The First Genetically Confirmed McLeod Syndrome in Korea

McLeod syndrome is a rare X-linked multisystem disorder which forms the core of neuroacanthocytosis syndrome. Neurological symptoms characterized by chorea, seizure, cognitive impairment, and psychosis mostly develop around the 5-6th decades, accompanied by multisystem involvement comprising neuropathy, myopathy, acanthocytosis and hepatosplenomegaly. We hereby present a 60-year-old male who is the first genetically confirmed Korean McLeod syndrome patient. Genetic analysis of his XK gene revealed a previously reported 5 base pair deletion of exon 3 (c.856_860delCTCTA).

Abnormal eye movements in three types of chorea / Anormalidades dos movimentos oculares em três tipos de coreia

ABSTRACT Chorea is an abnormal movement characterized by a continuous flow of random muscle contractions. This phenomenon has several causes, such as infectious and degenerative processes. Chorea results from basal ganglia dysfunction. As the control of the eye movements is related to the basal ganglia, it is expected, therefore, that is altered in diseases related to chorea. Sydenham’s chorea, Huntington’s disease and neuroacanthocytosis are described in this review as basal ganglia illnesses that can present with abnormal eye movements. Ocular changes resulting from dysfunction of the basal ganglia are apparent in saccade tasks, slow pursuit, setting a target and anti-saccade tasks. The purpose of this article is to review the main characteristics of eye motion in these three forms of chorea.

RESUMO Coreia é um movimento anormal caracterizado pelo fluxo contínuo de contrações musculares ao acaso. Este fenômeno possui variadas causas, como processos infecciosos e degenerativos. A coreia resulta de disfunção dos núcleos da base, os quais estão envolvidos no controle da motricidade ocular. É esperado, então, que esta esteja alterada em doenças com coreia. A coreia de Sydenham, a doença de Huntington e a neuroacantocitose são apresentadas como modelos que têm por característica este distúrbio do movimento, por ocorrência de processos que acometem os núcleos da base. As alterações oculares decorrentes de disfunção dos núcleos da base se manifestam em tarefas de sacadas, perseguição lenta, fixação de um alvo e em tarefas de antissacadas. O objetivo deste artigo é revisar as principais características dos movimentos oculares nestas três formas de coreias.

Globus Pallidus Interna Deep Brain Stimulation for Chorea-Acanthocytosis

Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by involuntary choreiform movements and erythrocytic acanthocytosis. Pharmacotherapy for control of involuntary movements has generally been of limited benefit. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has recently been used for treatment of some refractory cases of ChAc. We report here on the effect of bilateral high-frequency DBS of globus pallidus interna in a patient with ChAc.

Treatment of Psychiatric Symptoms in a Patient with Neuroacanthocytosis: A Case Report / 대한정신약물학회지

Neuroacanthocytosis is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by various neurological symptoms and the presence of abnormal red blood cell called acanthocytosis. Degeneration of striatum, which accounts for characteristic motor and psychiatric symptoms, mainly attributes to the pathology of neuroacanthocytosis. We experienced a case of chorea-acanthocytosis. He was a 50 year-old-man who presented with orofacial dyskinesia, dysarthria, uncontrolled lip biting, generalized choreic movements and sensorymotor polyneuropathy. He was also suffered from obsessive eating behavior, disinhibition, impulsivity and sleep disturbance. After antipsychotic medication, his psychiatric problems were improved. Clinicians must consider psychiatric managements of progressive neurological disorder for patients' quality of life and reducing their caregiver's burden.

Acanthocytosis in a Patient with Chorea-acanthocytosis

No abstract available.

Acanthocytosis in a Patient with Chorea-acanthocytosis

No abstract available.

Clinical and genetic analysis of 29 Brazilian patients with Huntington's disease-like phenotype / Análise clínica e genética em 29 pacientes Brasileiros com fenótipo doença de Huntington-símile

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chorea, behavioral disturbances and dementia, caused by a pathological expansion of the CAG trinucleotide in the HTT gene. Several patients have been recognized with the typical HD phenotype without the expected mutation. The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence of diseases such as Huntington's disease-like 2 (HDL2), spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) 1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA7, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) among 29 Brazilian patients with a HD-like phenotype. In the group analyzed, we found 3 patients with HDL2 and 2 patients with ChAc. The diagnosis was not reached in 79.3 percent of the patients. HDL2 was the main cause of the HD-like phenotype in the group analyzed, and is attributable to the African ancestry of this population. However, the etiology of the disease remains undetermined in the majority of the HD negative patients with HD-like phenotype.

