spasticity

Dystonia, Childhood Onset, With Optic Atrophy

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Optic atrophy is often observed during the first decade of life and has been noted as early as 15 months.  It may be congenital.  Nystagmus has been seen in some patients.

Systemic Features: 

Signs of motor dysfunction are seen in the first decade of life, and as early as 15 months of age.  Motor development may be mildly delayed.  Features are variable and include facial dystonia, myoclonus, dyskinesia, dysarthria, dysphagia, limb spasticity, and chorea-like movements all of which may progress.  Some patients lose independent ambulation but cognition is not affected.

Brain imaging reveals hyperintense T2-weighted signals in the basal ganglia.

Genetics

The transmission pattern in 5 reported families is consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance.  Biallelic mutations in the MECR gene (1p35) have been found in 7 affected individuals.

This nuclear gene plays a role in mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

MECR Mutations Cause Childhood-Onset Dystonia and Optic Atrophy, a Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Synthesis Disorder

Heimer G, Keratar JM, Riley LG, Balasubramaniam S, Eyal E, Pietikainen LP, Hiltunen JK, Marek-Yagel D, Hamada J, Gregory A, Rogers C, Hogarth P, Nance MA, Shalva N, Veber A, Tzadok M, Nissenkorn A, Tonduti D, Renaldo F; University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics., Kraoua I, Panteghini C, Valletta L, Garavaglia B, Cowley MJ, Gayevskiy V, Roscioli T, Silberstein JM, Hoffmann C, Raas-Rothschild A, Tiranti V, Anikster Y, Christodoulou J, Kastaniotis AJ, Ben-Zeev B, Hayflick SJ. MECR Mutations Cause Childhood-Onset Dystonia and Optic Atrophy, a Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Synthesis Disorder. Am J Hum Genet. 2016 Dec 1;99(6):1229-1244.

PubMed ID: 
27817865

Coats Plus Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Retinal telangiectasia and exudates (Coats disease) occur in association with intracranial cysts, calcifications and extraneurologic manifestations in this condition.  Coats disease lesions may also occur in Labrune syndrome (614561) and, of course, in isolation.

Whereas simple Coats disease almost exclusively occurs unilaterally and in males, both sexes and both eyes may have Coats retinal lesions in this syndrome.

Systemic Features: 

As a result of intracranial calcifications, leukodystrophy and brain cysts, patients have a variety of neurologic signs including spasticity, ataxia, dystonia, cognitive decline, and seizures.  Vascular ectasias may also occur throughout the body such as the intestines, stomach, and in the liver increasing the risk of GI bleeding and portal hypertension with anemia and thrombocytopenia.  Some individuals have sparse hair, abnormal pigmentation of the skin, and dysplastic nails as well. 

Some extraretinal features are also found in patients with dyskeratosis congenita (127550), and in Labrune syndrome (614561).

Genetics

This autosomal recessive pleotropic disorder results from compound heterozygous mutations in the CTC1 gene (17p13.1).  Several patients with mutations in STN1 have also been reported.

Most cases of simple Coats disease occur sporadically.  No associated locus or mutation has been found.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment for the general condition has been reported.  Specific treatment for the retinal vascular and brain lesions might be of benefit.  Physical therapy and special education should be considered in selected patients.

References
Article Title: 

Mutations in STN1 cause Coats plus syndrome and are associated with genomic and telomere defects. J Exp Med. 2016 Jul 25;213(8):1429-40

Simon AJ, Lev A, Zhang Y, Weiss B, Rylova A, Eyal E, Kol N, Barel O, Cesarkas K, Soudack M, Greenberg-Kushnir N, Rhodes M, Wiest DL, Schiby G, Barshack I, Katz S, Pras E, Poran H, Reznik-Wolf H, Ribakovsky E, Simon C, Hazou W, Sidi Y, Lahad A, Katzir H, Sagie S, Aqeilan HA, Glousker G, Amariglio N, Tzfati Y, Selig S, Rechavi G, Somech R. Mutations in STN1 cause Coats plus syndrome and are associated with genomic and telomere defects. J Exp Med. 2016 Jul 25;213(8):1429-40.

