Progressive idiopathic strio-pallido-dentate calcinosis (Fahr's disease) with autosomal recessive inheritance. Report of three siblings

3 siblings with symmetrical calcifications in the strio-pallido-dentate system are described. Parathyroid function was normal and there were no signs of central or peripheral myelinopathy. This is the 9th family reported with autosomal recessive idiopathic strio-pallido-dentate calcinosis and the first to be investigated by computerized tomography (CT). CT scans appeared to be superior to plain skull radiograms to assess the localization and the extent of the calcifications in vivo. The calcifications were the least extensive in the youngest and the most extensive in the eldest. It is suggested that the calcifying process is a progressive disorder. It seems to start in the dentate nuclei and pons, and subsequently extends to the basal ganglia and to the radiation of the corpus callosum.     

Fahr’s syndrome presenting with pure and progressive presenile dementia

Abstract Fahr’s syndrome involves calcification of basal ganglia and dentate nuclei of the cerebellum. Clinically it may present with an array of movement disorders, dementia and other behavioural disturbances. Sporadic and familial cases have been reported with or without calcium/phosphorus metabolism. A rare form of frontotemporal dementia with neurofibrillary tangles and Fahr-type calcifications (DNTC) has been observed mainly in Japan. We report the singular case of a 50-year-old woman with progressive dementia but neither extrapyramidal symptoms nor a metabolic disorder. Brain CT showed Fahr-type calcifications in the basal ganglia, cerebellum and centrum semiovale as well as temporal atrophy; MRI showed diffuse atrophy predominantly in parietotemporal regions. The clinical and radiological features of our patient point to this uncommon form of dementia.     

Brain Calcification and Movement Disorders

Brain calcifications may be an incidental finding on neuroimaging in normal, particularly older individuals, but can also indicate numerous hereditary and nonhereditary syndromes, and metabolic, environmental, infectious, autoimmune, mitochondrial, traumatic, or toxic disorders. Bilateral calcifications most commonly affecting the basal ganglia may often be found in idiopathic cases, and a new term, primary familial brain calcification (PFBC), has been proposed that recognizes the genetic causes of the disorder and that calcifications occurred well beyond the basal ganglia. PFBC, usually inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, is both an intrafamilial and an interfamilial heterogeneous disorder, clinically characterized by an insidious and progressive development of movement disorders, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms, but also cerebellar ataxia, pyramidal signs, and sometimes isolated seizures and headaches/migraines. Heterozygous mutations in four genes (SLC20A2, PDGFRB, PDGFB, XPR1) have recently proved to be the causes of the autosomal dominant forms of PFBC, also suggesting disrupted phosphate homeostasis as “an underlying and converging” pathophysiological mechanism. However, to date, it is not possible to anticipate with acceptable certainty any of known genetic causes of PFBC on the basis of the type, severity, pattern of distribution, or combination of movement disorders (mainly parkinsonism, with or without tremor, but also dystonia, chorea, paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, orofacial dyskinesia, and gait and speech disorders).     

A case of idiopathic brain calcification associated with dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria, aplasia of dental root, and aortic valve sclerosis]

The patient was a 23-year-old woman. She was the product of a full-term pregnancy and normal delivery. At age 3, she was observed to have eruptions on the face and extremities. Gait disturbance and abnormal posture appeared when she was 17-year-old. Mental deterioration followed several years later, and these symptoms progressed gradually. On examination at age 23, mixture of hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules were observed on the face and the dorsal aspects of the extremities. We diagnosed her skin lesion as dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH) based on dermatological findings, normal minimal erythema dose and normal unscheduled DNA synthesis of her skin fibroblasts. Neurologically, she showed moderate mental deterioration, dystonic posture, dystonic and spastic gait, and generalized hyperreflexia. Laboratory examinations, including parathyroid function, were normal. Brain CT scan revealed severe symmetrical calcifications in the basal ganglia, cerebral white matter, and dentate nucleus. She also showed aplasia of dental root and aortic valve sclerosis. Her father also revealed the same clinical features including skin lesion, movement disorder, mental deterioration, and severe aortic valve calcification. So we diagnosed this patient as familial idiopathic brain calcification associated with DSH, aplasia of dental root, and aortic valve sclerosis. Constellation of these clinical features does not match any previously established type of familial idiopathic brain calcification or hereditary dystonia. However, Patrizi et al reported a patient with DSH associated with torsion dystonia who was very similar to our patient. We propose that our patient and the patient reported by Patrizi et al construct a distinct clinical entity in familial idiopathic brain calcification or hereditary dystonia.     

