Hereditary spastic paraparesis with dementia, amyotrophy and peripheral neuropathy. A neuropathological study

Hereditary, probably autosomal recessive, spastic paraparesis in two siblings was associated with dementia of frontal lobe type, amyotrophy and peripheral sensory and motor polyneuropathy. Neuropathological findings correlate with neurological deficits, although neuron loss in the caudate and putamen, substantia nigra, and loss of Purkinje cells were clinically silent. Loss of neurons occurred in all cortical layers of the prefrontal lobe and superior temporal gyrus. Immunohistochemical studies showed reduced parvalbumin immunoreactivity in dendrites, and reduced numbers of calbindin D28k-immunoreactive cells, thus suggesting involvement of cortical local-circuit neurons. Myelin loss, ubiquitin-immunoreactive granular deposits, and nerve fibre degeneration in the white matter of the frontal lobes and corpus callosum were also observed. Cerebral and sub-cortical white matter abnormalities, together with atrophy of the thalamic dorsomedial complex and anterior nucleus, may have accounted for the development of severe dementia in this patient.     

Hereditary spastic paraplegia associated with dopa-responsive parkinsonism.

A 47-year-old patient with hereditary spastic paraplegia and parkinsonian features is reported. Treatment with levodopa led to marked improvement in his neurological status and quality of life. However, several years later he developed motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. The latter promptly remitted with amantadine treatment.     

Autosomal recessive paraparesis with amyotrophy of the hands and feet

We present 2 sibs with autosomal recessive spastic paraparesis and severe amyotrophy of the distal limb muscles. Elaborate neurophysiologic studies disclosed slight to moderate slowing of motor conduction, moderate to severe reduction of motor action potentials, denervation potentials, and increased distal motor latencies. This syndrome, not having been reported since the papers by Ormerod (5) in 1904 and Holmes (6) in 1905, constitutes another rare, benign, complicated form of hereditary spastic paraparesis.     

遗传性痉挛性截瘫一家系的临床特点与遗传学分析

Objective To study the clinical and genetic features of a family with hereditary spastic paraplegia(HSP).Methods The patients were from a large Linyi family.Five members were clinically diagnosed with HSP according to Harding's criteria Blood samples were collected from family members.Genomic DNA was extracted from total blood samples using a standard phenol-chloroform extraction.The genetic linkage analysis was performed using microsatellite markers.Two-point linkage analysis was performed using the LINKAGE program.Five members underwent detailed neurological examinations and 4 members underwent electrophysiological analysis,cervical and thoracic MRI and serum enzymes.Results Linkage analysis mapped the AD-HSP locus to chromosome 2p12(SPG31)in this family.Positive LOD scores were obtained for SPG31 markers on chromosome 2 with a maximum multipoint LOD score of Z=1.8.Analysis of the REEP1 gene revealed a heterozygous G-to-A mutation at nucleotide position c417+1 donor site in exon 5.resulting in splice-site mutation.The symptoms of the patients manifested as stiffness,instability or weakness of the legs.MRI of the thoracic revealed atrophies of the spinal cord in the proband's son.Conclusions SPC31 patients have the clinical features of the typical HSP characteristics.REEP1 gene is the pathogenic gene.with REEP1 c417+1G＞A heterozygous mutation.     

Hepatic myelopathy with spastic paraparesis

Progressive myelopathy is a rare neurological complication of chronic liver disease with portal hypertension and there is no special diagnostic tool for hepatic myelopathy. Neuropathological studies of the patients with hepatic myelopathy have demonstrated demyelination of the lateral corticospinal tracts with various degree of axonal loss. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely utilized as an indicator of changes in exitability and conductivity of the motor pathways. TMS studies are also used for the diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraparesis in the literature. In this study, we described two patients who presented with spastic paraparesis; TMS studies suggested that they had myelopathy and diagnosed as hepatic myelopathy when all the other possible diagnoses were ruled out.     

