Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome (HSS) is a heredodegenerative disorder characterized by both progressive pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, dysarthric speech, and mental deterioration. No diagnostic biochemical test is yet available, and diagnosis of HSS can be confirmed only at autopsy by the characteristic neuropathology including abnormal iron storage, disordered myelination, and loss of brain substance. We present two siblings with clinical features consistent with HSS, in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated the deposition of iron in the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra thus allowing an antemortem diagnosis of HSS.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration/*diagnosis/genetics

Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; diagnosis

Hallervorden-Spatz disease is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of mainly early childhood which is characterized by pigmentary degeneration of the globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus. Clinically it manifests various symptoms and signs of extrapyramidal and pyramidal involvement. Authors report a 28-year-old female patient with suspected Hallervorden-Spatz disease in the aspects of clinical and MRI findings suggesting metal deposition in the globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus on both side.
Adult ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration* ; Red Nucleus ; Substantia Nigra

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare, progressive, autosomal recessive hereditary disorder characterized by pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, speech disturbances, mental deterioration and retinal degeneration during childhood or adolescence. In late-onset form after the age of 20, parkinsonian features may be the predominant clinical manifestation. Meanwhile, involuntary tongue movements are rare and poorly understood, which have been reported in tardive dyskinesia, neuroacanthocytosis, chronic epilepsy, and after head trauma. We report a case of a patient with 'fly catcher's tongue' as a major clinical presentation, accompanied with mild parkinsonism, and typical MR findings of HSD.
Adolescent ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diptera* ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Neuroacanthocytosis ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration* ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Retinal Degeneration ; Tongue*

We report two patients with Hallervorden-Spatz disease, who were diagnosed by same MR findings of marked low signal intensity in the globus and substantia nigra. They presented with ataxic and spastic gait, intention tremor, delayed mental development, and dysarthria. They were 7 year-old male and 8 yea r-old female siblings, who were healthy until 3 years of age when they suffered from progressive symptoms. T2-weighted images showed marked low signal intensity in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra indicating an increased irondeposition, and it might suggest Hallervorden-Spatz disease.
Child ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Male ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration* ; Siblings* ; Substantia Nigra ; Tremor

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare autosomal-recessive hereditary disorder characterized by the early onset of progressive movement alterations, including dystonia, rigidity, choreoathetosis, and mental deterioration. HSD is also associated with a variety of psychiatric symptoms, primarily depression and mental deterioration. However, psychosis has rarely been reported as a major symptom of HSD. We report two siblings who presented psychiatric symptoms as major clinical presentations, accompanied by ataxic and spastic gait, dysarthria, and typical neuroimaging findings of HSD. A 14-year-old girl presented complex motor tics, stereotypic behavior and anxiety symptoms. Her older brother, a 16-year-old boy, presented prominent auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions and social withdrawal symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms were improved after atypical antipsychotic treatment. HSD is a rare disease but should be carefully considered in the diagnosis of patients with both motor disorder and various psychiatric symptoms.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Delusions ; Depression ; Dysarthria ; Dystonia ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; Psychotic Disorders ; Rare Diseases ; Siblings ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; Tics

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by iron accumulation in the globus pallidus (GP) of the brain (neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation [NBIA]), which is characterized by dystonia and spasticity resulting in postural difficulties. A 33-month-old boy was admitted with a pronounced gait disturbance. Marked hypertonicity in the patient's both calf muscles was noted, resulting in waddling with repeated slip-falls. NBIA was suspected by high T2 intensity in the GP on brain MRI, then it was confirmed by detecting PANK2 mutation. Botulinum toxin-A injection was administered to both calf muscles. After 2 weeks, a decrease in spasticity and an increase in range of motion were observed, and consequently, an increase in the patient's gait stability with both heels touching the ground, enabling him to walk straight independently. A definitive treatment for NBIA has not been established, and a symptomatic therapy is currently the mainstay of treatment in this case. This is the first case report of botulinum toxin injection for treatment of gait disturbance caused by spasticity in an infantile-onset PKAN.
Botulinum Toxins ; Brain* ; Child, Preschool ; Dystonia ; Gait ; Globus Pallidus ; Heel ; Humans ; Iron* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Muscles ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; Range of Motion, Articular

Background & Significance : Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare neurologic disorder characterized by progressive dystonia, retinal degeneration, pyramidal sign, and mental deterioration. The neuropathological findings include preferential deposition of iron within the extrapyramidal nuclei, including globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and red nuclei. The final diagnosis depends on the typical pathologic findings. MRI brain imaging study commonly shows so-called "eye-of-the-tiger" in the globus pallidus. However 1H-MRS findings of HSD have not been reported. We experienced a case with clinically suspicious HSD whose diagnosis was further supported by 1H-MRS. Case : A forty four year-old man presented with slowly progressive dystonia for six years. He had been well until age of thirty eight, when he noticed clumsy hand-writing. Three years later, he developed difficulty in chewing. Clumsiness of his hands and arm movements progressed to the point of difficulty in using spoon and chopsticks. While walking, arm swing was decreased and both arms and neck took more dystonic posture. Brain MRI (T2Wl) showed symmetric high signal intensity lesions in the globus pallidus, surrounded by a peripheral zone of exaggerated low signal. On 1H-MRS of basal ganglia, although choline, creatine and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) peaks were detected, marked noise probably due to paramagnetic substance (iron), made quantitative analysis difficult. Conclusion : 1H-MRS of HSD is characterized by "noise", which may be suggestive of HSD.
Adult* ; Arm ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Choline ; Creatine ; Diagnosis ; Dystonia ; Globus Pallidus ; Hand ; Humans ; Iron ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Mastication ; Neck ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neuroimaging ; Noise ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration* ; Posture ; Protons* ; Retinal Degeneration ; Substantia Nigra ; Walking

OBJECTIVETo study pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) gene mutations in Chinese patients with Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome (HSS).

METHODSPANK2 gene mutations were detected by PCR, DNA sequence analyses, restriction enzyme digestion and PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism in 5 patients, 3 unaffected family members and 51 unrelated healthy persons.

RESULTSNovel compound heterozygous PANK2 gene mutations, A803G and T1172A, in exons 3 and 5, respectively, were found in one patient. At the same time, 3 types of single nucleotide polymorphisms, -38 t>a in 5'-UTR, IVS1+42 c>a and G77C in exon 1, were confirmed; among them, -38 t>a, IVS1+42 c>a, were first reported.

CONCLUSIONPANK2 gene mutations can cause HSS in Chinese patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), also known as neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation is an extremely rare degenerative disease. The present study reports a case of retinal pigmentary changes in PKAN. CASE SUMMARY: A 6-year-old girl presented with night blindness and developmental delay. Neurologic examination revealed toe gait and dystonia. Ocular examination showed retinal pigmentary change in the entire retina without optic atrophy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed iron deposits in the basal ganglia, the so-called "eye of the tiger" sign. Genetic tests confirmed a mutation in the gene encoding pantothenate kinase 2. Electroretinography demonstrated severe loss of rod and cone responses, prominently reduced in the rod response. The patient was diagnosed with PKAN and pharmacologic treatment started. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of systemic neurological abnormalities with pigmentary retinal change, PKAN should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dystonia ; Electroretinography ; Gait ; Humans ; Iron ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Night Blindness ; Optic Atrophy ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; Phosphotransferases ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; Retina ; Retinal Degeneration ; Retinaldehyde ; Toes