Brain atrophy in pure and complicated hereditary spastic paraparesis: a quantitative 3D MRI study

Hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) is a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders with progressive lower limb spasticity, categorized into pure (p-HSP) and complicated forms (c-HSP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate if brain volumes in HSP were altered compared with a control population. Brain volumes were determined in patients suffering from HSP, including both p-HSP ( n  = 21) and c-HSP type ( n  = 12), and 30 age-matched healthy controls, using brain parenchymal fractions (BPF) calculated from 3D MRI data in an observer-independent procedure. In addition, the tissue segments of grey and white matter were analysed separately. In HSP patients, BPF were significantly reduced compared with controls both for the whole patient group ( P  < 0.001) and for both subgroups, indicating considerable brain atrophy. In contrast to controls who showed a decline of brain volumes with age, this physiological phenomenon was less pronounced in HSP. Therefore, global brain parenchyma reduction, involving both grey and white matter, seems to be a feature in both subtypes of HSP. Atrophy was more pronounced in c-HSP, consistent with the more severe phenotype including extramotor involvement. Thus, global brain atrophy, detected by MRI-based brain volume quantification, is a biological marker in HSP subtypes.     

The SETX missense variation spectrum as evaluated in patients with ALS4-like motor neuron diseases

Mutations in the senataxin (SETX) gene can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 4 (ALS4), an autosomal dominant form of juvenile onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or result in autosomal recessive ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2. Great caution regarding the possible disease causation, especially of missense variations, has to be taken. Here, we evaluated the significance of all previously reported SETX missense mutations as well as six newly identified variations in 54 patients suspected of having ALS4. Yet, epidemiologic and in silico evidence indicates that all newly identified variations and two previously published ALS4-related missense variations (C1554G and I2547T) are most likely non-pathogenic, demonstrating the problems of interpretation of SETX missense alleles in the absence of functional assays.     

Transient,recurrent, white matter lesions in X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with novel connexin 32 mutation

BACKGROUND: X-linked hereditary demyelinating neuropathies (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease [CMTX]) caused by mutations in the connexin 32 (Cx32) gene account for approximately 10% to 20% of all hereditary demyelinating neuropathies. Mild subclinical central nervous system (CNS) involvement has been previously described, and CMTX patients with transient white matter lesions allied to CNS symptoms have very recently been described. This is of potential interest, as Cx32 is widely expressed in both peripheral nerve and the brain. PATIENTS: We describe a family with hereditary demyelinating neuropathy and transient CNS symptoms. For this study, family members underwent genotyping and detailed clinical, electrophysiological, and magnetic resonance imaging examination. RESULTS: We present a CMTX family with a novel mutation in the Cx32 gene. Affected family members show, in addition to the classic polyneuropathy, transient and reversible white matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans, correlating similarly transient CNS symptoms. CONCLUSION: Patients with CMTX can present with transient CNS symptoms and marked white matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans.     

Whole brain‐based analysis of regional white matter tract alterations in rare motor neuron diseases by diffusion tensor imaging

Different motor neuron disorders (MND s ) are mainly defined by the clinical presentation based on the predominance of upper or lower motor neuron impairment and the course of the disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) mostly serves as a tool to exclude other pathologies, but novel approaches such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have begun to add information on the underlying pathophysiological processes of these disorders in vivo. The present study was designed to investigate three different rare MNDs, i.e., primary lateral sclerosis (PLS, N = 25), hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP, N = 24), and X‐linked spinobulbar muscular atrophy (X‐SBMA, N = 20), by use of whole‐brain‐based DTI analysis in comparison with matched controls. This analysis of white matter (WM) impairment revealed widespread and characteristic patterns of alterations within the motor system with a predominant deterioration of the corticospinal tract (CST) in HSP and PLS patients according to the clinical presentation and also in patients with X‐SBMA to a lesser degree, but also WM changes in projection s to the limbic system and within distinct areas of the corpus callosum (CC), the latter both for HSP and PLS. In summary, DTI was able to define a characteristic WM pathoanatomy in motor and extra‐motor brain areas, such as the CC and the limbic projectional system, for different MNDs via whole brain‐based FA assessment and quantitative fiber tracking. Future advanced MRI‐based investigations might help to provide a fingerprint‐identification of MNDs. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Cardiac involvement in a female carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A 42 year-old female carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was referred with suspected subacute myocarditis and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Echochardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed severely reduced left ventricular function (LVF). Coronary artery disease was excluded. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed transmural, intramural and subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement. Myocardial biopsy excluded viral infection and showed severe myopathic changes with abnormal expression of dystrophin and utrophin. Moleculargenetic analysis of the DMD gene revealed frameshift duplication of exon 2. The patient received conventional heart failure therapy, implantable cardioverter/defibrillator-implantation and prednisolone to attenuate cardiac degradation. 6 months later she had improved clinically though LVF was still severely reduced.     

Central-core-Myopathie

Central core myopathy is a nonprogressive or only slowly progressive congenital muscle disease. In most cases, symptoms begin in childhood, but rare cases with adult onset are described. Regardless of its high variability, the clinical hallmarks are diffuse muscle weakness and the development of multiple bone deformities and contractures. Skeletal muscle biopsy is of high diagnostic significance. Due to a potential association with malignant hyperthermia, early diagnosis is of great importance. A curative treatment is not currently known. Here we discuss aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, therapeutic strategies, and prognosis of central core myopathy based on a clinical example with an atypical onset of symptoms in adulthood.     

Clinical and genetic features of families with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 with a P301S tau mutation

Summary In 9 patients with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) with a P301S tau mutation, the predominant phenotype was frontotemporal dementia in 3 and parkinsonism in 6. Comparison of the tau genotype/haplotype carrying the mutation and the initial clinical sign showed association between H1/H1 and parkinsonism and between H1/H2 and personality change. Thus, the tau haplotype carrying the mutation and the tau genotype may be related to the clinical phenotype throughout the disease course.     

Rofecoxib-induced psychosis

Acute psychosis is a possible side effect of many centrally acting drugs. Its appearance is facilitated by certain conditions like advanced age, comedication, or comorbidity. We report two cases of acute psychotic syndromes with visual (Case 1 + 2) and auditory (Case 1) hallucinations under rofecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitor. This is one of the first reports of psychotic disorders under rofecoxib intake. We present a review of the literature on mental side effects of NSAID and on the pharmacological basis of the association of cyclooxygenase-inhibitors and mental disorders.