Type IV Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy (HSAN IV) is an exceedingly rare autosomal recessive disease classically characterized by generalized loss of temperature/pain sensation, intellectual disability, and anhidrosis. HSAN IV patients are subject to repeated orthopaedic injuries and complications. There is some data on the clinical presentation, but limited data on the diagnostic and treatment challenges, and functional outcomes with HSAN IV. This is a retrospective case series of 4 siblings with HSAN IV. Medical records were reviewed for data regarding presentation, diagnosis, and management. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, with historical normative data used as a control. The 2 populations were evaluated with a Welch-modified 2-sample t test to explore the alternative hypothesis that HSAN IV patients are significantly functionally impaired. Our study included 4 siblings, 2 males and 2 females, aged 3, 8, 12, and 21 years, respectively. The average time to diagnosis was 53 months, and each diagnosis was confirmed through whole-exome sequencing. The challenges faced included delayed diagnosis, diverse clinical presentations, unestablished treatment guidelines, and unnecessary healthcare utilization before definitive diagnosis. The comparison of means between the normative population and the HSAN IV patients revealed a significant difference in sports/play ( T -score =-4.14, P =0.025) and global function ( T -score =-3.19, P =0.049) but no significant difference in upper extremity function ( P =0.216), transfer mobility ( P =0.164), pain/comfort ( P =0.955), and happiness ( P =0.995). HSAN IV is a rare genetic condition with protean clinical manifestations that can result in significant deficits in play and global function. The clinical manifestations are varied, including multiple fractures, delayed/abnormal fracture healing, bone deformity, osteomyelitis, and various other non-orthopaedic manifestations. Whole-exome sequencing is a useful tool that, when combined with a high index of clinical suspicion, can expedite the diagnostic process for HSAN IV. Patients can benefit from earlier diagnosis and earlier access to education to prevent functional deterioration and repeat medical interventions. IV-case series.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by anhidrosis, self-mutilation, and insensitivity to pain and temperature. While genetic testing confirms the diagnosis, it is not always feasible, making clinical recognition crucial in resource-limited settings. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach help prevent complications like severe injuries, infections, and hyperpyrexia.

Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by a single point mutation in the ELP1 gene, leading to a deficiency in the Elongator Protein 1. Management has traditionally focused on symptomatic supportive care and prevention of complications. However, promising disease-modifying treatments are now being developed to correct the underlying splicing defect in ELP1. The authors searched PubMed, GoogleScholar, and clinicaltrials.gov for all types of studies regarding the genetic basis of FD and recent advances in the development of disease-modifying therapies, including publications available through November 2025. Experimental evidence indicates that boosting ELP1 protein levels could halt disease progression. Several small molecules and genetic therapies have shown the ability to enhance wild-type ELP1 mRNA and protein expression in animal models. An ongoing N-of-1 clinical trial is evaluating the intrathecal administration of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) designed to correct the splicing defect in an individual with FD. Combining small molecules, such as optimized potent oral kinetin derivatives, with intrathecal antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and intravitreal gene therapy using viral vectors presents a synergistic therapeutic approach to elevate ELP1 levels. Assessing the efficacy and safety of these targeted strategies will require innovative, well-designed clinical trials.

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is characterized by skeletal morbidity, including osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. We aimed to assess bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) in individuals with FD, and to explore correlations with disease severity. This retrospective study included all the patients with FD who performed at least one dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan at our institution during 2015-2023. Demographic and clinical data obtained from medical records included: medical treatment, anthropometric measurements, Functional Severity Scale (FuSS) score, balance assessment, the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale score, ambulation ability, blood test results and fracture history. Forty-one patients (21 males) had at least one DXA scan. The median age at the first scan was 25 years (range 7-47). The mean BMD Z-score was - 1.2 ± 1.5 at the lumbar spine and - 1.3 ± 1.1 at the bilateral proximal femur. The mean TBS Z-score was - 1.8 ± 1.6. The bilateral proximal femur BMD Z-score correlated with better scores of balance (r = 0.612, p = 0.001), ambulation (r = 0.627, p = 0.001) and ataxia (r = - 0.470, p = 0.015). For 67% of the patients, C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX) was above the normal range for age. Both CTX and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) correlated negatively with FuSS (r = - 0.515, p = 0.10 and r = - 0.619, p = 0.042, respectively) and with L1-4 Z-scores (r = - 0.681, p = 0.03 and r = - 0.700, p = 0.02, respectively). Individuals with FD had low BMD and TBS Z-scores. These parameters were correlated to disease severity, specifically to balance and ambulation. The bone resorption marker was high and negatively correlated with disease severity.

Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv, v for variant) amyloidosis with polyneuropathy is a rare disease caused by mutations in the transthyretin gene. In ATTRv amyloidosis, multisystem extracellular deposits of amyloid cause tissue and organ dysfunction. Patisiran is a small interfering RNA molecule drug that reduces circulating levels of mutant and wild-type TTR proteins. Prior to its regulatory approval, patisiran was available in Italy through a compassionate use programme (CUP). The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term outcomes of patients who entered into the CUP. This was a multicentre, observational, retrospective study of patients with ATTRv amyloidosis treated with patisiran. The analysis included change from baseline to 12, 24, 36 and 48 months in familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) stage, polyneuropathy disability (PND) class, neuropathy impairment score (NIS), modified body mass index (mBMI), Compound Autonomic Dysfunction Test (CADT), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale and Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy (QoL-DN) questionnaire. Safety data were also analysed. Forty patients from 11 Italian centres were enrolled: 23 in FAP 1 (6 in PND 1 and 17 in PND 2) and 17 in FAP 2 (8 in PND 3a and 9 in PND 3b) stage. In this population, the mean NIS at baseline was 71.4 (± 27.8); mBMI, 917.1 (± 207) kg/m2; KPS, 67.1 (± 14.0); Norfolk QoL-DN, 62.2 (± 25.2); and CADT, 13.2 (± 3.3). Statistical analysis showed few significant differences from baseline denoting disease stability. No new safety signals emerged. Patisiran largely stabilised disease in patients with ATTRv amyloidosis.