Cataracts, Congenital, with Brain Hemorrhage and Subependymal Calcification

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Bilateral neonatal leukocoria secondary to dense congenital cataracts (not further characterized) is evident at birth. Microphthalmia and pale optic discs have each been reported in a single patient.

Systemic Features: 

Newborns have catastrophic intracranial hemorrhages with massive cystic destruction of white matter and basal ganglia.  Subependymal calcification can be seen on CT scans.  Most individuals do not live beyond the neonatal period or early infancy.  Hyperreflexia, seizures, and spasticity are frequent clinical features.  Some patients have hepatomegaly and mild renal anomalies in size and location.  The forehead may be prominent and sloping.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from homozygous mutations in the JAM3 (junctional adhesion molecule 3) gene (11q25).  The gene product is one of a family of proteins that contributes to intercellular tight junctions between epithelial cells, among others, and is postulated to be important to vascular permeability as well as lens development.

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Delineation of the Clinical, Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Novel JAM3 Mutations Underlying the Autosomal Recessive Hemorrhagic Destruction of the Brain, Subependymal Calcification and Congenital Cataracts

Akawi NA, Canpolat FE, White SM, Quilis-Esquerra J, Sanchez MM, Gamundi MJ, Mochida GH, Walsh CA, Ali BR, Al-Gazali L. Delineation of the Clinical, Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Novel JAM3 Mutations Underlying the Autosomal Recessive Hemorrhagic Destruction of the Brain, Subependymal Calcification and Congenital Cataracts. Hum Mutat. 2012 Dec 15.[Epub ahead of print]

PubMed ID: 
23255084

A homozygous mutation in the tight-junction protein JAM3 causes hemorrhagic destruction of the brain, subependymal calcification, and congenital cataracts

Mochida GH, Ganesh VS, Felie JM, Gleason D, Hill RS, Clapham KR, Rakiec D, Tan WH, Akawi N, Al-Saffar M, Partlow JN, Tinschert S, Barkovich AJ, Ali B, Al-Gazali L, Walsh CA. A homozygous mutation in the tight-junction protein JAM3 causes hemorrhagic destruction of the brain, subependymal calcification, and congenital cataracts. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Dec 10;87(6):882-9.

PubMed ID: 
21109224

References

Akawi NA, Canpolat FE, White SM, Quilis-Esquerra J, Sanchez MM, Gamundi MJ, Mochida GH, Walsh CA, Ali BR, Al-Gazali L. Delineation of the Clinical, Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Novel JAM3 Mutations Underlying the Autosomal Recessive Hemorrhagic Destruction of the Brain, Subependymal Calcification and Congenital Cataracts. Hum Mutat. 2012 Dec 15.[Epub ahead of print]

PubMedID: 23255084

Mochida GH, Ganesh VS, Felie JM, Gleason D, Hill RS, Clapham KR, Rakiec D, Tan WH, Akawi N, Al-Saffar M, Partlow JN, Tinschert S, Barkovich AJ, Ali B, Al-Gazali L, Walsh CA. A homozygous mutation in the tight-junction protein JAM3 causes hemorrhagic destruction of the brain, subependymal calcification, and congenital cataracts. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Dec 10;87(6):882-9.

PubMedID: 21109224