A doença de Huntington (DH) é uma doença neurodegenerativa caracterizada por coréia, alterações comportamentais e demência, causada por uma expansão patológica do trinucleotídeo CAG no gene HTT. Vários pacientes têm sido descritos com o fenótipo típico para a DH porém sem a mutação esperada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência de doenças como doença de Huntington-símile 2 (DHS-2), ataxias espinocerebelares tipo 1, 2, 3 e 17, atrofia dentatorubral-palidoluisiana e coreo-acantocitose (CAc) entre 29 pacientes brasileiros com fenótipo doença de Huntington-símile. No grupo analisado, encontramos 3 pacientes com DHS-2 e 2 pacientes com CAc. O diagnóstico permaneceu obscuro em 79,3 por cento dos pacientes. DHS-2 foi a principal causa do fenótipo DH-símile no grupo analisado, provavelmente devido a ancestralidade africana na população brasileira. Entretanto, a etiologia permaneceu indeterminada na maioria dos pacientes avaliados.

Síndrome de McLeod: compromiso multisistémico asociado a neuroacantocitosis ligada al cromosoma X, en una familia chilena / McLeod syndrome: Multisystem involvement associated with neuroacanthocytosis linked to X chromosome. Report of two related cases

Neurological abnormalities associated with spiculated, "acanthocytic" red cells in blood have been described as neuroacanthocytosis. This is a heterogeneous group of conditions that can be clearly subdivided on the basis of recent genetic findings. The McLeod Syndrome, one of the core neuroacanthocytosis syndromes, is a rare X-linked disorder caused by mutations of the XK gene, an X-chromosomal gene of unknown function characterized by haemopoietic abnormalities and late-onset neurological and muscular defects. We report two Chilean brothers with the McLeod phenotype who showed important psychiatric features. The diagnosis may be elusive if the presence of acanthocytosis is not properly studied. We describe a method which allowed the diagnosis that unmasked acanthocytosis. Otherwise the condition could have remained undiagnosed as it had been for decades in this family. This syndrome must be considered when assessing a familial movement disorder, specially affecting males with relevant psychiatric features. A reliable test for acanthocytosis assessment is available.

A Case of Fly Catcher's Tongue Phenomenon in Hallervorden-Spatz Disease

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare, progressive, autosomal recessive hereditary disorder characterized by pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, speech disturbances, mental deterioration and retinal degeneration during childhood or adolescence. In late-onset form after the age of 20, parkinsonian features may be the predominant clinical manifestation. Meanwhile, involuntary tongue movements are rare and poorly understood, which have been reported in tardive dyskinesia, neuroacanthocytosis, chronic epilepsy, and after head trauma. We report a case of a patient with 'fly catcher's tongue' as a major clinical presentation, accompanied with mild parkinsonism, and typical MR findings of HSD.

A Familial Case of Choreoacanthocytosis

We have experienced a family case of 3 sisters in whom the proband showed a complete form of the choreo-acanthosytosis. 439-year-old female proband was admitted because of frequent seizures. She was alert, well-oriented, and had no gross memory defects. She had slurred speech, choreic movements of chin. Deep tendon reflexes on the both lower extremities were decreased. Laboratory examination showed acanthocytes in her peripheral red blood cells, normal serum lipid values, increased creatine-phosphokinase levels and bilateral caudate atrophy on her brain CT scan. Electrophysiological data were consistent with lower motor neuron dysfunction. Another 33-year-old sister with frequent seizures and psychic problems also showed acanthocytosis. The other 36-year-old sister has been treated under the diagnosis of schizophrenia for 10 years, not showing acanthocytosis.

Neuroacanthocytosis: 2 Cases of Familial Choreoacanthocytosis

Neuroacanthocytosis is a rare dosorder characterized by various neurological manifestations and the presence of abnormal red blood cells called acanthocytes which have a disturbed morphology showing spiky, knobby end projections. Acanthocytosis associated with neurological involvements includes 3 major syndromes ; Bassen-Korzweig syndrome, choreoacanthocytosis (or Levine-Critchley syndrome), and Mcleod syndrome. Here, we report two cases of familial choreoacanthocytosis. A 40 years old man presented with orofacial dyskinesia, involuntary vocalization, dysarthria, dysphagia, generalized choreic movements, hyporef lexia, and amyotrophy of the bilarteral anterior tibilais muscles. Serum creatine phosphokinase was increased. Scanning electronmicroscopic examination of the fresh peripheral blood smear film showed acanthocytes, corresponding to about 6% of all red blood cells. His one of two daughter had high arched foot, bradykinesia, and hypoactive deep tendon reflexes. A 70 years old woman showed head and hand tremor, bilateral eye brow choreic movements, torticollis and bradykinesia. Her mother and two younger sisters had head termor. Serum creatine phosphokinase level was normal. Scanning electronmicroscopic examination of the fresh peripheral blood smear showed acnthocytes, corresponding to 9% of the examined red blood cells.