The paroxysmal dyskinesias

The clinical, pathophysiological and genetic features of some of the paroxysmal movement disorders are reviewed. Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis/dyskinesias (PKC/PKD) is a condition in which brief and frequent dyskinetic attacks are provoked by sudden movement. PKC is more common in men and can be idiopathic (commonly familial) or due to a variety of causes. The pathophysiology of PKC is uncertain but it could be an ion-channel disorder. Antiepileptic drugs particularly carbamazepine are very helpful in a large proportion of cases. Paroxysmal exercise induced dystonia (PED) is a rare disorder manifesting as episodes of dystonia mostly affecting the feet induced by continuous exercise like walking or running. Although the initial cases were familial, there is a higher proportion of sporadic cases. The pathophysiology of PED is unknown and antiepileptic drugs are generally unhelpful. In paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis/ non-kinesigenic dyskinesias (PDC/ PNKD) the attacks are of long duration and induced by variety of factors including coffee, tea, alcohol and fatigue but not by sudden movement. PDC can be idiopathic (familial or sporadic) or symptomatic due to a variety of causes. The gene for familial PDC has been linked in 2 families to chromosome 2 q close to a cluster of ion channel genes again suggesting that this disorder may also be a channelopathy. Other paroxysmal disorders include paroxysmal nocturnal dyskinesia, a form of frontal lobe epilepsy in some cases which may be familial with autosomal dominant inheritance (ADNFLE). The gene for ADNFLE in one family has been found to be a mutation in the neuronal acetylcholine receptor gene (CHRNA4) on chromosome 20q. Tonic spasms in multiple sclerosis and Sandiffers syndrome producing intermittent torticollis in infants and children are other paroxysmal movement disorders. Received: 14 May 1998 Accepted: 23 May 1998     

发作性运动诱发性舞蹈指痉症

目的 对发作性运动诱发性舞蹈指痉症的临床特点、电生理表现及发病机制等进行分析。方法 对2001-2003年收治的4例发作性运动诱发性舞蹈指痉症患的临床资料进行分析并复习近年献。结果 4例患均为青年，无家族遗传史，临床表现均为在运动开始时突然出现一侧或双侧肢体及面部的不自主运动，持续数秒钟后可自行缓解，发作期间无意识障碍，发作后无任何不适。4例患神经系统检查、脑电图以及头部CT和(或)MRI检查均无异常发现，诊断为特发性发作性运动诱发性舞蹈指痉症。经服用卡马西平等药物后发作均得到有效控制。结论 发作性运动诱发性舞蹈指痉症可呈常染色体显性遗传，亦可散发；可为特发性，也可继发于多发性硬化、特发性甲状旁腺功能减退症等其他疾病。发作性运动诱发性舞蹈指痉症的发病机制尚不清楚，其临床特征为运动诱发的一侧或双侧上下肢及面部的不自主运动，对抗癫痫药物敏感，预后良好。     

Epilepsy with bilateral cortical calcifications. Discussion of a durable post-critical deficit

The epilepsy-bilateral cortical calcifications syndrome includes epilepsy with onset in childhood or adolescence and symmetrical calcifications of cerebral cortex with a predilection for the occipital cortex. The calcifications are sometimes visible on plain radiograph images but may be detected only by CT. Literature perusal revealed reports of 16 cases. We report a case with an aperceptive visual agnosia and marked but resolutive CT anomalies developed during a partial status epilepticus episode.     

