Vasculitic peripheral neuropathy in deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2)

Abstract DADA2 is an autosomal recessive inflammatory vasculopathy characterized by systemic vasculitis, early-onset stroke and livedo racemosa. We report a family cohort of 3 patients with ADA2 compound heterozygous mutation p.[Thr360Ala] and [Gly383Ser]. Two of them had progressive involvement of the peripheral nervous system in the fourth decade, both after stroke. In one patient, clinical and neurophysiological studies showed progression of mononeuritis multiplex to chronic axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy, nerve biopsy had features of small vessel vasculitic neuropathy, and muscle biopsy disclosed neurogenic atrophy with reinnervation. The second patient presented with progressive sensory symptoms of the lower limbs and chronic axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy in nerve conduction studies. These two patients had absent plasma ADA2 activity. The third patient had no neurological affection despite low, but not absent, plasma ADA2 activity. Patients were started on a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, which has presumed benefits for the vasculitic phenotype of DADA2.