Familial spinal neurofibromatosis

Familial spinal neurofibromatosis (FSNF) is a rare localized subtype of NF1 which shows neurological symptomatology during adult life. Only a few families have been reported to date. We describe a family in which three members in two generations, mother, son and daughter, were affected. The patients, aged 48, 22 and 18 years, had spinal bilateral neurofibromas affecting all spinal roots. Spinal symptoms were not present in any of the patients. However, the son had generalized nerve sheath tumors that caused important signs of peripheral neuropathy. The daughter also had benign tumors that involved the left optic nerve and chiasm and the left cerebellar hemisphere. The spinal neurofibromas underwent an important growth in size between 20 and 22 years of age. A specific mutation G848R, 2542 G > C in NF1 exon 16 was present in all three patients.

Cutaneous hemangioma associated with persistence of the trigeminal and both proatlantal arteries

The authors describe a girl who was evaluated at 7 years old because of facial segmental hemangioma associated with unilateral persistent trigeminal artery, bilateral proatlantal arteries, hypoplasia of 1 posterior cerebral artery, kinking of 1 internal carotid artery at 2 different levels, and transdural collateral vascularization supplying the posterior areas of the cerebral hemispheres. This is the first patient known to have a cutaneous hemangioma associated with bilateral proatlantal arteries despite having a unilateral facial hemangioma.

Cutaneous hemangiomas and vascular abnormalities: persistence of embryonic vascularization

A 2-year-old girl presented with cutaneous facial, palpebral, back, perianal, and perineal hemangiomas and a subcutaneous neck and parotid voluminous hemangioma, associated with several extracranial vascular abnormalities, such as the absence of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery and hypoplasia of the common carotid arteries. Both vertebral arteries showed an embryonic appearance, without completing their maturation and without obliteration of all the right and left longitudinal neural arteries.

[Moyamoya disease: follow-up of 12 patients]

INTRODUCTION

We present 12 patients with moyamoya disease and their evolution from an early age to adulthood in some cases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The patients (nine females and three males) were first studied before 10 years of age because of neurological disease. Bilateral carotid and vertebrobasilar arteriographies were performed during initial evaluation. In the patients who were followed-up during several or many years (in one, during 33 years and, in two, during 25 years), neuroimaging studies were done by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). One patient also had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

RESULTS

All patients showed bilateral occlusion of the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid arteries. The basilar artery was markedly narrowed in one patient. One patient with very early onset of symptoms also showed collateral vascularization through the Bernasconi- Cassinari artery. Cerebral multifocal cortical and subcortical lesions were seen in the patients who had very long follow-up, although these already had appeared in the first MR studies. One patient showed arterial moyamoya 31 images and fibromuscular dysplasia. She was the only patient treated surgically during childhood with death after a short time. Another patient had a pregnancy and vaginal delivery at 26 years of age without complications. Images of moyamoya did not disappear in any of the patients in this series. Seizures were controlled with antiepileptic medication in all patients except in one who had NF1 and severe cerebral lesions. Although it is difficult to demonstrate the efficacy of calcium-antagonist medication (nicardipine), we found that it improved the neurological symptoms in most of our patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term follow-up of the patients in this series showed some neurological problems, although most of them did well, including those cases with early onset of symptoms. All adult patients in this series were working, although some of them in low qualified jobs. Collateral vascularization was very marked in all patients except in one who also showed fibromuscular dysplasia. Moyamoya images did not disappear in any patient. Ischemic cerebral lesions seem to be underlying the cause of the neurological sequelae. Seizures responded well to antiepileptic medication.

[Unilateral facial and cerebral hyperplasia associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. Report of four patients]

INTRODUCTION

Plexiform neurofibroma in any location is one of the commonest complications associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Plexiform neurofibroma of the upper eyelid and orbit is usually associated with ipsilateral hemifacial hyperplasia. We present four patients with NF1 and plexiform neurofibroma of the eyelid and orbit associated with hemifacial hyperplasia, who also showed hyperplasia of the unilateral cerebral hemisphere.

