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Spastic Paraplegia, Optic Atrophy, and Neuropathy

OMIM ID:

autosomal recessive

Spastic Paraplegia, Optic Atrophy, and Neuropathy

Alternate Names

SPOAN

Defective Genes

KLC2

Clinical Characteristics

Ocular Features

Non-progressive optic atrophy with vision loss is described as congenital in onset.

Systemic Features

Progressive spasticity has its onset in infancy with loss of independent mobility usually in the second decade of life.  An exaggerated startle response occurs in some individuals.  All patients are confined to wheelchairs after 15 years of age due to progressive motor neuropathy.  No intellectual disability has been reported.  Joint contractures occur.  Dysarthria is notable in the third decade of life.  Eventually joint contractures and spine deformities occur.

Genetics

Inheritance

Homozygous mutations in the KLC2 gene (11q13.2) have been found in this disorder.  A homozygous 216-bp deletion in a non-coding region upstream of the gene results in overexpression of the gene not found in heterozygotes.  

Pedigree

Autosomal recessive

In order for autosomal recessive disorders to be expressed, offspring generally must inherit two mutations, one from each carrier parent.  Carriers with only one mutation, such as the parents, do not have clinical disease.  Note that carrier parents can expect that 1 in 4 children (25%) will inherit both mutations and have the disorder, 2 in 4 children (50%) will be carriers like their parents, while 1 in 4 children (25%) inherit neither mutation.

Image
Sample pedigree of autosomal recessive inheritance

In order for autosomal recessive disorders to be expressed, offspring generally must inherit two mutations, one from each carrier parent. Carriers with only one mutation, such as the parents, do not have clinical disease. Note that carrier parents can expect that 1 in 4 children (25%) will inherit both mutations and have the disorder, 2 in 4 children (50%) will be carriers like their parents, while 1 in 4 children (25%) inherit neither mutation.

Treatment & Management

No treatment has been described.

Selected Resources

Web Resources

Publications

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2

Overexpression ofKLC2due to a homozygous deletion in the non-coding region causes SPOAN syndrome

PubMedID: 26385635

Spastic paraplegia, optic atrophy, and neuropathy is linked to chromosome 11q13

PubMedID: 15852396