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Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

, MD.

Author Information and Affiliations

Initial Posting: ; Last Update: December 10, 2020.

Estimated reading time: 35 minutes

Summary

Clinical characteristics.

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a slowly progressive lysosomal disorder whose principal manifestations are age dependent. The manifestations in the perinatal period and infancy are predominantly visceral, with hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and (in some instances) pulmonary infiltrates. From late infancy onward, the presentation is dominated by neurologic manifestations. The youngest children may present with hypotonia and developmental delay, with the subsequent emergence of ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and, in some individuals, epileptic seizures, dystonia, and gelastic cataplexy. Although cognitive impairment may be subtle at first, it eventually becomes apparent that affected individuals have a progressive dementia.

Older teenagers and young adults may present predominantly with apparent early-onset dementia or psychiatric manifestations; however, careful examination usually identifies typical neurologic signs.

Diagnosis/testing.

The diagnosis of NPC is established in a proband with suggestive findings and biallelic pathogenic variants in either NPC1 or NPC2 identified by molecular genetic testing.

Management.

Treatment of manifestations: No curative therapy for NPC exists. Supportive therapy is provided by specialists from multiple disciplines including among others: neurology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, feeding, psychology, social work, and medical genetics.

Treatment with miglustat, approved for the management of neurologic manifestations of NPC in several countries but not the United States, has increased survival by five years from date of diagnosis or approximately ten years from onset of neurologic manifestations.

Surveillance: Routine follow up by multidisciplinary specialists to monitor disease progression and supportive management including psychosocial support to identify new manifestations of disease, and, for those on miglustat, to assess compliance, possible side effects, and appearance of conditions that would prompt discontinuation of therapy.

Agents/circumstances to avoid: Drugs that cause excessive salivation or that may exacerbate seizures directly by interacting with anti-seizure medication; alcohol as well as many drugs that exacerbate ataxia.

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 are symptomatic and would benefit from prompt initiation of treatment.

Genetic counseling.

NPC is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. If both parents are known to be heterozygous for an NPC-related pathogenic variant, each sib of an affected individual has at conception a 25% chance of being affected, a 50% chance of being a heterozygote, and a 25% chance of being unaffected and not a heterozygote. Once the NPC-causing pathogenic variants have been identified in an affected family member, carrier testing for at-risk relatives, prenatal testing for a pregnancy at increased risk, and preimplantation genetic testing are possible.

Diagnosis

No consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) have been published.

Suggestive Findings

NPC should be suspected in individuals with the following clinical findings [Patterson et al 2017] (full text) and preliminary laboratory findings.

Clinical Findings

Typical findings. Presentations may be conveniently considered by age of onset, although this grouping is of necessity arbitrary and includes considerable overlap.

  • Early infantile (age <2 years). Fetal ascites or neonatal liver disease, particularly when the latter is accompanied by prolonged jaundice and pulmonary infiltrates
  • Late infantile (ages 2 to <6 years). Often presents with hypotonia and developmental delay. With time, vertical supranuclear saccadic palsy becomes apparent. Children later develop clumsiness that evolves into ataxia.
  • Juvenile (ages 6 to <15 years). These children may present initially with clumsiness that evolves into ataxia, often with academic difficulties that may be misdiagnosed as attention deficit disorder. With time, more global cognitive impairment and regression become evident. Vertical supranuclear gaze palsy (sometimes called vertical supranuclear saccadic paresis) is almost invariably present in children with neurologic manifestations (and is often present before the emergence of other symptoms). Some children develop seizures, gelastic cataplexy, dystonia, and/or spasticity.
  • Adolescent/adult (age >15 years). May include all of the neurologic manifestations, which are often overshadowed, at least initially, by cognitive impairment (early-onset dementia) or psychiatric manifestations (e.g., treatment-resistant depression, schizophreniform illness, apparent bipolar disease).
  • Other. Some individuals present with isolated splenomegaly in childhood, and may not develop neurologic manifestations for many years. Occasionally, adults have splenomegaly without neurologic manifestations.

Atypical findings include ataxia, splenomegaly, vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, dysarthria, dysphagia, early-onset dementia, treatment-resistant psychiatric symptoms in young adults, gelastic cataplexy, dystonia, and epilepsy (particularly if treatment-resistant) (see Patterson et al [2017], Table 1).

Suspicion index. The sensitivity of a quantitative scoring system that weighs the manifestations of NPC to assist clinicians in identifying individuals appropriate for further laboratory investigation [Wijburg et al 2012] was improved by separating children into two age groups: ≤4 years and >4 years [Pineda et al 2019].

Preliminary Laboratory Findings

Assay of oxysterols has largely replaced skin biopsy (see Clinical Description), and is now regarded as both a robust screening test and a first-line diagnostic test for NPC [Porter et al 2010, Jiang et al 2011, Geberhiwot et al 2018].

Family History

Family history is consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance (e.g., affected sibs and/or parental consanguinity). Absence of a known family history does not preclude the diagnosis.

Establishing the Diagnosis

The diagnosis of NPC is established in a proband with suggestive findings and biallelic pathogenic (or likely pathogenic) variants in either NPC1 or NPC2 identified by molecular genetic testing (see Table 1).

Note: (1) Per ACMG/AMP variant interpretation guidelines, the terms "pathogenic variant" and "likely pathogenic variant" are synonymous in a clinical setting, meaning that both are considered diagnostic and can be used for clinical decision making [Richards et al 2015]. Reference to "pathogenic variants" in this GeneReview is understood to include likely pathogenic variants. (2) Identification of biallelic NPC1 or NPC2 variants of uncertain significance (or of one known NPC1 or NPC2 pathogenic variant and one NPC1 or NPC2 variant of uncertain significance) does not establish or rule out the diagnosis.