PubMed ID: 
27432940

Mutations in CTC1, encoding conserved telomere maintenance component 1, cause Coats plus

Anderson BH, Kasher PR, Mayer J, Szynkiewicz M, Jenkinson EM, Bhaskar SS, Urquhart JE, Daly SB, Dickerson JE, O'Sullivan J, Leibundgut EO, Muter J, Abdel-Salem GM, Babul-Hirji R, Baxter P, Berger A, Bonafe L, Brunstom-Hernandez JE, Buckard JA, Chitayat D, Chong WK, Cordelli DM, Ferreira P, Fluss J, Forrest EH, Franzoni E, Garone C, Hammans SR, Houge G, Hughes I, Jacquemont S, Jeannet PY, Jefferson RJ, Kumar R, Kutschke G, Lundberg S, Lourenco CM, Mehta R, Naidu S, Nischal KK, Nunes L, Ounap K, Philippart M, Prabhakar P, Risen SR, Schiffmann R, Soh C, Stephenson JB, Stewart H, Stone J, Tolmie JL, van der Knaap MS, Vieira JP, Vilain CN, Wakeling EL, Wermenbol V, Whitney A, Lovell SC, Meyer S, Livingston JH, Baerlocher GM, Black GC, Rice GI, Crow YJ. Mutations in CTC1, encoding conserved telomere maintenance component 1, cause Coats plus. Nat Genet. 2012 Jan 22;44(3):338-42.

PubMed ID: 
22267198

Cataracts, Congenital, Intellectual Disability, Abnormal Striatum, and ADHD

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Cataracts (not further described) were described as congenital although the diagnosis was usually made early in the first decade of life.  One patient was diagnosed at the age of 8 years with glaucoma and a cloudy cornea of the left eye.  Another patient had cataract surgery.  Visual acuities have not been reported.

Systemic Features: 

Four members of a consanguineous Saudi family have been reported with growth and mental retardation, microcephaly, dystonia, and spasticity.  IQs in the range of 77-89 were reported.  Linguistic delay is common.  Dysarthria and decreased cognitive function are present.  MRIs revealed thinning of the lentiform nucleus and swelling of the caudate heads.  

Genetics

Homozygous mutations in the KCNA4 (11p14.1) (176266) gene are responsible for this disorder.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available for the general condition.  Cataract surgery may be considered.

References
Article Title: 

KCNA4 deficiency leads to a syndrome of abnormal striatum, congenital cataract and intellectual disability

Kaya N, Alsagob M, D'Adamo MC, Al-Bakheet A, Hasan S, Muccioli M, Almutairi FB, Almass R, Aldosary M, Monies D, Mustafa OM, Alyounes B, Kenana R, Al-Zahrani J, Naim E, Binhumaid FS, Qari A, Almutairi F, Meyer B, Plageman TF, Pessia M, Colak D, Al-Owain M. KCNA4 deficiency leads to a syndrome of abnormal striatum, congenital cataract and intellectual disability. J Med Genet. 2016 Aug 31. pii: jmedgenet-2015-103637. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103637. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID: 
27582084

Encephalopathy Due To Defective Mitochondrial And Peroxisomal Fission 2

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Visual impairment and optic atrophy are usually present.  Visual-evoked potentials may be negative or slowed severely.  Some degree of ophthalmoparesis is often present while frank external ophthalmoplegia can develop in the second year of life.  In one patient aged 7 years, MRI showed increased T2 signals in the optic radiation.

Systemic Features: 

Microcephaly becomes evident in the first year of life and seizures can appear in this period as well.  General developmental delays are present.  There may be evidence of Leigh-like basal ganglia disease.  Dysphagia may require the placement of a gastroscopy tube.  Truncal hypotonia can be so severe that sitting and head control are not possible.  However, there is often spasticity and hyperreflexia in the limbs.  EEG recordings show hypsarrhythmia.

