Clinical Description
AARS2-related disorder includes two distinct phenotypes, infantile-onset cardiomyopathy and neurodegeneration with or without leukoencephalopathy. To date, about 60 individuals have been identified with biallelic pathogenic variants in AARS2 [Kiraly-Borri et al 2019, Srivastava et al 2019, Axelsen et al 2021, Parra et al 2021, Zhang et al 2023]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports.
AARS2-Related Neurodegeneration with or without Leukoencephalopathy
Onset. The age of onset of AARS2-related neurodegeneration with or without leukoencephalopathy can range from childhood to adulthood.
Movement disorder. The most common manifestations are ataxia, dystonia, chorea, parkinsonism, and tremor [Peragallo et al 2018, Parra et al 2021, Zhang et al 2023, Green et al 2024].
Cognitive decline is documented in most individuals. The onset of cognitive decline is often with disease onset. Cognitive deficits include difficulties with sustained attention, loss of inhibition, frontal dysfunction, severe memory impairment, and impaired calculation and language [Axelsen et al 2021, Parra et al 2021, Zhang et al 2023].
Other neurologic manifestations. Seizures are observed in around 6% of individuals [Parra et al 2021]. Preexisting developmental delay or motor problems in childhood have been described in some individuals [Peragallo et al 2018, Parra et al 2021]. Neuropathy or clinically evident myopathy are less common manifestations [Peragallo et al 2018, Parra et al 2021].
Endocrine manifestations. The majority of affected females have premature ovarian failure. Ovarian failure occurs most commonly in the 3rd and 4th decade of life; primary and secondary amenorrhea have been reported [Dallabona et al 2014, Sun et al 2017, França & Mendonca 2022].
Psychiatric manifestations. Common manifestations include depression, psychosis, anxiety, and behavioral changes [Kim et al 2018, Axelsen et al 2021, Parra et al 2021, Kazakova et al 2023].
Ocular manifestations. Nystagmus and ophthalmoplegia have been noted in 28% of individuals. Less common ocular manifestations include progressive optic atrophy and retinopathy [Parra et al 2021].
Prognosis is poor; to date, there are no disease-modifying treatments. Most affected individuals experience progressive motor and cognitive decline. Typically, individuals progress to severe disability with no or very limited interaction with their environment within five to ten years of diagnosis. Death is due to late complications of disability [Fine et al 2019].
Genotype-Phenotype Correlations
AARS2-related infantile congenital cardiomyopathy has been associated with the recurrent homozygous or compound heterozygous pathogenic variant p.Arg592Trp (c.1774C>T) located in the editing domain for deacylating mischarged tRNAs of AARS2 [Euro et al 2015, Axelsen et al 2021].
Pathogenic variants affecting the aminoacylation domain (residues 24-477) have been shown to cause leukoencephalopathy and premature ovarian failure in women [Podmanicky et al 2024].
No other genotype-phenotype correlations have been identified.