CASE REPORTS

There are four patients, three females and one male, who consulted because of NF1 with plexiform neurofibroma of upper eyelid and hemifacial hyperplasia. Upper eyelid involvement was observed since birth and progressed during the first years of life. The patients showed normal neurological and mental development without motor or cerebellar disorders. Magnetic resonance studies demonstrated the asymmetric hyperplasia of the ipsilateral hemisphere in all four cases and of the cerebellar hemisphere in one case. The degree of hemispheric hyperplasia was related to the size and extension of the plexiform neurofibroma, as well as to the severity of the hemifacial hyperplasia. In our case which had the plexiform neurofibroma extended to the neck and the upper thorax, the hyperplasia not only affected the cerebral hemisphere but also the ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere. All parts of the hemisphere showed increased size. The cortex of the entire hemisphere showed normal differentiation of the subcortical white matter.

CONCLUSION

NF1 appears to be related with facial and cerebral ipsilateral hemihyperplasia. The relation between the size and extension of the orbital, eyelid and facial plexiform neurofibroma and the degree of asymmetry of the hemispheric hyperplasia suggest that different influences of a still unknown agent, possibly a gene, obviously related to NF1, causes both the intracranial and extracranial abnormalities.

[Tuberous sclerosis complex type 1 (TSC1): diagnostic significance of the cutaneous mini-lesions in a familial presentation]

We present a family with tuberous sclerosis complex type 1 (TSC1). The family is formed by six patients. Two sibs, female and male, both patients having minor signs of the disorder. The woman have two daughters, one of them with severe clinical and radiological features of TSC1, and the other who only has a small cutaneous acromic spot. The man has two sons, one with severe features of TSC1, and the other with cutaneous mini-lesions. DNA study of the two cousins, woman and man, with cutaneous mini-lesions, showed a mutation in the chromosome 9 (1749 del GA) (TSC1 ex 15) in both patients. No pathogenic mutation in the TSC2 gene was detected in the two cousins.

[Cerebellar ataxia of Norman-Jaeken. Presentation of seven Spanish patients]

AIM

To show that the cerebellar ataxias described by Norman and by Jaeken (CDG1a) are the same disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven patients, five females and two males (there were two siblings pairs), who presented a severe cerebellar disease slowly progressive associated with generalized cerebellar atrophy. The sister of one of the patients of the series had been studied because of psychomotor retardation but she died at two years of age due to respiratory problems. An autopsy was carried out that showed severe cerebellar atrophy, and the histological study revealed loss of granular cells and diverse abnormalities of Purkinje's cells, especially focal swellings of 'asteroid bodies' or 'cactus like' type. This suggested to us that Norman's ataxia and CDG1a could be the same pathological entity.

RESULTS

All seven patients had severe cerebellar hypoplasia-atrophy and a small brainstem. Most patients showed peripheral neuropathy with decreased motor nerve conduction velocity, but very little decreased sensory nerve conduction velocity. All seven patients had highly raised serum concentrations of asialotransferrin, and heterozygous molecular PMM2 deficit (CDG1a). One of these seven cases was the patient whose sister had histological cerebellar changes corresponding to Norman's ataxia.

CONCLUSION

The findings observed in our series suggest that the diseases described by Norman and Jaeken are the same pathological entity and CDG1a can be the biological basis of the histological changes of the cerebellum in Norman's ataxia. We suggest the name of Norman-Jaeken ataxia or disease for this entity.

[Incontinentia pigmenti: clinical and neuroimaging findings in a series of 12 patients]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical, neuroimaging 51 with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evolutive findings in 12 patients with incontinentia pigmenti (IP). Five patients show cutaneous and neurological lesions and seven only show cutaneous lesions without neurologic or/ and ophthalmologic abnormalities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Five mothers and seven daughters from four families were studied and followed between 1965 and 2004. The studies consisted of detailed clinical history since birth, physical examination, family history, EEG recordings and MRI studies. In some patients, at least three MRI studies were performed during our follow-up. All patients were followed-up since their first visit until 2004. Including four patients since birth or early infancy. Skin biopsies were obtained from two infants for histological study.

