Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database

Abstract Background SYNGAP1-related disorder (SRD) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic variants. A major challenge is the characterization of SRD, which requires assessment of several outcomes. We considered natural history data from the Citizen database on 65 patients with SRD i...

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Main Authors: Matthew R. Scott, Albert Misko, Yang Liu, Oleksandr Sverdlov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03918-7
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author Matthew R. Scott
Albert Misko
Yang Liu
Oleksandr Sverdlov
author_facet Matthew R. Scott
Albert Misko
Yang Liu
Oleksandr Sverdlov
author_sort Matthew R. Scott
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background SYNGAP1-related disorder (SRD) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic variants. A major challenge is the characterization of SRD, which requires assessment of several outcomes. We considered natural history data from the Citizen database on 65 patients with SRD in eight data domains: demographics, genetics, growth parameters, standardized clinical scales, developmental skills, neurological examinations, hospitalizations, and seizures. Exploratory analysis tools such as visualizations, summary statistics, and non-parametric statistical modeling were utilized. Results Age at SRD diagnosis (median [IQR] = 3 [2, 5] years; [min, max] = [1, 17] years) was similar by sex. No evidence of a high frequency allele change in SYNGAP1 was found, indicating no dominant variant in this patient population. Growth parameters of SRD children appeared normal in terms of height, weight, and head circumference. Developmental data were indicative of delayed development and language reversion. Standardized assessment data were largely sparse. Neurological exam data demonstrated ataxia and muscle tone issues. Hospitalization data highlighted substantial healthcare burden, largely due to seizures; absence, atonic, and myoclonic seizures were the most common types. Conclusion Citizen data provide important insights into the natural course of SRD. Our findings not only provide utility in clinical practice of SRD but also contribute valuable insights to guide the development of SRD clinical trials. Limitations to our analysis include sparsity of standardized clinical scales data, crude statistical methodology, and bias induced by patients with older ages of diagnoses.
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spelling doaj-art-74f42533dc1f4fd9bcd76ab9a4cb28352025-08-20T03:06:05ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722025-07-0120111210.1186/s13023-025-03918-7Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen databaseMatthew R. Scott0Albert Misko1Yang Liu2Oleksandr Sverdlov3Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston UniversityNovartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchNovartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchNovartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationAbstract Background SYNGAP1-related disorder (SRD) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by genetic variants. A major challenge is the characterization of SRD, which requires assessment of several outcomes. We considered natural history data from the Citizen database on 65 patients with SRD in eight data domains: demographics, genetics, growth parameters, standardized clinical scales, developmental skills, neurological examinations, hospitalizations, and seizures. Exploratory analysis tools such as visualizations, summary statistics, and non-parametric statistical modeling were utilized. Results Age at SRD diagnosis (median [IQR] = 3 [2, 5] years; [min, max] = [1, 17] years) was similar by sex. No evidence of a high frequency allele change in SYNGAP1 was found, indicating no dominant variant in this patient population. Growth parameters of SRD children appeared normal in terms of height, weight, and head circumference. Developmental data were indicative of delayed development and language reversion. Standardized assessment data were largely sparse. Neurological exam data demonstrated ataxia and muscle tone issues. Hospitalization data highlighted substantial healthcare burden, largely due to seizures; absence, atonic, and myoclonic seizures were the most common types. Conclusion Citizen data provide important insights into the natural course of SRD. Our findings not only provide utility in clinical practice of SRD but also contribute valuable insights to guide the development of SRD clinical trials. Limitations to our analysis include sparsity of standardized clinical scales data, crude statistical methodology, and bias induced by patients with older ages of diagnoses.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03918-7
spellingShingle Matthew R. Scott
Albert Misko
Yang Liu
Oleksandr Sverdlov
Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
title Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database
title_full Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database
title_fullStr Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database
title_short Analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with SYNGAP1-related disorders: a preliminary examination of the Citizen database
title_sort analysis of retrospective natural history data collected from patients with syngap1 related disorders a preliminary examination of the citizen database
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03918-7
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