Anti-basal ganglia antibodies in patients with atypical dystonia and tics: a prospective study

Anti-basal ganglia antibodies (ABGA) are associated with movement disorders in children, but have not been assessed in adult onset movement disorders. In a prospective assessment ABGA were positive in 65% of a group of 65 patients with atypical movement disorders, but were very rare in healthy adults and adults with idiopathic dystonia. An autoimmune mechanism may underlie a proportion of cases of atypical movement disorders.     

Encephalopathy with calcifications of the basal ganglia in children. A reappraisal of Fahr's syndrome with respect to 14 new cases

Calcifications of the basal ganglia are described under the heading of "Fahr's syndrome". The clinical pattern is variable and the syndrome may be sporadic or familial. This study describes a personal series of 14 cases of encephalopathy with calcification of the basal ganglia and reviews the literature cases. A four-group classification is proposed. The first group includes encephalopathy, microcephaly, dwarfism, retinal degeneration or optic atrophy, symmetrical patchy demyelination with calcifications and probable autosomal recessive inheritance. Some cases have an early onset, a rapid evolution. Others have a later onset, longer course and retinal degeneration. In the second group, the children suffer from a congenital encephalopathy or a cerebral palsy without clear deterioration, without short stature, ocular impairment or persistent CSF abnormalities. This group has not been reported in the literature. The cases do not seem to be genetic. The precise cause in unknown but a sporadic non progressive anoxo-ischemic, or viral prenatal disease is suggested. In the third group, the association of encephalopathy, microcephaly, and persistent CSF lymphocytosis, has a high recurrence rate. The pathogenesis is still a matter of dispute. The fourth group is characterized by autosomal dominant calcifications of the basal ganglia with or without neurological abnormalities. Finally calcium metabolism disorders and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy may be associated with calcifications of the basal ganglia.     

发作性肌张力障碍38例临床分析

目的提高对发作性肌张力障碍临床特征的认识,以引起临床重视,减少误诊。方法对发作性肌张力障碍的类型、临床特征、电生理表现、治疗转归以及发病机制等进行总结、分析。结果发作性肌张力障碍临床可分三型,不同类型有不同的诱因;患者多为青少年男性,发作表现为舞蹈样手足徐动、躯体扭转及扮鬼脸等肌张力障碍,形式多样,发作时无意识丧失;发作期及发作间期脑电图均无特异性异常,其余多项辅助检查也无异常。结论发作性肌张力障碍是一种不同于癫癎的独立的疾病。     

发作性运动诱发性运动障碍八个家系临床特点分析

目的分析及探讨家族性发作性运动诱发性运动障碍（PKD）的临床特征、诊断和治疗特点。方法观察8个PKD家系的临床表现，进行家系调查分析，对患者进行脑电图或视频脑电图、头颅磁共振成像（MRI）或CT检查。结果8个家系共有患者28例，男性20例，女性8例，发病年龄8～18岁，平均10．8岁。全部患者均表现为突然运动诱发的一侧或双侧异常运动，发作时间短于1min，发作时意识清楚；发作间期均无神经系统阳性体征。同一家系中患者症状轻重不一，随年龄增大发作逐渐减少，以至消失。脑电图、视频脑电图及头颅影像学均未发现明显异常。患者使用抗癫痫药物治疗有效。结论PKD是发作性异常运动中常见的一种，突然运动诱发是其主要特点，家族性患者不少见，主要遗传方式是常染色体显性遗传，有外显不全现象，不排除有其他的遗传方式。临床发作形式与癫痫不同，但抗癫痫药物治疗有效。     

Psychosis revealing familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification

We describe the case of a 39-year-old woman presenting with auditory hallucinations and delusions responsive to antipsychotic drugs. Computerized tomography scans revealed basal ganglia calcifications in the proband and in her two asymptomatic parents. Extensive etiological clinicobiological assessment allowed us to exclude known causes of brain calcifications and diagnose familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC).     