Brain MRI may show increased T2 signaling in the global pallidus, thalamus, and the subthalamic nucleus.

Patients may never be able to sit or walk and usually do not develop speech.  

Genetics

Homozygous or compound heterozygous truncating mutations in the MFF gene (mitochondrial fission factor) (2q36.3) is responsible for this condition.  Patients with EMPF2 may have abnormally elongated and tubular mitochondria and peroxisomes in fibroblasts.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available for the general disorder.  Gastrostomy tubes may be required to maintain adequate nutrition.  Airway hygiene is important.  Respiratory complications can be a factor in the early demise of children.

References
Article Title: 

Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Quadriplegic, 3

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

One family with 4 affected sibs has been reported but without detailed information on ophthalmological findings.  Strabismus reported as exotropia in one individual, and "convergent retraction nystagmus" in another was present.  Supranuclear gaze palsy was described in one individual. 

Systemic Features: 

Borderline microcephaly has been reported.  Evidence for global neurologic disease, primarily spasticity, may be present as early as 3 months of age.  Intellectual disability ranges from borderline to severe.  Progression is somewhat variable but by the second decade there may be sufficient spastic quadriparesis and cognitive impairment that full time assistive care is required.  Dysarthria and dysphagia are also features and gastrostomy feeding tubes may be required to maintain nutrition.  Seizures are uncommon.

The MRI does not show major structural abnormalities and an EEG in one patient revealed only bifrontal spike-waves.

Genetics

This condition is caused by homozygous mutations in the ADD3 gene (10q24).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is known.

References
Article Title: 

Mutations in gamma adducin are associated with inherited cerebral palsy

Kruer MC, Jepperson T, Dutta S, Steiner RD, Cottenie E, Sanford L, Merkens M, Russman BS, Blasco PA, Fan G, Pollock J, Green S, Woltjer RL, Mooney C, Kretzschmar D, Paisan-Ruiz C, Houlden H. Mutations in gamma adducin are associated with inherited cerebral palsy. Ann Neurol. 2013 Dec;74(6):805-14.

PubMed ID: 
23836506

Spinocerebellar Ataxia 42

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

 Saccadic eye movements with nystagmus and diplopia have been reported (7 of 10 reported patients).

Systemic Features: 

Cerebellar signs usually have their onset in midlife or later with slow progression.  Most patients are mildly to moderately disabled.  Dysarthria, dysphagia, and a spastic gait are experienced by the majority of individuals.  Hyperreflexia and a positive Babinski sign are commonly presently.  Mild cognitive impairment and depression have been seen in a minority of patients.

Brain MRIs show cerebellar hemispheric and vermian atrophy.  The cerebral cortex appeared histologically normal in one deceased patient.

Genetics

This disorder is caused by heterozygous mutations in the CACNA1G gene (17q21.33).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Leukodystrophy, Hypomyelinating, 13

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Several individuals in one family have been observed with optic atrophy, nystagmus and visual impairment.

Systemic Features: 

Head circumference is normal at birth but later in childhood falls behind in growth.  Neurodevelopment seems to plateau without regression.  Feeding difficulties may be present from birth and may require gastroscopy tube placement.  Motor skills are delayed and expressive language may never develop.  General irritability and increased muscle tone with hyperreflexia are usually present eventually resulting in joint contractures. 

EEGs , electromyography, and nerve conduction studies have been normal in 3 patients.  A brain MRI in one patient showed a leukodystrophic pattern in periventricular areas.  Variable cardiac malfunctions such as heart failure, LVH, and pericarditis were observed in several patients.

Sudden death following a short febrile illness has been reported to occur in three of the six affected children before the age of 15 years. 