Familial spastic paraplegia with amyotrophy. Clinical, electromyographic, histochemical study and microdissection]

Four cases of familial spastic paraplegia with amyotrophy in siblings from a consanguineous married are reported. The routine laboratory examination were normal. The electromiography and muscle biopsy processed by histochemistry showed signs of denervation with reinervation. The motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in the peroneal nerve in 3 cases. The teased fiber preparation of sural nerves was abnormal in four cases. It was found increased of C, D and G fibers suggesting demyelination with secondary remyelination. The authors believe the abnormalities found could be due the distal axonal degeneration, with secondary regeneration and suggest the hypothesis that the fact is an axoplasmic flow defect in the central and peripheral nervous system.     

Familial spastic paraplegia with Kallmann''s syndrome.

A sibship is reported in which two males have spastic paraparesis and Kallmann's syndrome (hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and anosmia). One of the brothers also is color blind. The association of familial spastic paraplegia and Kallmann's syndrome has not been described previously.     

遗传性痉挛性截瘫一家系的临床特点与遗传学分析

目的 探讨遗传性痉挛性截瘫(HSP)一家系的基因型和临床特点.方法 抽取1个HSP家系15名成员外周血,选择与已知HSP致病基因位点在物理距离上紧密连锁的微卫星分子进行标记[短串联重复序列(STR)],连锁分析并构建单体型.对患者进行观察,行心肌酶学、肌电图以及头颅、颈髓、胸髓MRI检查,总结其临床特点.结果 家系成员SIR的扩增产物进行基因分型,连锁分析发现与HSP 31型(SPG31)位点连锁,2个SIR(D2S2951、D2S2333)最大LOD值为1.8,表明连锁.经过连锁分析后得到的对应致病基因为REEP1基因,经过突变筛查发现了1个REEP1 c417+1G＞A杂合突变.SPG31临床特点以痉挛步态、下肢肌张力增高为主要表现,MRI显示胸髓萎缩.结论 SPG31患者临床特征表现为典型的HSP特征,致病基因为REEP1基因,存在REEP1 c417+1G＞A杂合突变.     

Autosomal recessive paraparesis with amyotrophy of hands and feet and white matter lesions

We report two siblings with a hitherto undescribed syndrome of autosomal recessive spastic paraparesis accompanied by amyotrophy of hands and feet, and mental deterioration. Laboratory tests showed signs of lower motoneuron involvement in the four limbs, more accentuated in the distal regions. Brain MR showed bilateral symmetrical white matter lesions. We discuss the nosological status of this syndrome in relation to other similar forms of "complicated" spastic paraparesis.     

Spastic paraplegia with neurogenic amyotrophy manifesting ballooned axons in sural nerve

Summary A 21-year-old man had progressive symmetric, distal muscle atrophy and weakness, as well as spasticity of the limbs. Histologic examination of the sural nerve disclosed swollen axons containing membranous tubular profiles, ring tubules, large mitochondria with abnormal cristae, and glycogenlike granules. Peripheral sensory nerve fibers also were affected. The pathologic features of the peripheral nerves were similar to those of infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy. Sural nerve biopsy may be useful in the study of pathologic processes in spastic paraplegia.     

经基因确诊的单纯型遗传性痉挛性截瘫6型的临床和磁共振成像特征

目的 探讨单纯型遗传性痉挛性截瘫(PHSPG)6型的临床和MRI特征.方法 回顾性分析1个家系中6例SPG6型患者的MRI图像,并与6例MRI表现正常且同性别、同年龄的健康对照者进行对照研究.12例受试者均进行颅脑、颈髓及上胸髓MRI检查,分别测量颈2(C2)、C3、C7、胸1(T1)、T2、T3、T4、T9椎体水平脊髓横断面面积、椎管前后径及横径,测量结果进行统计学分析.结果 6例SPG6型患者中,5例患者的颅脑MRI表现未见明显异常,1例表现为老年性脑改变.6例患者颈髓及上胸髓MRI呈不同程度变细,灰质、白质均受累,蛛网膜下腔扩大;在变细明显的脊髓节段灰白质分界显示清楚,横轴位T2WI上灰质呈边界清楚、左右对称的点状或点片状高信号,矢状位上表现为连续纵行的条状高信号.6例患者的C2～3、C7、T1～4椎体水平的脊髓横断面面积、前后径及横径明显小于对照组,二者间差异有统计学意义,而T9水平仅横径的差异有统计学意义(患者组7.22±0.80,对照组8.17±0.41,t=2.870,P=0.046).结论 SPG6型患者的颅脑MRI可表现为正常;颈髓及上胸髓变细,而且灰白质分界清楚,下胸髓受累较轻,其MRI表现有一定的特征性.     

