Familial syringomyelia with mental impairment

Familial syringomyelia: the first Japanese case and review of the literature

We reported on syringomyelia in a mother and her son. The mother was 74-year-old, who developed gait difficulty at the age of 54. The son, 47-year-old, developed the same symptoms at the age of 35. In the both cases, MRI revealed syringomyelia with Chiari malformation. Twenty-one families with syringomyelia have been reported. The existence of these families indicates that genetic factors may play in role to the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Familial syringomyelia: case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Syringomyelia is an uncommon disease of the spinal cord, occurring sporadically. However, rare familial cases with autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance patterns are reported and their incidence quoted as approximately 2%. Only one previous report originated from the United States.

METHODS

We present a brother and sister with syringomyelia and associated Chiari type I malformation; both patients responded to surgical treatment. We review the world literature and briefly discuss pathogenetic theories of syringomyelia as well as the relevance of the histocompatibility leukocyte antigen profile.

RESULTS

Both genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved in familial syringomyelia.

CONCLUSION

We recommend that close relatives of patients affected with familial syringomyelia undergo routine neurologic and radiologic surveys.

Familial syringomyelia

A woman with syringobulbia and syringomyelia and her sister with syringomyelia are described. The diagnosis was confirmed radiologically and surgically in the first sister and no other definite abnormalities of her craniocervical junction were found.