Autoimmune Movement Disorders: a Clinical and Laboratory Approach

Autoimmune movement disorders are caused by an aberrant immune response to neural self-antigens. These disorders may be paraneoplastic, parainfectious, or (most commonly) idiopathic. The neurological presentations are diverse, and sometimes multifocal. Movement disorders can occur as part of the spectrum with phenotypes including chorea, myoclonus, ataxia, CNS hyperexcitability (including stiff-person syndrome), dystonia, and parkinsonism. Symptoms are subacute in onset and may have a fluctuating course. The best characterized disorders are unified by neural autoantibodies identified in serum or cerebrospinal fluid. The antibody specificity may predict the association with cancer and the response to immunotherapy. In this article, we review autoimmune-mediated movement disorders, associated cancers, diagnosis, and treatment.     

Transient movement disorders in children

Transient movement disorders are quite common in paediatrc practice, occurring mainly in infants. They are underdiagnosed but represent about 20% of cases of movement disorders (tics excluded) seen in a neuropaediatric department. Dystonia, tremor and myoclonus are the most common. Transient idiopathic dystonia of infancy is quite common, and the diagnosis can be suspected on clinical examination. Knowledge of these disorders avoids not only unnecessary tests and treatment, but also familial anxiety. Received: 3 August 1997 Accepted: 2 September 1997     

Intracranial calcifications,epilepsy, and optic atrophy associated with metaphyseal dysplasia: a case report

A 15-year-old boy presenting with epilepsy, optic atrophy and intracranial calcifications was diagnosed as having metaphyseal dysplasia by bone X-ray examinations. The patient had no laboratory data suggesting other metabolic or endocrinologic disorders. In addition, CT scans showed unique intracranial calcifications of the corpus callosum and periventricular and subcortical white matter, which were distinct from those of previously reported disorders. This case may represent a unique subset or a new type of metaphyseal dysplasia associated with intracranial calcifications and central nervous system symptoms.     

Exclusion of linkage to chromosomes 14q, 2q37 and 8p21.1-q11.23 in a Serbian family with idiopathic basal ganglia calcification

In this study we report clinical and imaging data from a multigenerational Serbian family with idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC) and exclusion of linkage to chromosome 14q, 2q37 and 8p21.1-q11.23. Fourteen out of 18 family members were personally examined and 11 of them were scanned with computed tomography (CT). CT scans revealed existence of symmetrical calcifications in six family members from three generations (four symptomatic and two asymptomatic). Age at onset of clinical symptoms varied between 22.0 and 55.4 years. The main clinical findings included parkinsonism, severe gait disturbances with freezing of gait, and dyskinesia. Hyperechogenicities identified by transcranial sonography corresponded well to the CT images of hyperintense calcifications in the same structures, whereas brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography demonstrated predominant hypoperfusion in the frontal cortex and the basal ganglia. After exclusion of linkage to known loci, our pedigree with IBGC further demonstrates locus heterogeneity in this disorder. Analysis of clinically affected individuals supports observation that the clinical features of IBGC appear to be varied both within and between families. The age at onset of the clinical symptoms appeared to be decreasing in two observed transmissions, suggestive of possible genetic anticipation.     