Molecular genetic testing approaches can include a combination of gene-targeted testing (multigene panel) and comprehensive genomic testing (exome sequencing, genome sequencing) depending on the phenotype.

Gene-targeted testing requires that the clinician determine which gene(s) are likely involved, whereas genomic testing does not. Individuals with the distinctive findings described in Suggestive Findings are likely to be diagnosed using gene-targeted testing (see Option 1), whereas those in whom the diagnosis of NPC has not been considered are more likely to be diagnosed using genomic testing (see Option 2).

Option 1

A multigene panel that includes NPC1, NPC2, and other genes of interest (see Differential Diagnosis) is most likely to identify the genetic cause of the condition while limiting identification of variants of uncertain significance and pathogenic variants in genes that do not explain the underlying phenotype. Panels to consider include those for lysosomal disorders, treatable neurometabolic disorders, mendelian disorders with psychiatric symptoms, and metabolic nonimmune fetal hydrops. Note: (1) The genes included in the panel and the diagnostic sensitivity of the testing used for each gene vary by laboratory and are likely to change over time. (2) Some multigene panels may include genes not associated with the condition discussed in this GeneReview. (3) In some laboratories, panel options may include a custom laboratory-designed panel and/or custom phenotype-focused exome analysis that includes genes specified by the clinician. (4) Methods used in a panel may include sequence analysis, deletion/duplication analysis, and/or other non-sequencing-based tests.

For an introduction to multigene panels click here. More detailed information for clinicians ordering genetic tests can be found here.

Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) uses oligonucleotide or SNP arrays to detect genome-wide large deletions/duplications (including NPC1 and NPC2) that cannot be detected by sequence analysis.

Option 2

Comprehensive genomic testing does not require the clinician to determine which gene is likely involved. Exome sequencing is most commonly used; genome sequencing is also possible.

For an introduction to comprehensive genomic testing click here. More detailed information for clinicians ordering genomic testing can be found here.

Table 1.

Molecular Genetic Testing Used in Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

Gene 1Proportion of NPC
Attributed to Pathogenic
Variants in Gene		Proportion of Pathogenic Variants 2, 3 Detectable by Method
Sequence analysis 4Gene-targeted deletion/duplication analysis 5Chromosomal microarray analysis6
NPC1 95%76%22%2%
NPC2 5%88%12%0
1.
2.

See Molecular Genetics for information on variants detected in these genes.

3.

Data derived from the subscription-based professional view of Human Gene Mutation Database [Stenson et al 2020]

4.

Sequence analysis detects variants that are benign, likely benign, of uncertain significance, likely pathogenic, or pathogenic. Variants may include missense, nonsense, and splice site variants and small intragenic deletions/insertions; typically, exon or whole-gene deletions/duplications are not detected. For issues to consider in interpretation of sequence analysis results, click here.

5.

Gene-targeted deletion/duplication analysis detects intragenic deletions or duplications. Methods used may include a range of techniques such as quantitative PCR, long-range PCR, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and a gene-targeted microarray designed to detect single-exon deletions or duplications.

6.

Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) uses oligonucleotide or SNP arrays to detect genome-wide large deletions/duplications (including NPC1 and NPC2) that cannot be detected by other methods of deletion/duplication analysis. The ability to determine the size of the deletion/duplication depends on the type of microarray used and the density of probes in the 18q11​.2 region that includes NPC1, and in the 14q24​.3 region that includes NPC2. CMA designs in current clinical use target these regions.

Clinical Characteristics

Clinical Description

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a slowly progressive lysosomal disorder whose principal manifestations are age dependent. The manifestations in the perinatal period and infancy are predominantly visceral, with hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and (in some instances) pulmonary infiltrates.

From late infancy onward, the presentation is dominated by neurologic manifestations. The youngest children may present with hypotonia and developmental delay, with the subsequent emergence of ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and (in some individuals) epileptic seizures, dystonia, and gelastic cataplexy. Although cognitive impairment may be subtle at first, it eventually becomes apparent that affected individuals have a progressive dementia.

Older teenagers and young adults may present predominantly with apparent early-onset dementia or psychiatric manifestations; however, careful examination usually identifies typical neurologic signs.

Table 2.

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C: Comparison of Age-Related Phenotypes by Select Features

FeaturePhenotypes
Visceral
neurodegenerative		NeurodegenerativePsychiatric-
neurodegenerative
Early infantile
(age <2 yrs)		Late infantile
(2 to <6 yrs)		Juvenile
(6 to <15 yrs)		Adult (>15 yrs)
Hepatomegaly●
Splenomegaly●●(●)
Ataxia●●●
Epilepsy●●(●)
Cataplexy(●)●●
Dementia(●)●
Psychiatric●
Dystonia(●)●●
VSGP●●●

VSGP = vertical supranuclear gaze palsy; (●) = sometimes present; ● = usually present

Neonatal and Infantile Presentations

The presentation of NPC in early life is nonspecific and may go unrecognized by inexperienced clinicians. On occasion, ultrasound examination in late pregnancy has detected fetal ascites; infants thus identified typically have severe neonatal liver disease with jaundice and persistent ascites.

Infiltration of the lungs with foam cells may accompany neonatal liver disease or occur as a primary presenting feature (pulmonary failure secondary to impaired diffusion).