RESULTS

MRI studies revealed brain abnormalities in five girls who had neurologic signs associated with the cutaneous lesions of IP. Brain lesions were bilateral in four and unilateral in one. Cerebellar changes were observed only in one case who also showed severe cerebral lesions. The lesions involved cortex, subcortical and deep white matter, ependymal and subependymal zones of one or both cerebral hemispheres. Lesions usually were localized and extended radially to involve all the cerebral parenchyma between ependyma and cortex. Affected areas did not correspond to territories vascularized by any determined artery. The corpus callosum showed generalized or localized atrophy in the five patients who had cerebral hemispheric lesions. Although parenchymal changes were seen in both the T1 and T2 weighted images, these were most evident in the latter. Parenchymal abnormalities were most severe in patients with neonatal severe cutaneous lesions, especially if these were located in the scalp. Cerebral lesions were present from birth or the first months of life and changed little thereafter. The acute appearance and distribution of cerebral lesions always during the neonatal period, associated with scalp lesions in stage 1, suggest an acute inflammatory origin of unknown etiology and of nonprogressive course. Ocular lesions were directly related with cerebral abnormalities. Patients who only had cutaneous lesions without neurologic symptoms showed no MRI abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroimaging studies reveals brain lesions only in patients with neurologic disease in this serie. The brain lesions may involve one or both cerebral hemispheres, corpus callosum, and cerebellum. The brain lesions correlate with the neonatal scalp lesions in stage 1, suggests an inflammatory process of unknown etiology and non-progressive course. The appearance and distribution of the cerebral lesions do not follow the territories vascularized by specific arteries. Ocular lesions are observed only in patients with severe cerebral changes. Early onset of cerebral lesions may be the most reasonable explanation for the progressive microcephaly within the first year of life in IP.

AHI1 gene mutations cause specific forms of Joubert syndrome-related disorders

OBJECTIVE

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessively inherited developmental brain disorder with several identified causative chromosomal loci. It is characterized by hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and a particular midbrain-hindbrain "molar tooth" sign, a finding shared by a group of Joubert syndrome-related disorders (JSRDs), with wide phenotypic variability. The frequency of mutations in the first positionally cloned gene, AHI1, is unknown.

METHODS

We searched for mutations in the AHI1 gene among a cohort of 137 families with JSRD and radiographically proven molar tooth sign.

RESULTS

We identified 15 deleterious mutations in 10 families with pure JS or JS plus retinal and/or additional central nervous system abnormalities. Mutations among families with JSRD including kidney or liver involvement were not detected. Transheterozygous mutations were identified in the majority of those without history of consanguinity. Most mutations were truncating or splicing errors, with only one missense mutation in the highly conserved WD40 repeat domain that led to disease of similar severity.

INTERPRETATION

AHI1 mutations are a frequent cause of disease in patients with specific forms of JSRD.

Diplegia due to transcranial knife-blade injury in a 20-month-old child

Transcranial stab wounds are uncommon among both adults and adolescents and rarely occur in children, particularly when caused by another child. A 20-month-old girl was injured by a 3-year-old cousin, who introduced a knife blade into the brain through the left parietal region. The trajectory of the wound penetrated at least 5 cm, crossed the falx cerebri, and involved both motor cortical areas. The clinical sequela was a severe symmetric spastic diplegia.

Seizures of idiopathic generalized epilepsies

Idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) comprise at least 40% of epilepsies in the United States, 20% in Mexico, and 8% in Central America. Here, we review seizure phenotypes across IGE syndromes, their response to treatment and advances in molecular genetics that influence nosology. Our review included the Medline database from 1945 to 2005 and our prospectively collected Genetic Epilepsy Studies (GENESS) Consortium database. Generalized seizures occur with different and similar semiologies, frequencies, and patterns, ages at onset, and outcomes in different IGEs, suggesting common neuroanatomical pathways for seizure phenotypes. However, the same seizure phenotypes respond differently to the same treatments in different IGEs, suggesting different molecular defects across syndromes. De novo mutations in SCN1A in sporadic Dravet syndrome and germline mutations in SCN1A, SCN1B, and SCN2A in generalized epilepsies with febrile seizures plus have unraveled the heterogenous myoclonic epilepsies of infancy and early childhood. Mutations in GABRA1, GABRG2, and GABRB3 are associated with absence seizures, while mutations in CLCN2 and myoclonin/EFHC1 substantiate juvenile myoclonic epilepsy as a clinical entity. Refined understanding of seizure phenotypes, their semiology, frequencies, and patterns together with the identification of molecular lesions in IGEs continue to accelerate the development of molecular epileptology.

[Cutaneous hemangiomas and vascular malformations and associated pathology (Pascual-Castroviejo type II syndrome). Study of 41 patients]

AIM

To describe the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features of this angiomatous neurocutaneous syndrome, which is the most frequent one, and to report a personal series of 41 patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty one patients--31 females and 10 males--were studied during childhood and then, several patients were followed during many years, which allowed us to learn about the evolution of the abnormalities. The cutaneous lesions were classified as hemangiomas in 30 patients (73%) and as vascular malformations in 11 patients (27%).

