[CITATION][C] Choreo–ballistic movements in a case carrying a missense mutation in syntaxin binding protein 1 gene

K Kanazawa, S Kumada, M Kato, H Saitsu… - Movement …, 2010 - Wiley Online Library
K Kanazawa, S Kumada, M Kato, H Saitsu, E Kurihara, N Matsumoto
Movement disorders, 2010Wiley Online Library
Wilson's disease (WD) and hypoceruloplasminemia are both autosomal recessive disorders
associated with low-serum ceruloplasmin that can cause neurological symptoms. WD is due
to a defect in copper transport and WD patients with neurological symptoms typically have
copper deposits in the cornea [Kayser–Fleischer (K–F) rings]. Hypoceruloplasminemia,
unlike WD, leads to iron accumulation in the CNS causing neurological symptoms and
signs. We report a patient with predominant ataxia, low-serum ceruloplasmin and without K …
Wilson’s disease (WD) and hypoceruloplasminemia are both autosomal recessive disorders associated with low-serum ceruloplasmin that can cause neurological symptoms. WD is due to a defect in copper transport and WD patients with neurological symptoms typically have copper deposits in the cornea [Kayser–Fleischer (K–F) rings]. Hypoceruloplasminemia, unlike WD, leads to iron accumulation in the CNS causing neurological symptoms and signs. We report a patient with predominant ataxia, low-serum ceruloplasmin and without K–F rings initially diagnosed with hypoceruloplasminemia who was later discovered to have WD. A 35-year-old woman presented with 6 years of gradually progressive bilateral arm tremor, slurred speech, incoordination, gait imbalance, and difficulty multi-tasking in her job. There was no family history of ataxia or similar problems in her family. Examination revealed scanning speech and no obvious cognitive impairment. She had ocular dysmetria with overshoot and jerky saccades. Motor exam revealed mild bradykinesia and slight postural and action tremor in both arms, but no cogwheel rigidity. Coordination was impaired on finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin. She had truncal titubation and was unable to perform tandem gait. Deep tendon reflexes were symmetric and plantar responses were flexor. Serum ceruloplasmin was 4.5 mg/dL (ref. 22.9–43.1) and serum ferritin was 13.5 ng/mL (ref. 7–282). Urinary copper, complete blood count, peripheral blood smear for acanthocytes, comprehensive metabolic profile, ANA screen, Vitamin E studies, heavy metal screen, screening for inborn errors of metabolism, and anti-gliadin antibodies were unrevealing. Commercially available genetic testing for mitochondrial diseases and Friedreich’s ataxia as well as complete ataxia panel for spinocerebellar ataxias was also negative. slit lamp examination by two different ophthalmologists confirmed the absence of K–F rings. MRI of the brain revealed generalized mild atrophy with increased signal on T1 weighted images in the bilateral thalami, posterior midbrain, and pons as well as decreased signal intensity in the globus pallidus and putamen bilaterally in T2-weighted sequences (Figure 1). MRI of the abdomen revealed no abnormalities of the liver at that time. A presumptive diagnosis of hypoceruloplasminemia was made and the patient was treated with the iron chelator desferroxamine and then switched to trientine due to intolerable side effects. Her symptoms had improved considerably when she returned for follow-up 6 months later, but subsequently lost to follow-up for 2 years. When she returned, she had stopped taking the trientine for a year thinking she no longer needed it, as she was significantly better. She now had right thumb dystonia, mild retrocollis, and mild dysarthria. Her eye movements were normal and she had normal coordination except for slightly impaired tandem gait. Dystonia, low ceruloplasmin, and brain MRI abnormalities were very suggestive of WD and her work-up was repeated while she was still off chelation therapy: ceruloplasmin 6.2 mg/dL (ref. 22.9–43.1 mg/dL), 24-hour urinary copper at 64 mcg/24 hours (ref. 3–50 mcg/24 hours), normal liver enzymes, and no K–F rings on ophthalmologic slit lamp examination. Repeat MRI of the abdomen showed evidence of acute on chronic liver disease with reticular enhancement pattern on delayed phase imaging suggestive moderate fibrosis and diffuse edema was noted as well. Copper staining performed on the tissue from liver biopsy revealed focal copper deposition in the hepatocytes and tissue copper levels were elevated (243 μg/g dry wt; ref. 10–35 μg/g) on …
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