Genetics

Homozygous mutations in the C11ORF73 gene (11q14.2) are responsible for this disorder.  Three unrelated families of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have been reported.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Behr Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Optic atrophy is the hallmark of this condition.  It is usually considered infantile in onset which may be helpful in the clinical diagnosis as many other forms of optic atrophy have their onset somewhat later.   Central scotomas and dyschromatopsia may be present.  Visual impairment is often severe but the progression can plateau in early midlife and remains static as first reported by Behr.

Systemic Features: 

A wide range of neurologic non-specific signs and symptoms may be present.  Behr's patients had ataxia, spasticity, sensory loss, and cognitive deficits.  Deafness has been reported in some patients.  All these may progress for a period of time and then remain static.  Heterozygous carriers have been reported to have mild neurologic manifestations.

It is important to emphasize that case descriptions reported in the literature often cannot be accurately assigned to a specific condition without genotyping.   For this reason histological reports of retinal ganglion cell loss and histological alterations in the brain such as gliosis and neuronal loss may or may not be a part of Behr syndrome.  Further studies should clarify what is now a confusing category of clinical disease.

Genetics

Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the OPA1 gene (3q29) have been found in families with early-onset atrophy called Behr optic atrophy.  However, heterozygous mutations in the same gene have also been associated with optic atrophy (165500).  

Optic atrophy is a common sign among neurologic disorders such as spinocerebellar ataxias and in developmental (e.g., microphthalmia), and degenerative (e.g., retinal dystrophies) disorders of the eye.  More than 130 conditions with optic atrophy are described in this database.  Because of the overlapping clinical features, genotyping may be necessary to accurately determine which disorder is present.

See 165500 for a summary of the genetic heterogeneity of optic atrophy with links to other heritable forms OPA2 through OPA8.

See Behr Early Onset Optic Atrophy Syndromes in this database for more information on phenotypes and genotypes.

Homozygous mutations in OPA1 are also responsible for the mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome 14 (616896) reported in a single family.  The clinical features include encephalomypathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and abnormal pursuit movements with optic atrophy.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Fatal infantile mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and optic atrophy associated with a homozygous OPA1 mutation

Spiegel R, Saada A, Flannery PJ, Burte F, Soiferman D, Khayat M, Eisner V, Vladovski E, Taylor RW, Bindoff LA, Shaag A, Mandel H, Schuler-Furman O, Shalev SA, Elpeleg O, Yu-Wai-Man P. Fatal infantile mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and optic atrophy associated with a homozygous OPA1 mutation. J Med Genet. 2016 Feb;53(2):127-31.

PubMed ID: 
26561570

Early-onset Behr syndrome due to compound heterozygous mutations in OPA1

Bonneau D, Colin E, Oca F, Ferre M, Chevrollier A, Gueguen N, Desquiret-Dumas V, N'Guyen S, Barth M, Zanlonghi X, Rio M, Desguerre I, Barnerias C, Momtchilova M, Rodriguez D, Slama A, Lenaers G, Procaccio V, Amati-Bonneau P, Reynier P. Early-onset Behr syndrome due to compound heterozygous mutations in OPA1. Brain. 2014 Oct;137(Pt 10):e301.

PubMed ID: 
25012220

Multi-system neurological disease is common in patients with OPA1 mutations

Yu-Wai-Man P, Griffiths PG, Gorman GS, Lourenco CM, Wright AF, Auer-Grumbach M, Toscano A, Musumeci O, Valentino ML, Caporali L, Lamperti C, Tallaksen CM, Duffey P, Miller J, Whittaker RG, Baker MR, Jackson MJ, Clarke MP, Dhillon B, Czermin B, Stewart JD, Hudson G, Reynier P, Bonneau D, Marques W Jr, Lenaers G, McFarland R, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM, Votruba M, Zeviani M, Carelli V, Bindoff LA, Horvath R, Amati-Bonneau P, Chinnery PF. Multi-system neurological disease is common in patients with OPA1 mutations. Brain. 2010 Mar;133(Pt 3):771-86.