遗传性痉挛性截瘫中Atlastin基因和Nipa1基因同时突变一家系分析

目的通过分析遗传性痉挛性截瘫一家系中的基因突变，探讨此家系中两种基因突变同时发生的情况。方法应用ABD100遗传分析仪对该家系成员进行DNA测序，进行SPG3A／Atlastin和SPG6／Nipa1基因突变分析。结果遗传分析显示家系中先证者（Ⅱ2）和其女儿（Ⅲ1）既是SPG3A／Atlastin（SPG3A P344L）基因突变杂合体又是SPG6／Nipa1（SPG6 T100A）基因突变的杂合体。先证者的双亲均无SPG3A／Atlastin基因突变，但其父是一个携有SPG6／Nipa1（SPG6 T100A）基因突变的杂合体。结论该家系患者同时存在SPG3A/Atlastin和SPG6/Nipa1两种基因突变，其中SPG3AZ/Atlastin为新产生的非遗传突变。     

A novel insertion mutation in spastin gene is the cause of spastic paraplegia in a Chinese family

A total of eight loci for autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (ADHSP) has been mapped to chromosome 14q, 2p, 15q, 8q, 10q, 12q, 19q, 2q, respectively, among which the SPG4 gene on chromosome 2p21–22 encoding spastin, an ATPase of the AAA family, accounts for 40–50% of all ADHSP families and is expressed in both adult and fetal tissues. In this work, we reveal a novel insertion mutation in exon 11 of the SPG4 gene found in a big Chinese family composed of 47 members, including 20 affected ones, using linkage analysis. The mutation was well demonstrated to be the cause of loss of production of the functional protein by pre-termination of translation in AAA cassette region. To our knowledge, this is the first report of spastin mutation in China.     

A presenilin 1 mutation (Arg278Ser) associated with early onset Alzheimer's disease and spastic paraparesis

Early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (EOFAD) has been associated with mutations in three genes, of which presenilin 1 (PSEN1) mutations are the most frequent. Several families with an association of progressive dementia and spastic paraplegia caused by PSEN1 mutations have been described. Here we described a novel PSEN1 mutation that was associated with dementia and spastic paraplegia in a family with 5 affected individuals in three generations. The proband was a 44-year-old woman who presented with 5 years history of progressive difficulties in walking, cognition and visuospatial impairment. Her maternal grandmother, mother and two maternal aunts also had similar neurological presentation. Molecular genetic analysis showed a missense mutation predicted to substitute an arginine residue for a serine residue at position 278 in the PSEN1 polypeptide (Arg278Ser). The novel PSEN1 mutation identified in this patient adds to the diverse list of existing mutations causing EOFAD associated with spastic paraparesis.     