Many infants succumb at this stage. Of those who survive, some are hypotonic and delayed in psychomotor development, whereas others may have complete resolution of symptoms, only to present with neurologic disease many years later. Liver and spleen are enlarged in children with symptomatic hepatic disease; however, children who survive often "grow into their organs," so that organomegaly may not be detectable later in childhood. Indeed, many individuals with NPC never have organomegaly. The absence of organomegaly never eliminates the diagnosis of NPC.

Another subgroup of children has minimal or absent hepatic or pulmonary dysfunction and presents primarily with hypotonia and delayed development. Children in this group usually do not have vertical supranuclear gaze palsy (VSGP) at the onset but acquire this sign after a variable period, when other evidence of progressive encephalopathy supervenes.

Childhood Presentations

The classic presentation of NPC is in middle-to-late childhood, with clumsiness and gait disturbance that eventually become frank ataxia. Many observant parents are aware of impaired vertical gaze, which is an early manifestation. VSGP first manifests as increased latency in initiation of vertical saccades, after which saccadic velocity gradually slows and is eventually lost. In late stages of the illness, horizontal saccades are also impaired. The physical manifestations are accompanied by insidiously progressive cognitive impairment, often mistaken at first for simple learning disability. Some children are thought to have primary behavioral disturbances, reflecting unrecognized dyspraxia in some instances. As the disease progresses, it becomes clear that the child is mentally deteriorating.

In addition to the manifestations outlined above, many children develop dystonia, typically beginning as action dystonia in one limb and gradually spreading to involve all of the limbs and axial muscles. Speech gradually deteriorates, with a mixed dysarthria and dysphonia. Dysphagia progresses in parallel with the dysarthria, and oral feeding eventually becomes impossible.

Approximately one third of individuals with NPC have partial and/or generalized seizures. Epilepsy may be refractory to medical therapy in some cases. Seizures usually improve if the child's survival is prolonged, this improvement presumably reflecting continued neuronal loss. About 20% of children with NPC have gelastic cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle tone evoked by a strong emotional (humorous) stimulus. This can be disabling in those children who experience daily multiple attacks, during which injuries may occur.

Mild demyelinating peripheral neuropathy has been described in a child with otherwise typical late-infantile NPC [Zafeiriou et al 2003]. This finding is likely a rare manifestation of NPC because prospective nerve conduction studies in a cohort of 41 affected individuals participating in a clinical trial of miglustat have identified only one case to date [Patterson, personal communication].

Polysomnographic and biochemical studies have demonstrated disturbed sleep and variable reduction in cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin concentration in individuals with NPC, suggesting that the disease could have a specific impact on hypocretin-secreting cells of the hypothalamus [Kanbayashi et al 2003, Vankova et al 2003].

Death from aspiration pneumonia usually occurs in the late second or third decade [Walterfang et al 2012b].

Adolescent and Adult Presentations

Adolescents or adults may present with neurologic disease as described in the preceding section, albeit with a much slower rate of progression. The author has seen one individual who survived into the seventh decade, having first developed symptoms 25 years earlier. Older individuals may also present with apparent psychiatric illness [Imrie et al 2002, Josephs et al 2003], sometimes appearing to have major depression or schizophrenia. The psychiatric manifestations may overshadow neurologic signs, although the latter can usually be detected with careful examination. An adult presenting with bipolar disorder has been described [Sullivan et al 2005].

A German report describes two individuals with adult-onset dementia associated with frontal lobe atrophy and no visceral manifestations, as is common in adult-onset disease [Klünemann et al 2002].

Other Studies

Imaging. MRI of the brain is usually normal until the late stages of the illness. At that time, marked atrophy of the superior/anterior cerebellar vermis, thinning of the corpus callosum, and mild cerebral atrophy may be seen. Increased signal in the periatrial white matter, reflecting secondary demyelination, may also occur. In one adult, areas of confluent white matter signal hyperintensity mimicked multiple sclerosis [Grau et al 1997]. Quantitative MRI studies in adults with NPC have found widespread gray and white matter abnormalities [Walterfang et al 2010], and reduction in callosal volume as the disease progresses [Walterfang et al 2011]. In addition, the pontine:midbrain ratio correlates with oculomotor function and disease severity [Walterfang et al 2012a].

Studies of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) suggested that MRS may be a more sensitive imaging technique in NPC than standard MRI [Tedeschi et al 1998]. A French group has reported improvement in MRS parameters with miglustat therapy [Galanaud et al 2009].

Biochemical. Until recently, definitive diagnosis of NPC required demonstration of abnormal intracellular cholesterol homeostasis in cultured fibroblasts [Pentchev et al 1985]. These cells show reduced ability to esterify cholesterol after loading with exogenously derived LDL cholesterol. Filipin staining demonstrates an intense punctate pattern of fluorescence concentrated around the nucleus, consistent with the accumulation of unesterified cholesterol:

  • Classic. Most individuals have zero or very low esterification levels with a classic staining pattern.
  • Variant. About 15% of individuals have intermediate or "variant" levels of cholesterol esterification and a less distinctive staining pattern. More precise characterization of the biochemical defect in this group can be achieved by the use of BODIPY-lactosylceramide to identify lipid trafficking abnormalities [Sun et al 2001].

Histology. Other tests, including tissue biopsies and tissue lipid analysis, which were essential for diagnosis before recognition of the biochemical defect in NPC, are now rarely needed. These tests include examination of bone marrow, spleen, and liver, which contain foamy cells (lipid-laden macrophages); sea-blue histiocytes may be seen in the marrow in advanced cases. Electron microscopy of skin, rectal neurons, liver, or brain may show polymorphous cytoplasmic bodies [Boustany et al 1990].