PubMed ID: 
20157015

Spastic Paraplegia with Psychomotor Retardation and Seizures

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The eyes are usually deeply set.  Nothing is known regarding visual acuity.  Strabismus is a common feature.  Retinal dystrophy (not further described) has been reported in 4 of 8 patients described.  The ERG in one individual was read as consistent with cone-rod dystrophy.

Systemic Features: 

Newborns are hypotonic and severe psychomotor retardation is evident a few months later.  Truncal ataxia and progressive lower limb spasticity are seen later.  Mobility is significantly impaired and many individuals are confined to bed or a wheelchair and never walk.  Dysarthria is frequently present and some individuals have a neurosensory hearing loss.  Myoclonic seizures may be evident.  Kyphoscoliosis, macrocephaly, and various foot deformities have been described.

CT scans of the brain may show generalized cerebral atrophy and a hypoplastic corpus callosum.  The ventricles may be enlarged and the EEG confirms the occurrence of myoclonic as well as tonic-clonic and focal epilepsy.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the HACE1 gene (6q16).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported for this condition but physical therapy and assistive devices such as hearing and visual aids may be helpful.

References
Article Title: 

DDD study. Discovery of four recessive developmental disorders using probabilistic genotype and phenotype matching among 4,125 families

Akawi N, McRae J, Ansari M, Balasubramanian M, Blyth M, Brady AF, Clayton S, Cole T, Deshpande C, Fitzgerald TW, Foulds N, Francis R, Gabriel G, Gerety SS, Goodship J, Hobson E, Jones WD, Joss S, King D, Klena N, Kumar A, Lees M, Lelliott C, Lord J, McMullan D, O'Regan M, Osio D, Piombo V, Prigmore E, Rajan D, Rosser E, Sifrim A, Smith A, Swaminathan GJ, Turnpenny P, Whitworth J, Wright CF, Firth HV, Barrett JC, Lo CW, FitzPatrick DR, Hurles ME; DDD study. Discovery of four recessive developmental disorders using probabilistic genotype and phenotype matching among 4,125 families. Nat Genet. 2015 Nov;47(11):1363-9.

PubMed ID: 
26437029

HACE1 deficiency causes an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome

Hollstein R, Parry DA, Nalbach L, Logan CV, Strom TM, Hartill VL, Carr IM, Korenke GC, Uppal S, Ahmed M, Wieland T, Markham AF, Bennett CP, Gillessen-Kaesbach G, Sheridan EG, Kaiser FJ, Bonthron DT. HACE1 deficiency causes an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome. J Med Genet. 2015 Dec;52(12):797-803.

PubMed ID: 
26424145

Multiple Mitochondrial Dysfunctions Syndrome 4

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Optic atrophy is the sole ocular sign reported.

Systemic Features: 

Patients have the onset of severe, unrelenting neuroregression by 6 months of age.  They never achieve normal milestones and eventually regress to a vegetative state.  No dysmorphic features are present.  Muscle spasticity has been reported.  Brain imaging shows multiple nonspecific signal anomalies throughout.  Biopsy of skeletal muscle shows atrophic and angulated fibers.

Mitochondrial DNA copy numbers are decreased as is the activity of respiratory complex I. 

Genetics

Homozygous mutations in the ISCA2 gene (14q24.3) segregates with the disease in the 5 reported families.  This gene codes for an essential component of mitochondrial assembly and function.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is known and death often occurs before the age of 5 years.

References
Article Title: 

ISCA2 mutation causes infantile neurodegenerative mitochondrial disorder

Al-Hassnan ZN, Al-Dosary M, Alfadhel M, Faqeih EA, Alsagob M, Kenana R, Almass R, Al-Harazi OS, Al-Hindi H, Malibari OI, Almutari FB, Tulbah S, Alhadeq F, Al-Sheddi T, Alamro R, AlAsmari A, Almuntashri M, Alshaalan H, Al-Mohanna FA, Colak D, Kaya N. ISCA2 mutation causes infantile neurodegenerative mitochondrial disorder. J Med Genet. 2015 Mar;52(3):186-94.

PubMed ID: 
25539947

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