RESULTS

A cerebellar anomaly (unilateral hemispheric hypoplasia and Dandy-Walker malformation) was seen in 13 patients (31.5%) cerebral cortical dysplasia in 4 patients (10%), aortic arch coarctation in 6 patients (15%), and congenital cardiopathy in 5 patients (12%). The most frequent abnormalities were intracranial and/or extracranial vascular malformations. Persistence of the trigeminal artery was observed in 7 patients (17%), absence or severe hypoplasia of an internal carotid artery in 13 patients (32%), absence of a vertebral artery in 7 patients (17%), hypoplasia of intracranial arteries in 6 patients (15%) and aneurysmal enlargement of carotid or vertebral arteries in 5 patients (12%). Also were observed 4 patients (10%) with intracranial hemangioma, 2 (5%) with hemangioma in mediastinum, and 3 (7.5%) with intestinal hemangioma, all of which disappeared during the first years of life. Aneurysmal enlargement of the carotid and vertebral arteries and intracranial branches also disappeared after a process of progressive narrowing of the arterial lumen that caused complete obstruction of these arteries. At the same time the cutaneous hemangioma regressed. During this process, collateral vascularization through branches of the external carotid artery and of the non-affected branches of the contralateral intracranial arteries developed.

CONCLUSION

This neurocutaneous syndrome is the most frequent one and it is associated with several types of vascular and non-vascular abnormalities which can involve any organ of the body. Internal and external hemangiomas and hemangiomatous lesions progress and tend to regress concomitantly.

[Muscle-eye-brain disease. Presentation of one case with genetic study]

INTRODUCTION

The objective [corrected] is to present a case of muscle-eye-brain (MEB) disease with genetic study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We studied an affected male from the age of 7 months to 21 years. During this time, clinical, analytical, neurophysiological (EEG, EMG, visual evoked potential [VEP], electroretinogram [ERG]), image (CT, MR), cerebral biopsy and genetic studies were performed.

RESULTS

Severe visual acuity impairment with optic atrophy from the first months of life, abnormal VEP and ERG, CT and MR showing <<cobblestone complex>> image of the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter with myelinating changes; the histologic study of the cerebral biopsy sample showed hypomyelinating lesions and migration changes. The patient is alive at 21 years of age. The genetic study confirmed the presence of two recessive mutations, c.1274G>C and c.1895+1_4delGTGA, within the POMGnT1 gene.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient shows typical clinical, neurophysiological, histological and genetic MEB features.

[Glutaric aciduria type 1 with normal evolution: follow-up of one case until adult age]

We present a patient of 20 years of age with glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) and normal psychomotor development. Her symptoms consisted of a few convulsions between 2.5 and 4.5 years of age. She was diagnosed at 9 years of age because of the typical alterations of GA1 that appeared in computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies. Enzymatic activity in fibroblasts culture was nonexistent and glutarate excretion was elevated in the annual controls where this was investigated from the diagnosis of the disease so far. MR studies showed hyposignal in T1 of the subcortical white matter, severe dilatation of the Sylvian region and temporal fossa subarachnoid spaces, and hypoplasia of the subjacent cerebral parenchyma and of both temporal lobes. The corpus callosum and the surrounding zones appeared very enlarged and with signal changes. Spectroscopic MR showed signs of membrane instability and cellular impoverishment in subcortical white matter and basal ganglia and presence of lactic acid. Macrocephaly always maintained centiles over 98. The patient has no abnormal movements or motor disturbances, her behavior and intelligence being normal and she is able to follow studies of middle level.

[Kabuki make-up syndrome. A report of 18 Spanish cases]

AIM

To present 18 cases of Kabuki make-up syndrome with the associated morphological and neurological alterations.

CASE REPORTS

The series consists of 18 patients, 14 males and 4 females, who show the peculiar facial morphology of this disease. Ten cases were studied between 1968 and 1978, before the description of the syndrome. Most of these patients are now over 30 years and two perhaps surmounting the 40, if surviving. The other 8 cases were studied during the last 20 years (a few within the last 3 years). The studies of the patients were anamnesis with genetic history, EEG, image, cytogenetic, laboratory studies, and mental evaluation when the patients collaborated. The most important findings are the peculiar facial characteristics as well as the psychomotor and language retardation, the persistent fingertip pads and clinodactyly that were observed in all patients. Other studies, such as EEG, caryotype, biochemical investigation in blood, urine and CSF (in the studied cases), and the cerebral neuroradiological images (pneumoencephalography, CT or MR) disclosed normal results. None of the patients of this series were neurologically normal. Hyperactivity, respiratory infection and/or otitis were frequently observed.