Heterozygotes

In 2004, a report attributed tremor in an individual to presence of a heterozygous NPC1 pathogenic variant [Josephs et al 2004]. More recently a study of 20 obligate heterozygotes for NPC1 pathogenic variants found varying manifestations that are typically seen in compound heterozygotes, including hepatosplenomegaly, increased cholestane triol levels, hyposmia, REM sleep behavior disorder, and typical ocular motor abnormalities [Bremova-Ertl et al 2020]. It will be important for prospective studies of larger cohorts of heterozygotes to confirm these findings.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations

NPC1. In the approximately 200 pathogenic variants described in NPC1 at the time of the cited studies [Scott & Ioannou 2004, Fernandez-Valero et al 2005], genotype-phenotype correlation was limited because (1) most affected individuals were compound heterozygotes and (2) correlation of the trafficking defects demonstrable in culture and the clinical phenotype was poor.

Nonetheless, the following correlations have been possible for homozygous pathogenic variants and the more common pathogenic variants in the compound heterozygous state:

  • No individuals with p.Ile1061Thr had early-infantile NPC in one international study that included the Hispanic population in the upper Rio Grande Valley of the southwestern US, as well as the UK and France [Millat et al 1999].
  • Premature-termination-codon variants, variants involving the sterol-sensing domain, and p.Ala1054Thr in the cysteine-rich luminal loop of NPC1 are associated with early-infantile NPC [Millat et al 2001].
  • In 40 unrelated individuals of Spanish descent, those who were homozygous for the p.Gln775Pro pathogenic variant had early-infantile NPC and those homozygous for the p.Cys177Tyr pathogenic variant had late-infantile NPC [Fernandez-Valero et al 2005].
  • All variants that correlate with the biochemical "variant" phenotype (i.e., patterns of filipin staining in cultured fibroblasts that are less intense than those typically seen in homozygotes or compound heterozygotes and overlap with those seen in heterozygotes) cluster in the cysteine-rich luminal loop [Millat et al 2001].

NPC2

Nomenclature

The older literature on NPC is bedeviled by the large number of terms used to describe individuals now known to have the disease. These include juvenile dystonic idiocy, juvenile dystonic lipidosis, juvenile NPC, neurovisceral lipidosis with vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, Neville-lake disease, sea-blue histiocytosis, lactosylceramidosis, and DAF (downgaze paralysis, ataxia, foam cells) syndrome.

The term Niemann-Pick disease type D describes a genetic isolate from Nova Scotia that is biochemically and clinically indistinguishable from NPC and that also results from biallelic pathogenic variants in NPC1.

The terms Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) and Niemann-Pick disease type C2 (NPC2) are now preferred because they correspond with the associated genes (NPC1 and NPC2).

Prevalence

The prevalence of NPC has been estimated at 1:150,000 in Western Europe.

The incidence of NPC in France has been calculated at about 1:120,000, based on the number of postnatally diagnosed individuals in a ten-year period versus the number of births during that same time period. When prenatal cases that did not result in a live-born infant were included, a slightly higher incidence of 1:100,000 was found [Vanier 2010].

The prevalence of NPC in early life is probably underestimated, owing to its nonspecific presentations. The overall prevalence is likely higher than the calculated incidence, owing to relatively prolonged survival in those with later-onset disease, although no comprehensive data are available.

Acadians in Nova Scotia and a Bedouin group in Israel represent genetic isolates with a founder effect (see Table 8).

Differential Diagnosis

Neonatal and infantile presentations include acquired conditions such as biliary atresia, congenital infections (e.g., TORCH), malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma, histiocytosis), and hereditary disorders (see Table 3).

A study from Colorado found that 27% of infants initially diagnosed with idiopathic neonatal cholestasis and 8% of all infants with cholestasis had Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) [Yerushalmi et al 2002]. Although this cohort may have been enriched by a local Hispanic genetic isolate, the importance of NPC as a cause of jaundice in infants is appropriately emphasized.

Table 3.

Hereditary Disorders in the Differential Diagnosis of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C – Neonatal and Infantile Presentations

GeneDisorderMOIClinical Characteristics
FAH Tyrosinemia type IARIf untreated, usually presents either in young infants w/severe liver involvement or later in 1st yr w/liver dysfunction & significant renal involvement, growth failure, & rickets
SERPINA1 Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency ARMay present w/hepatic dysfunction from infancy, or w/obstructive lung disease &/or bronchiectasis typically after age 30 yrs
Storage diseases including:
GBA1 (GBA)Gaucher disease type 2 (acute or infantile)ARCNS involvement, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, cytopenia, pulmonary disease, & dermatologic changes
SMPD1 Niemann-Pick disease type A ARHepatosplenomegaly is typically noted by age 3 mos; over time liver & spleen become massive.
Niemann-Pick disease type B ARLater onset & milder in manifestations than NPD-A; hepatosplenomegaly w/progressive hypersplenism & stable liver dysfunction

AR = autosomal recessive; MOI = mode of inheritance; NPD-A = Niemann-Pick disease type A

Childhood presentations include acquired conditions such as pineal region or midbrain tumors causing dorsal midbrain syndrome, hydrocephalus, attention-deficit disorder, learning disabilities, absence seizures, other dementing illnesses, pseudodementia (depressive disorder), HIV encephalopathy, sleep disorders, and syncope. Hereditary disorders to consider include subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy (see Mitochondrial DNA-Associated Leigh Syndrome and NARP and Nuclear Gene-Encoded Leigh Syndrome Spectrum Overview), mitochondrial disorders, hereditary dystonias, and the conditions summarized in Table 4.