Adult onset tic disorders

BACKGROUND: Tic disorders presenting during adulthood have infrequently been described in the medical literature. Most reports depict adult onset secondary tic disorders caused by trauma, encephalitis, and other acquired conditions. Only rare reports describe idiopathic adult onset tic disorders, and most of these cases represent recurrent childhood tic disorders. OBJECTIVE: To describe a large series of patients with tic disorders presenting during adulthood, to compare clinical characteristics between groups of patients, and to call attention to this potentially disabling and underrecognised neurological disorder. METHODS: Using a computerised database, all patients with tic disorders who presented between 1988 and 1998 to the movement disorders clinic at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center after the age of 21 were identified. Patients' charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographic information, age of onset of tics, tic phenomenology, distribution, the presence of premonitory sensory symptoms and tic suppressibility, family history, and associated psychiatric features. These patients' videotapes were reviewed for diagnostic confirmation and information was obtained about disability, course, and response to treatment in a structured follow up interview. RESULTS: Of 411 patients with tic disorders in the database, 22 patients presented for the first time with tic disorders after the age of 21. In nine patients, detailed questioning disclosed a history of previous childhood transient tic disorder, but in 13 patients, the adult onset tic disorder was new. Among the new onset cases, six patients developed tics in relation to an external trigger, and could be considered to have secondary tic disorders. The remaining patients had idiopathic tic disorders. Comparing adult patients with recurrent childhood tics and those with new onset adult tics, the appearance of the tic disorder, the course and prognosis, the family history of tic disorder, and the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder were found to be similar. Adults with new onset tics were more likely to have a symptomatic or secondary tic disorder, which in this series was caused by infection, trauma, cocaine use, and neuroleptic exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Adult onset tic disorders represent an underrecognised condition that is more common than generally appreciated or reported. The clinical characteristics of adults newly presenting to a movement disorder clinic with tic disorders are reviewed, analysed, and discussed in detail. Clinical evidence supports the concept that tic disorders in adults are part of a range that includes childhood onset tic disorders and Tourette's syndrome.     

Lissencephaly-pachygyria associated with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

We report the presence of major cerebral migrational defects in five severely, multiply handicapped children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. These patients had both computed tomographic (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of marked migrational central nervous system defects consistent anatomically with the spectrum of lissencephaly-pachygyria, a disorder commonly idiopathic or associated with chromosomal abnormalities or with unknown early gestational insults. Neuroradiologic features included broad, flat gyri, shallow sulci, incomplete opercularization, ventriculomegaly, periventricular calcifications, and white-matter hypodensity on CT scans or increased signal intensity on long-TR MRI scans. Evidence for congenital CMV infection included prenatal onset of microcephaly, periventricular calcifications, neonatal jaundice, hepatomegaly, elevated CMV-specific immunoglobulin M, or viral isolation from urine. Previous reports of the neurologic sequelae of CMV have emphasized varying degrees of psychomotor retardation, cerebral palsy and epilepsy due to polymicrogyria, periventricular calcification, microcephaly, or rarely, hydrocephalus. Our patients appear to represent extremely severe examples of the effects of CMV on neurologic growth, maturation, and development. Recognition of these severe migrational abnormalities was improved by use of MRI, a technique that affords superior definition of the nature and extent of gyral and white-matter abnormalities. We suggest that these abnormalities may be more common than has previously been recognized.     

Familial form of Fahr syndrome (report of two cases)

Two cases of familial form (in brothers) of extensive, symmetric, idiopathic calcifications of the basal ganglia and cerebellum (Fahr syndrome) are described. In discussion of factors predisposing to appearance of such idiopathic calcifications, particular attention was given to meningoencephalitis suffered in childhood and coexistence of a tumour of the sella of prolactinoma type, in case 1. Attention was also called to progressive, copious clinical and radiological symptology of the discussed cases. It was impossible to suggest a probable type of inheritance (parents of the patients were dead).     

Epilepsy and bilateral occipital calcifications: 3 cases

We report 3 cases of epilepsy with bilateral occipital calcifications followed up for several years. These cases were compared with 21 published cases and were found to differ from the classical Sturge-Weber syndrome on several points: 1) the disease appeared around the age of 5 years and consisted of focal epilepsy without neurological or mental disorders; 2) the epilepsy was easy to control during 2 to 5 years. This was followed by a diffuse encephalopathy with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy, Gerstmann's syndrome, optic ataxia, cerebellar syndrome and slow activity at EEG. It appears from these 3 cases that: 1) occipital calcifications may be unilateral at the onset of the disease; 2) visual evoked potentials are affected at a late stage, and 3) CT scans are of considerable value in the prognosis of benign epilepsy in childhood.