No abstract available.
Alexander Disease*

No abstract available.
Alexander Disease* ; Diffusion*

Alexander disease (AD) is a rare leukodystrophy of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. AD is characterized by progressive failure of central myelination and the accumulation of Rosenthal fibers in astrocytes, and is inevitably lethal in nature. Symptomatically, AD is associated with leukoencephalopathy with macrocephaly, seizures, and psychomotor retardation in infants, and usually leads to death within the first decade. Its characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings have been described as demyelination predominantly in the frontal lobe. Moreover, dominant mutations in the GFAP gene, coding for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a principal astrocytic intermediate filament protein, have been shown to lead to AD. The disease can now be detected by genetic diagnosis. We report the Korean case of an 8-month-old male patient with AD. He was clinically characterized due to the presence of psychomotor retardation, megalencephaly, spasticity, and recurrent seizures including infantile spasms which is a remarkable presentation. Demyelination in the frontal lobe and in a portion of the temporal lobe was demonstrated by brain MRI. Moreover, DNA analysis of peripheral blood showed the presence of a R239L mutation in the GFAP gene, involving the replacement of guanine with thymine.
Spasms, Infantile/*etiology ; *Mutation ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Infant ; Humans ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/*genetics ; Electroencephalography ; Alexander Disease/complications/*diagnosis

Alexander disease is a rare degenerative leukodystrophy caused by dominant mutations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The neonatal form of Alexander disease may manifest as frequent and intractable seizures or obstructive hydrocephalus, with rapid progression leading to severe disability or death within two years. We report a case of a 50-day-old male who presented with intractable seizures and obstructive hydrocephalus. His initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested a tumor-like lesion in the tectal area causing obstructive hydrocephalus. Despite endoscopic third ventriculostomy and multiple administrations of antiepileptic drugs, the patient experienced intractable seizures with rapid deterioration of his clinical status. After reviewing serial brain MRI scans, Alexander disease was suspected. Subsequently, we confirmed the de novo missense mutation in GFAP (c.1096T>C, Y366H). Although the onset was slightly delayed from the neonatal period (50 days old), we concluded that the overall clinical features were consistent with the neonatal form of Alexander disease. Furthermore, we also suspected that a Y366 residue might be closely linked to the neonatal form of Alexander disease based on a literature review.
Alexander Disease* ; Anticonvulsants ; Brain ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Seizures* ; Ventriculostomy

We present here the case of a 13-year-old male patient with Alexander's disease who underwent surgical correction of a femur fracture. Alexander's disease is a rare and fatal disorder that affects the white matter in the brain and it causes developmental delay, psychomotor regression, spasticity, megaloencephaly and seizure. The patient had the possibility of a seizure attack during the perioperative period. We discuss the anesthetic management of a patient with Alexander's disease and we review the relevant literature.
Adolescent ; Alexander Disease ; Anesthesia ; Brain ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity ; Perioperative Period ; Seizures

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular basis of infantile Alexander disease in a Chinese patient, which may yield useful information for further genetic counseling.

METHODSDNA sequencing analysis and restriction endonuclease analysis were used to detect the mutation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene in a patient with clinically diagnosed Alexander disease, in her parents and in 50 healthy controls.

RESULTSA 249C>T (R79C) mutation was identified in the exon 1 of the GFAP gene but not in her parents and the controls.

CONCLUSIONThe study on mutation of GFAP gene in Chinese patients with Alexander disease has never been reported previously. The mutation analysis of GFAP gene can provide valuable information for the diagnosis of Alexander disease and can serve as a reliable method of prenatal diagnosis for the family.

Alexander Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Alexander disease(AD) is a rare fatal demyelinating disorder, caused by the mutation of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) gene. It is characterized by progressive demyelination of central nervous system, and the accumulation of Rosenthal fibers within astrocytes. It is divided into three group: infantile, juvenile, and adult. The infantile type is most common, has onset during the first 2 years of life. It shows macrocephaly and psychomotor delay, spastic paraparesis, seizure, and feeding problems, and usually dies within the first decade. The severity of the pathological changes depend on the age of onset. Radiological study revealed white matter loss, usually with frontal predominance. It is diagnosed by DNA analysis. We present case of a 10-month-old male patient with AD. He had focal seizures, demyelination in the frontal lobe in MRI, and the presence of a K86E mutaion in the GFAP gene, involving the replacement of adenosine with guanine.
Adenosine ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Alexander Disease ; Astrocytes ; Central Nervous System ; Demyelinating Diseases ; DNA ; Frontal Lobe ; Guanine ; Humans ; Infant ; Macrocephaly ; Male ; Paraparesis, Spastic ; Seizures

Alexander disease (ALXD) is a rare demyelinating disease of the white matter of the brain that is caused by a mutation in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene. The overexpression of GFAP in astrocytes induces a failure in the developmental growth of the myelin sheath. The neurodegenerative destruction of the myelin sheath of the white matter is accompanied by an accumulation of abnormal deposits of Rosenthal fibers in astrocytes, which is the hallmark of ALXD. The disease can be divided into four groups based on the onset age of the patients: neonatal, infantile, juvenile, or adult. Early-onset disease is more severe, progresses rapidly, and results in a shorter life span than late-onset cases. Magnetic resonance imaging and genetic tests are mostly used for diagnostic purposes. Pathological tests of brain tissue for Rosenthal fibers are definitive diagnostic methods. Therapeutic strategies are being investigated. Ceftriaxone, which is an enhancer of glial glutamate transporter (GLT-1) expression, is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with ALXD. To date, there are no clinically available treatments. The cause, pathology, pathophysiology, inheritance, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of ALXD will be reviewed comprehensively.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Alexander Disease* ; Amino Acid Transport System X-AG ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Ceftriaxone ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Myelin Sheath ; Pathology ; Wills

OBJECTIVETo delineate the phenotype and genotype characteristics in 12 Chinese children with Alexander disease (AD), which is helpful for the molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling in China.

METHODSClinical diagnosis of AD was based on MRI criteria proposed by van der Knaarp in 2001. Included AD patients were followed up for 0.50 - 3.67 years. Mutations in GFAP were detected by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe 12 cases of AD were clinically diagnosed. Age of first visit was 4.87 years (0.75 - 12.00 years), with 3 types of chief complaints: developmental delay in 3, recurrent seizures in 7, unable to walk after falling in 2. Average head circumference was 52.34 cm (44 - 58 cm), which larger than age-matched average by 6.45% (1.80% - 13.95%). On the first visit, scaling according to Gross motor functional classification system (GMFCS) was performed, with GMFCSI in 8, II in 3, V in 1. Mild to severe cognitive dysfunction were found in 8, and seizures in 11 cases. The 12 patients were followed up for 0.50 - 3.67 years, their motor and cognitive function remained stable. Episodic aggravations provoked by fever or falling were observed in 5 cases (41.67%). Heterozygous missense mutations of GFAP were detected in 12 patients. All mutations were de novo; 3 out of 10 mutations identified were novel. R79 and R239 were hot mutations, which was consistent with previous reports. Mutations were located in exon 1 in 8 cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe phenotype in these patients is characterized by slower progression compared with reports from other population and high incidence of seizures. And episodic aggravations provoked by fever or falling were more common. The genotype characteristics are consistent with previous reports. The results of this research expanded the number of patients with Alexander disease found to have GFAP coding mutations in China.

Alexander Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Brain ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; genetics ; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Seizures ; epidemiology ; Severity of Illness Index