Table 4.

Hereditary Disorders in the Differential Diagnosis of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C – Childhood Presentations

GeneDisorderMOIClinical Characteristics
ATP7B Wilson disease ARCan present w/hepatic, neurologic, or psychiatric disturbances
BCKDHA
BCKDHB
DBT 		Maple syrup urine disease AR
HEXA Juvenile (subacute) hexosaminidase A deficiencyARVariable neurologic findings incl progressive dystonia, spinocerebellar degeneration, & motor neuron disease
>12 genes 1Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (OMIM PS256730)AR
AD
Amino acidurias & organic acidopathies including:
GCDH Glutaric acidemia type 1 AREncephalopathic crises → acute bilateral striatal injury & subsequent complex movement disorders (Insidious-onset basal ganglia injury may develop in absence of identified acute encephalopathic crisis.)
Hereditary disorders w/periodic paralysis including:
CACNA1S

SCN4A

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis ADParalytic episodes w/concomitant hypokalemia 2
SCN4A Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis type 1 ADAttacks of flaccid limb weakness; may incl weakness of muscles of eyes, throat, & trunk

AR = autosomal recessive; AD = autosomal dominant; MOI = mode of inheritance; NPD = Niemann-Pick disease

1.

See Phenotypic Series: Ceroid lipofuscinoses for genes associated with this phenotype in OMIM.

2.

Serum potassium <3.5 mmol/L

Adolescent and adult presentations include:

  • Alzheimer disease, Pick disease (an adult-onset disorder with dementia associated with characteristic neuronal inclusions called Pick bodies, not related to Niemann-Pick disease), frontotemporal dementias (FTD; e.g. CHMP2B-FTD, GRN-FTD, C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and FTD), and Steele-Richardson-Olzewski syndrome (also known as progressive supranuclear palsy; see OMIM 601104)
  • Late-onset lysosomal storage diseases
  • Syphilis and HIV dementia
  • Primary psychiatric illnesses

Management

Clinical management guidelines for Niemann-Pick C (NPC) have been published [Geberhiwot et al 2018] (full text).

Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis

To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with NPC, the evaluations summarized in Table 5 (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended.

Table 5.

Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

System/ConcernEvaluationComment
Physical exam Document growth parameters & organomegaly.
Establish current level of disease severity.Use NPC clinical severity score 1 to document key features at diagnosis.
Neurologic
exam 		Assess for neurologic features incl spasticity, cataplexy, movement disorders, sleep disturbance, seizures.
  • MRI if not already performed
  • Consider sleep studies if history is suggestive.
  • Consider EEG if history is suggestive.
Developmental
assessment
for children 		Developmental assessment
  • Incl motor, adaptive, cognitive, & speech-language eval
  • Eval for early intervention / special education
Cognitive
assessment 		Document baseline degree of cognitive impairment.
Bowel
dysfunction 		Medical history for signs/symptoms of constipation
Mobility / Activities of
daily living 		Assessment of mobility, balance, core stability, trunk control, spasticity, foot posture, & strength by suitably qualified PTAssess modifications for safety & improved independence.
Speech &
language 		Comprehensive communication eval by speech & language therapistAssess for need for speech therapy &/or Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Nutrition/
Feeding 		Nutritionist / gastroenterology / feeding team
  • Clinical swallowing assessment in all affected persons
  • VFSS may be useful in some.
  • Assess need for dietary modification.
  • Consider eval for gastrostomy tube placement in those w/dysphagia &/or aspiration risk.
Cognitive
assessment 		Document baseline degree of cognitive impairment.
Ophthalmology
exam 		Neuro-ophthalmologistDocument saccadic eye movement velocity & presence of vertical gaze palsy.
Hearing AudiometryTo document presence of hearing loss
Psychiatric eval Psychiatrist or mental health professionalAssess for psychosis, behavioral disturbances, depression.
Genetic
counseling 		By genetics professionals 2To inform affected persons & their families re nature, MOI, & implications of NPC to facilitate medical & personal decision making
Family support
& resources 		Providers at specialized care centers, family physician/pediatrician, & local palliative care services should work closely w/affected persons & families/caregivers through life span, incl: (1) advance care planning w/regular updating; (2) proper flow of communication & info for affected persons & families; & (3) designated point of contact for each stage in care pathway.Assess need for:

MOI = mode of inheritance; PT = physical therapist; VFSS = videofluoroscopic swallowing study

1.
2.

Medical geneticist, certified genetic counselor, or certified advanced genetic nurse

Treatment of Manifestations

No curative therapy for NPC exists.

Supportive therapy by multidisciplinary specialists is summarized in Table 6.

Treatment with miglustat, which was approved for the management of neurologic manifestations of NPC in several countries (but not the United States), follows Table 6.

Table 6.

Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

Manifestation/ConcernTreatmentConsiderations/Other
Developmental delay /
Intellectual disability 		See Developmental Delay / Intellectual Disability Management Issues.
Neurologic Spasticity PTAnti-spasticity drugs; rarely surgery
Cataplexy Modafinil, protriptylineUsually effective & well tolerated
Movement
disorders 		Trihexyphenydil for dystoniaThe effects of this agent may not be sustained.
Sleep
disturbance 		A nocturnal sedative may be indicated; melatonin is often effective & well tolerated.Consider formal eval by sleep specialist.
Seizures Appropriate antiseizure medications for seizure types; no special considerations for NPCTreatment must be individualized based on seizure semiology & EEG findings.
Bowel dysfunction Regular bowel program to prevent severe constipationConstipation may manifest as ↑ seizure frequency &/or ↑ spasticity.
Mobility / Activities
of daily living
  • PT to maintain mobility as long as possible
  • Structured & personalized rehab program to prolong mobility & transfer ability.
Proactively seek strategies to maintain optimal mobility & ↓ falls such as providing appropriate walking/mobility aids, ankle-foot orthotics, & exercise programs.
Speech & language Speech therapyConsider eval for alternative means of communication (e.g., augmentative and alternative communication) for those w/expressive language difficulties.
Nutrition/Feeding Thickened feeds, small boluses, as toleratedConsider gastrostomy tube placement when aspiration &/or nutritional compromise is a concern.
Eye movement disorder No specific therapy, although changes may be slowed by miglustat
Hearing impairment
  • Occurs in course of illness
  • Hearing aids may be helpful.
Use of amplification should be guided by clinical needs & recommendations of treating audiologist.
Psychosis, behavioral disturbances, depression Appropriate psychotropic medications & supportive counselingPsychiatric manifestations may be resistant to standard drug therapies.
Family/caregiver needs General supportive care incl respite for primary caregivers is crucial to maintenance of family unit.

PT = physical therapy

Developmental Delay / Intellectual Disability Management Issues

The following information represents typical management recommendations for individuals with developmental delay / intellectual disability in the United States; standard recommendations may vary from country to country.

Ages 0-3 years. Referral to an early intervention program is recommended for access to occupational, physical, speech, and feeding therapy as well as infant mental health services, special educators, and sensory impairment specialists. In the US, early intervention is a federally funded program available in all states that provides in-home services to target individual therapy needs.

Ages 3-5 years. In the US, developmental preschool through the local public school district is recommended. Before placement, an evaluation is made to determine needed services and therapies and an individualized education plan (IEP) is developed for those who qualify based on established motor, language, social, or cognitive delay. The early intervention program typically assists with this transition. Developmental preschool is center based; for children too medically unstable to attend, home-based services are provided.

All ages. Consultation with a developmental pediatrician is recommended to ensure the involvement of appropriate community, state, and educational agencies (US) and to support parents in maximizing quality of life. Some issues to consider:

  • IEP services:
    • An IEP provides specially designed instruction and related services to children who qualify.
    • IEP services will be reviewed annually to determine whether any changes are needed.
    • As required by special education law, children should be in the least restrictive environment feasible at school and included in general education as much as possible and when appropriate.
    • Vision and hearing consultants should be a part of the child's IEP team to support access to academic material.
    • PT, OT, and speech services will be provided in the IEP to the extent that the need affects the child's access to academic material. Beyond that, private supportive therapies based on the affected individual's needs may be considered. Specific recommendations regarding type of therapy can be made by a developmental pediatrician.
    • As a child enters the teen years, a transition plan should be discussed and incorporated in the IEP. For those receiving IEP services, the public school district is required to provide services until age 21.
  • A 504 plan (Section 504: a US federal statute that prohibits discrimination based on disability) can be considered for those who require accommodations or modifications such as front-of-class seating, assistive technology devices, classroom scribes, extra time between classes, modified assignments, and enlarged text.
  • Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) enrollment is recommended. DDA is a US public agency that provides services and support to qualified individuals. Eligibility differs by state but is typically determined by diagnosis and/or associated cognitive/adaptive disabilities.
  • Families with limited income and resources may also qualify for supplemental security income (SSI) for their child with a disability.

Treatment with Miglustat

Based on clinical studies that supported a role of miglustat in stabilizing mice with the murine NPC, miglustat was approved for the management of neurologic manifestations of NPC in several countries [Patterson et al 2012], but not the United States. A recent literature review of the effect of miglustat on clinical, biomarker, and imaging measures supported its efficacy in ameliorating the course of NPC [Pineda et al 2018]. Analysis of data on long-term survival in NPC from several historical data sets as well as a prospective registry suggested that individuals treated with miglustat experienced a mean increase in survival of five years when measured from date of diagnosis or approximately ten years when measured from onset of neurologic manifestations [Patterson et al 2020]. This positive effect was supported by a three-year (median) prospective study of 50 individuals with NPC taking miglustat in whom swallowing function and the risk of aspiration stabilized [Solomon et al 2020].

Thus, in countries where it is an approved therapy, individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of NPC should be considered for miglustat therapy, except individuals with NPC who:

  • Have advanced neurologic disease / dementia
  • Have another life-threatening illness and an estimated life span <1 year
  • Have only spleen/liver enlargement
  • Are presymptomatic

Note that miglustat may produce loose stools and excessive flatus; these effects may be managed with dietary modification (by reduction or removal of lactose and other sugars). Physiologic tremor may be enhanced in some individuals.

Surveillance

Table 7.

Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

System/ConcernEvaluationFrequency
Interval medical
history 		Establish rate of disease progression.Every 6 mos
For those on
miglustat therapy 		Monitor for:
  • Compliance w/therapy;
  • Side effects from therapy;
  • Conditions that would prompt discontinuation of therapy.
Review every 6 mos for indications, efficacy, & adverse effects.
Physical exam Document growth parameters, assess for neurologic features & organomegaly.Every 6-12 mos
NPC clinical
severity score 1 		Document progression & response to therapy of key disease features.Every 6 mos
Mobility / Activities
of daily living 		Assessment of mobility, balance, core stability, trunk control, spasticity, foot posture, & strength by suitably qualified PTEvery 6 mos in children; every 12 mos in adults
Developmental
or cognitive
assessment 		Monitor educational needs in children & cognitive abilities in adults.
Speech &
language 		Comprehensive communication eval by speech & language therapist
Ophthalmology
assessment 		Document progression of saccadic eye movement velocity & presence of gaze palsy, response to miglustat therapy.At 6 and 12 mos; after starting treatment; frequency after 12 mos TBD by clinical response
Hearing
impairment 		Audiometry for new-onset hearing loss or its progressionEvery 12 mos
Nutrition/Feeding Document nutritional status, presence/progression of dysphagia, & aspiration risk.Every 6 mos in children; in adults, frequency could be ↓ to every 12 mos if asymptomatic & disease is stable
Psychosis,
behavioral
disturbances,
& depression 		By mental health care provider
  • In children, every 6 mos until age 18 yrs, then annually if stable or asymptomatic
  • Frequency of eval should always be guided by individual clinical circumstances.
Sleep hygiene Medical history for sleep disturbancesReview every 12 mos.
Driving Monitor those who hold a driver's license for relevant motor &/or sensory impairments.Every 12 mos
Family/caregiver
needs
  • See Table 5, Family support/resources
  • A person identified as being near end of life may benefit from ongoing access to palliative care services incl for symptom control, respite care, & psychological/spiritual support.
Every 6-12 mos

PT = physical therapist

1.

Agents/Circumstances to Avoid

Avoid the following:

  • Drugs that cause excessive salivation or that may exacerbate seizures directly by interacting with anti-seizure medications
  • Alcohol as well as many drugs that exacerbate ataxia

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 are symptomatic and would benefit from prompt initiation of treatment (see Table 6).

See Genetic Counseling for issues related to testing of at-risk relatives for genetic counseling purposes.

Therapies Under Investigation

Based on results of studies of hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin in the murine model of NPC [Abi-Mosleh et al 2009, Davidson et al 2009], uncontrolled clinical studies of intrathecal 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin suggested amelioration of disease progression [Ory et al 2017, Berry-Kravis et al 2018]. However, a recent controlled clinical trial of this therapy (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02534844) failed to show a difference between controls and the intervention group [publicly presented, unpublished data]. Further investigations of this therapy are in progress.

Studies of intravenous and combined intravenous and intrathecal cyclodextrins are currently in progress.

Studies of recombinant human heat shock protein 70 [rh HSP70] in tissue culture and animal models suggested potential benefit in NPC and other lysosomal diseases [Kirkegaard et al 2016]. Because the administration of rh HSP70 was not feasible for humans, a controlled trial of arimoclomol, an agent known to induce the expression of HSP70, was undertaken (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02612129). The results of this trial, which demonstrated slowing of disease progression over the course of one year, have been publicly presented, but not yet published. A new drug application is currently under consideration by the FDA.

N-acetyl-L-leucine has shown benefit in ameliorating ataxia in NPC (and ataxia in several other disorders) in open label studies [Kalla & Strupp 2019]. A controlled clinical trial is currently in progress (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03759639).

Treatment of certain NPC fibroblast cell lines with an HDAC inhibitor produced marked reduction of cholesterol storage [Pipalia et al 2011]; a Phase I/II clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02124083) has been completed, but no results have been reported.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling is the process of providing individuals and families with information on the nature, mode(s) of inheritance, and implications of genetic disorders to help them make informed medical and personal decisions. The following section deals with genetic risk assessment and the use of family history and genetic testing to clarify genetic status for family members; it is not meant to address all personal, cultural, or ethical issues that may arise or to substitute for consultation with a genetics professional. —ED.

Mode of Inheritance

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Risk to Family Members

Parents of a proband

Sibs of a proband

  • If both parents are known to be heterozygous for an NPC-related pathogenic variant, each sib of an affected individual has at conception a 25% chance of being affected, a 50% chance of being a heterozygote, and a 25% chance of being unaffected and not a heterozygote.
  • The NPC phenotype usually runs true in families; that is, if the proband has early-onset disease, sibs who inherit biallelic pathogenic variants will have a similar clinical course. In rare cases, a proband and the proband's affected sibs have had different clinical presentations.
  • Sibs younger than the proband may have NPC but be presymptomatic.
  • Heterozygotes may manifest clinical and biochemical abnormalities, although most appear to be asymptomatic (see Clinical Description, Heterozygotes).

Offspring of a proband. The offspring of an individual with NPC are obligate heterozygotes for an NPC1 or NPC2 pathogenic variant.

Other family members. Each sib of the proband's parents is at a 50% risk of being heterozygous for an NPC1 or NPC2 pathogenic variant.

Heterozygote Detection

Molecular genetic testing. Heterozygote testing for at-risk relatives requires prior identification of the NPC1 or NPC2 pathogenic variants in the family.

Related Genetic Counseling Issues

See Management, Evaluation of Relatives at Risk for information on evaluating at-risk relatives for the purpose of early diagnosis and treatment.

Family planning

  • The optimal time for determination of genetic risk, clarification of genetic status, and discussion of the availability of prenatal/preimplantation genetic testing is before pregnancy.
  • It is appropriate to offer genetic counseling (including discussion of potential risks to offspring and reproductive options) to young adults who are affected, are heterozygous, or are at risk of being heterozygous.
  • Founder variants have been identified in Acadians in Nova Scotia (c.2974G>T) and a Bedouin group in Israel (c.1211G > A). If the reproductive partner of an individual known to be heterozygous for an NPC1 or NPC2 pathogenic variant has ancestry from one of these genetic isolates, they may choose to have carrier screening for the founder variant(s) specific to their ancestry (see Table 8).