遗传性痉挛性截瘫患者179例的临床与遗传学特点

目的 探讨我国遗传性痉挛性截瘫(HSP)患者的临床与遗传学特点.方法 对179例中国汉族人群HSP患者的临床资料和遗传学特点进行回顾性分析.结果 共收集78个家系114例患者和65例散发患者,家族史阳性率为54.5%,未发现遗传早现现象,部分家系存在外显不全.患者中男女比例为1.84:1,平均发病年龄(18.1±14.0)岁,平均病程(12.3±11.5)年;常染色体显性遗传(AD)-HSP患者的发病年龄[(19.7±14.0)岁]较常染色体隐性遗传(AR)-HSP者[(14.5±8.8)岁]大(t=2.196,P＜0.05),病程较AR-HSP者长[分别为(17.9±14.4)年和(8.0±5.8)年,t=4.404,P＜0.01].单纯型79例,复杂型100例;AD-HSP以单纯型为主,AR-HSP以复杂型为主,两者构成比差异有统计学意义(F=19.322,P＜0.01).患者多以双下肢僵硬、不灵活起病,最常见的体征为双下肢腱反射亢进、肌张力增高和病理征阳性,其次为踝阵挛(46.9%)、双下肢肌力下降(42.5%)、足部畸形(30.7%)等;AR-HSP患者共济失调、构音障碍、智能减退和足部畸形较AD-HSP多见,泌尿系统症状较AD-HSP少见(P＜0.05).65例患者行颅脑MRI检查,发现胼胝体发育不良13例(20.0%)、小脑萎缩9例(13.8%);45例患者行脊髓MRI检查,发现脊髓变细7例(15.6%).结论 本组HSP患者多于青少年期起病,男性多于女性.AD-HSP发病晚、病程长,以单纯型为主,更易出现泌尿系统症状;AR-HSP发病早、病程相对短,以复杂型多见,多伴有共济失调、构音障碍及智能减退,影像学改变以胼胝体发育不良多见;该病存在与性别相关的临床异质性,存在"女性保护"现象.     

遗传性痉挛性截瘫11型基因突变分析

目的 探讨中国人群遗传性痉挛性截瘫11型(SPGll)基因突变频率及临床特点.方法 应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)结合直接测序方法对28个常染色体隐性遗传性痉挛性截瘫(ARHSP)家系先证者和14例散发痉挛性截瘫合并胼胝体发育不良患者进行SPG11基因突变分析.结果 共确诊10例SPG11家系,其中7个为ARHSP家系,3例为散发患者,共携带有13个SPG11基因新突变:c.5977C>T/p.Q1993X、c.4668T>A/p.Y1556X、c.6898_6899delCT/p.L2300AfsX23.38、c.3719_3720delTA/p.11240VfsX263、c.733_734delAT/p.M245VfsX246、c.7088_7089insATTA/p.Y2363X、c.2163_2164insT/p.1722Yfsx731、c.7101-7102insT/p.K2368X、c.6790_6791insC/p.12264PfsX2339、c.654_655delinsG/p.S218RfsX219、c.7151+4_7151+7delAGTA/p.K2384fsX2386、c.6355-21_6355-18delTCT、c.3004C>T/p.G1002X.SPG11在ARHSP家系的发病率约为25.0%(7/28),在ARHSP合并胼胝体发育不良(ARHSP-TCC)家系的发病率为6/6,在散发HSP-TCC患者中突变率为3/14.结论 对于中国人群而言,复杂型ARHSP和散发HSP-TCC患者应首先排除SPG11基因突变.     

OXPHOS and mtDNA alterations in a family with spastic paraparesis

OBJECTIVE: To study muscle biopsies in hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP). METHODS: We analyzed oxidative phosphorylation activities and mtDNA in 3 individuals from an HSP family. RESULTS: We found histochemical evidence for mitochondrial proliferation and cytochrome c oxidase negative fibers. Biochemically, there was an important reduction of the activities of complexes I and IV in 3 patients. In addition, multiple mtDNA deletions (ranging 4.0-7.0 kb) were found in 2 cases by PCR but not by Southern blot. CONCLUSION: We suggest the use of a muscle biopsy when examining HSP patients. HSP can represent a disorder of nuclear-mitochondrial intercommunication.     

Blood lymphocytes are sensitized to brachial plexus nerves in patients with neuralgic amyotrophy

The percentage of lymphocytic subsets in the blood of cases with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA), and the proliferative response of blood lymphocytes cultured with different nerve extracts, obtained from normal subjects at postmortem, were examined in 6 patients with NA and in 18 age-matched controls with shoulder pain not related to NA. Most (5/6) NA patients had decreased CD3 values and increased CD4/CD8 ratios due to a decreased of the CD8 subset. Lymphocytes of NA patients increased their blastogenic activity in cultures with nerve extracts from different brachial plexus nerves and its branches, but not in cultures with extracts of sacral plexus nerves. Cultures did not respond to nerve extracts in any of the control cases, although mitogenic activity was similarly elicited in cultured lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin in both control cases and NA patients. These results suggest that NA is probably an immune mediated disease.