CONCLUSION

Kabuki make-up syndrome is a dysmorphologic and neurological disease of unknown origin. Its main manifestations involve facial appearance and brain function without anatomical anomalies. None of the patients was sent to the Pediatric Neurology service with the suspicion of Kabuki make-up syndrome.

[Costello syndrome. Presentation of a case with a follow-up of 35 years]

OBJECTIVE

To present a patient of 35 years with Costello syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A male consulted at 11 months of age because of psychomotor delay and peculiar face.

RESULTS

The main clinic features corresponded to the cutis laxa disease, although the picture and the results of the performed studies were not similar to any of the dysmorfic recognized syndromes.

CONCLUSION

The follow-up of the patient during 35 years showed a long survival, despite the cardiopathy, although he has a severe psychic retardation, showed very low height and weight centiles, and very high head circumference centiles.

[L-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria in a patient with Klinefelter syndrome]

We present a of 22 years old patient who has a severe cerebellar disease that started during the first years of life, borderline mental level, epilepsy and Klinefelter syndrome. Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed swollen white matter with a loss of signal on T1-weighted slices and an increase in signal intensity on T2-weighted images in both cerebral hemispheres and in both cerebellar dentate nuclei. MRI alterations did not change during the studies performed from 4 to 21 years. Blood and urine were analyzed and showed great elevation of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid (L-2-HGA) and more discrete elevation of its metabolites and lysine. The parents of the patient are first cousins.

Oculocerebrocutaneous (Delleman) syndrome: report of two cases

We describe two cases of oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome (OCCS) or Delleman syndrome, characterized by congenital anomalies that involve the skin, orbit, and central nervous system (CNS). Complete MRI studies of the orbit, CNS and the entire spinal region must be performed in these cases. New MRI techniques can show cortical malformations, such as polymicrogyria, lissencephaly, or abnormal disposition of cortical sulci and gyri. Lesions can be bilateral or unilateral, as occurred in our patients. In one case, the ocular, skin, cerebral, and cerebellar lesions involved mainly the same side, whereas in the second case, all anomalies were generalized and the patient also showed skin hypopigmented lesions distributed bilaterally. Both patients show severe encephalopathy and Dandy-Walker malformation. One case is blind and shows generalized hydrocephalus, and the other one has vision through an eye, and has complete agenesis of the corpus callosum and severe disorder of neuronal migration and cortical organization with polymicrogyria and abnormal cortical sulci and gyri in a cerebral hemisphere. Our second case shows arachnoid cysts in both temporal, retrocerebellar, and spinal (D(8)-D(11)) regions, and lipoma in the pontomedullary and spinal (D(4)-D(7)) regions. The latter features correspond more to ECCL than to OCCS. The overlap between the two syndromes is unquestionable and it is possible that they constitute different manifestations of the same disorder.

Vacuolating megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy: 24 year follow-up of two siblings

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is an autosomal recessive disorder with a chronic progressive course. The gene, MLC1, has been localized on chromosome 22qtell and 26 different mutations have been described. We report two siblings of non-consanguineous parents who presented with characteristic features of MLC. They showed macrocephaly from the first months of life. After a short time, motor clumsiness, ataxia, seizures and psychomotor retardation were observed. During childhood, both patients had a coma that lasted several days following a minor head trauma. The eldest sister experienced a permanent deterioration of the clinical picture after the coma. Epilepsy and electroencephalographic alterations were chronic, tending to improve during adulthood. Cerebral biopsy showed normal or minor changes in the cortical grey matter, and in the white matter gliosis, increased extracellular spaces and decreased numbers of fibres with thin myelin sheets. We have followed the patients during 24 years, from the ages of 4 and 8 years to the their present ages of 28 and 32 years. Clinical and neuro-imaging follow-up showed a chronic course with more prominent progression of the white matter abnormalities than of the neurological features. A homozygous mutation of the MLC1 gene was found in both siblings. The eldest patient, 32 years-old, needs a wheel-chair but has a good contact with the family and surrounding people. The youngest, 28-years-old, shows mild ataxia, spasticity and motor clumsiness, but she is able to participate in activities of daily life.