DNA banking. Because it is likely that testing methodology and our understanding of genes, pathogenic mechanisms, and diseases will improve in the future, consideration should be given to banking DNA from probands in whom a molecular diagnosis has not been confirmed (i.e., the causative pathogenic mechanism is unknown). For more information, see Huang et al [2022].

Prenatal Testing and Preimplantation Genetic Testing

Once the NPC-causing pathogenic variants have been identified in an affected family member, prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing are possible.

Differences in perspective may exist among medical professionals and within families regarding the use of prenatal testing. While most centers would consider use of prenatal testing to be a personal decision, discussion of these issues may be helpful.

Resources

GeneReviews staff has selected the following disease-specific and/or umbrella support organizations and/or registries for the benefit of individuals with this disorder and their families. GeneReviews is not responsible for the information provided by other organizations. For information on selection criteria, click here.

Molecular Genetics

Information in the Molecular Genetics and OMIM tables may differ from that elsewhere in the GeneReview: tables may contain more recent information. —ED.

Table A.

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C: Genes and Databases

GeneChromosome LocusProteinLocus-Specific DatabasesHGMDClinVar
NPC1 18q11​.2 NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 NPC1 database
Niemann-Pick Type C Database 		NPC1 NPC1
NPC2 14q24​.3 NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 2 NPC2 database NPC2 NPC2

Data are compiled from the following standard references: gene from HGNC; chromosome locus from OMIM; protein from UniProt. For a description of databases (Locus Specific, HGMD, ClinVar) to which links are provided, click here.

Table B.

OMIM Entries for Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (View All in OMIM)

257220NIEMANN-PICK DISEASE, TYPE C1; NPC1
601015NPC INTRACELLULAR CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORTER 2; NPC2
607623NPC INTRACELLULAR CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORTER 1; NPC1
607625NIEMANN-PICK DISEASE, TYPE C2; NPC2

Molecular Pathogenesis

Pathogenic variants have been described throughout NPC1 and NPC2. They lead to either dysfunction or complete loss of the NPC1 or NPC2 proteins, the deficiency of which leads to accumulation in the lysosomes of multiple lipid cargoes, including unesterified cholesterol, glucosylceramide, and gangliosides. The consequent lysosomal dysfunction leads to a cascade of downstream effects, including an inflammatory response and triggering of apoptosis.

Mechanism of disease causation. Loss of function

Table 8.

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C: Notable Pathogenic Variants by Gene

GeneReference SequencesDNA Nucleotide ChangePredicted Protein ChangeComment [Reference]
NPC1 NM_000271​.3
NP_000262​.1 		c.530G>Ap.Cys177TyrHomozygotes have late-infantile NPC [Fernandez-Valero et al 2005].
c.1211G > Ap.Arg404GlnAssoc'd in homozygous state w/early-onset pulmonary disease in Israel [Staretz-Chacham et al 2018].
c.2324A>Cp.Gln775ProHomozygotes have early-infantile NPC [Fernandez-Valero et al 2005].
c.2974G>Tp.Gly992TrpFounder variant in Acadian population (Yarmouth County) of Nova Scotia [Winsor & Welch 1978, Greer et al 1998]
c.2974G>Ap.Gly992ArgDescribed in France [Fernandez-Valero et al 2005]
c.3160G>Ap.Ala1054ThrAssoc'd w/early-infantile NPC [Millat et al 2001]
c.3182T>Cp.Ile1061ThrAccounts for 15%-20% of pathogenic variants in Western Europe & US [Millat et al 2005], ranging from 38% of affected persons in UK [Imrie et al 2015] to 3% of variants in an Italian study [Dardis et al 2020]
NPC2 NM_006432​.3
NP_006423​.1 		c.115G>Ap.Val39MetAdult-onset disease w/frontal lobe atrophy has been described [Klünemann et al 2002, Chikh et al 2005].
c.133C>Tp.Gln45TerHomozygotes have neonatal or infantile onset & die in early childhood [Chikh et al 2005].
c.141C>Ap.Cys47Ter
c.199T>Cp.Ser67ProHomozygotes survive into middle adulthood [Chikh et al 2005].
c.295T>Cp.Cys99ArgHomozygotes have neonatal or infantile onset & die in early childhood [Chikh et al 2005].

Variants listed in the table have been provided by the author. GeneReviews staff have not independently verified the classification of variants.

GeneReviews follows the standard naming conventions of the Human Genome Variation Society (varnomen​.hgvs.org). See Quick Reference for an explanation of nomenclature.

Chapter Notes

Author Notes

At the time of submission in October 2020, the author's work was supported by the Peggy Furth Fund at Mayo Clinic, and research grants from NINDS, Amicus, Cerecor, Glycomine, Idorsia, Orphazyme, and Shire-Takeda. The author currently serves as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Niemann-Pick Disease Registry. He also serves as a consultant for IntraBio and Orphazyme, and holds stock in IntraBio.

Author's website

Revision History

  • 10 December 2020 (bp) Comprehensive update posted live
  • 18 July 2013 (me) Comprehensive update posted live
  • 22 July 2008 (me) Comprehensive update posted live
  • 13 February 2006 (me) Comprehensive update posted live
  • 18 December 2003 (me) Comprehensive update posted live
  • 26 January 2000 (me) Review posted live
  • 20 October 1999 (mp) Original submission

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