by small increments as needed. Motor benefit occurs immediately or within a few days of starting levodopa; full benefit occurs within several days to a few months. Maximum benefit (complete or near-complete responsiveness of symptoms) is generally achieved by <300-400 mg/day of levodopa/DCI. Although dyskinesias may appear at the beginning of levodopa therapy, they subside following dose reduction and do not reappear when the dose is gradually increased. Typically, adverse motor effects of chronic levodopa therapy (motor response fluctuations and dopa-induced dyskinesias) do not occur. Prevention of secondary complications: Early diagnosis and therapy (with low doses of levodopa) may prevent transient dyskinesias at initiation of levodopa treatment. Surveillance: Examination by a movement disorder specialist at least several times yearly is recommended. Agents/circumstances to avoid: Discontinuation of levodopa treatment. Evaluation of relatives at risk: It is appropriate to clarify the genetic status of apparently asymptomatic older and younger at-risk relatives of an affected individual in order to identify as early as possible those who would benefit from prompt initiation of treatment. Molecular genetic testing cannot be used to predict the occurrence of symptoms, age of onset, severity and type of symptoms, or rate of disease progression in family members who are heterozygous for a GCH1 pathogenic variant. Pregnancy management: Levodopa therapy is continued during pregnancy without adverse effect in most. GTPCH1-deficient DRD is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Affected individuals often have an affected parent with typical GTPCH1-deficient DRD or adult-onset parkinsonism caused by a GCH1 pathogenic variant. A proband with GTPCH1-deficient DRD may have the disorder as the result of a de novo pathogenic variant. Every child of an individual with autosomal dominant GTPCH1-deficient DRD has a 50% chance of inheriting the pathogenic variant. However, because of sex-related reduced penetrance (i.e., higher penetrance in women than in men), it is not possible to predict whether offspring with a GCH1 pathogenic variant will develop symptoms.

To elucidate the genetic cause of an Egyptian family with dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD), a childhood-onset dystonia, responding therapeutically to levodopa, which is caused by mutations in various genes. Rare variants in all coding exons of GCH1 were excluded by Sanger sequencing. Exome sequencing was applied for 1 unaffected and 2 affected family members. To investigate the functional consequences of detected genetic variants, urinary sepiapterin concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. A heterozygous rare nonsynonymous variant in exon 1 of sepiapterin reductase (SPR, c.207C>G, p.Asp69Glu) was found in all affected family members. Urinary concentrations of sepiapterin were above the standard of normal controls in most SPR mutation carriers, suggesting functional biochemical consequences of the mutation. Variant filtering of all genes involved in the tetrahydrobiopterin pathway, required for levodopa synthesis, revealed an additional common variant in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR, rs70991108). The presence of both variants was significantly stronger associated with the biochemical abnormality and the clinical disease state as opposed to 1 variant only. The rare SPR mutation can cause autosomal dominant DRD with incomplete penetrance. The common DHFR variant might have synergistic effects on production of tetrahydrobiopterin and levodopa, thereby increasing penetrance.

Segawa disease (SD), an autosomal dominant dopa-responsive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation, can be clinically classified into the postural dystonia type (SD-P) and action dystonia type (SD-A). Compared to SD-A, SD-P has an earlier onset and is characterized by postural dystonia. In SD-A, along with postural dystonia, dystonic movements appear in late childhood. To evaluate the differences between these two types of SD, we studied the gating of SEPs, which is useful to investigate sensory-motor integration and might be one of the methods to detect the thalamo-cortical involvement. Fourteen patients with SD (11-63 years) and 18 age-matched normal subjects (11-51 years) were studied. Among the 14 patients with SD, 8 patients had SD-P and 6 had SD-A. Using median nerve stimulation at the wrist, the amplitude of the frontal N30 (FrN30) was compared between pre-movement and rest conditions. We found that the amplitude of the contralateral FrN30 was attenuated before movement in normal controls and in the majority of both SD types. On the other hand, the pre-movement-rest amplitude ratio in patients with SD-A was significantly larger than in patients with SD-P (P=0.0025). No significant differences were observed in the pre-movement-rest ratio between SD-P and normal subjects. The preservation or impairment of pre-movement gating shown here suggests a physiological difference between the two types of SD. More specifically, sensorimotor integration of the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits may be intact in SD-P, but are affected in SD-A. We discuss the different pathophysiology seen in the different phenotype of SD based on the different developmental involvement in the basal ganglia.