Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy

Abstract Background Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare neurogenetic disease, AMN is the most common adult phenotype, such patients in China have not gotten enough attention. This article aims to study the features of AMN in Chinese patients and expand the gene spectrum of Chinese X-linked adrenoleukodys...

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Main Authors: Jie Li, Hongfen Wang, Zizi He, Xiangqing Wang, Jing Tang, Dehui Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-09-01
Series:BMC Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12883-019-1449-5
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author Jie Li
Hongfen Wang
Zizi He
Xiangqing Wang
Jing Tang
Dehui Huang
author_facet Jie Li
Hongfen Wang
Zizi He
Xiangqing Wang
Jing Tang
Dehui Huang
author_sort Jie Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare neurogenetic disease, AMN is the most common adult phenotype, such patients in China have not gotten enough attention. This article aims to study the features of AMN in Chinese patients and expand the gene spectrum of Chinese X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) patients. Methods We applied clinical analysis, radiology, plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and genetic analysis to test the 6 Chinese AMN patients. Results All 6 patients are men. Ages of neurological symptom onset are distributed between 21 and 38. Sexual dysfunction occurred in 5 of 6 patients. Three patients had positive family history. Five patients had Addison’s disease. Four patients were diagnosed as pure AMN, while the other two patients were with cerebral involvement. Four patients had abnormalities of nerve conduction studies. There were four patients with central conduction defects in somatosensory evoked potential tests. All 6 patients were found diffuse cord atrophy in spinal MRI. Brain MRI showed abnormal signals in 2 of the 6 tested patients, which indicated the clinical phenotypes. Plasma levels of VLCFA, as well as C24:0/C22:0 and C26:0/C22:0 ratios were elevated in 5 tested patients. Five different ABCD1 mutations were identified in 5 tested patients, one of which was a de novo mutation, and the other four have been reported previously. Conclusion This research described the clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic sides of Chinese AMN patients. A de novo mutation in the ABCD1 gene sequence was identified. Emotional trauma may trigger or aggravate the development of cerebral demyelination in AMN patients. Regular evaluation of brain MRI is important for AMN patients, especially for ‘pure AMN’ patients. When encountering patients with ‘myeloneuropathy-only’, neurologists should not ignore the tests of VLCFA or/and the ABCD1 gene.
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spelling doaj.art-b56c099a117247ecb460a08cfcf328eb2022-12-21T19:34:38ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772019-09-011911810.1186/s12883-019-1449-5Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with AdrenomyeloneuropathyJie Li0Hongfen Wang1Zizi He2Xiangqing Wang3Jing Tang4Dehui Huang5Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Chinese PLA General HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Chinese PLA General HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Chinese PLA General HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Chinese PLA General HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Chinese PLA General HospitalAbstract Background Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare neurogenetic disease, AMN is the most common adult phenotype, such patients in China have not gotten enough attention. This article aims to study the features of AMN in Chinese patients and expand the gene spectrum of Chinese X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) patients. Methods We applied clinical analysis, radiology, plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and genetic analysis to test the 6 Chinese AMN patients. Results All 6 patients are men. Ages of neurological symptom onset are distributed between 21 and 38. Sexual dysfunction occurred in 5 of 6 patients. Three patients had positive family history. Five patients had Addison’s disease. Four patients were diagnosed as pure AMN, while the other two patients were with cerebral involvement. Four patients had abnormalities of nerve conduction studies. There were four patients with central conduction defects in somatosensory evoked potential tests. All 6 patients were found diffuse cord atrophy in spinal MRI. Brain MRI showed abnormal signals in 2 of the 6 tested patients, which indicated the clinical phenotypes. Plasma levels of VLCFA, as well as C24:0/C22:0 and C26:0/C22:0 ratios were elevated in 5 tested patients. Five different ABCD1 mutations were identified in 5 tested patients, one of which was a de novo mutation, and the other four have been reported previously. Conclusion This research described the clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic sides of Chinese AMN patients. A de novo mutation in the ABCD1 gene sequence was identified. Emotional trauma may trigger or aggravate the development of cerebral demyelination in AMN patients. Regular evaluation of brain MRI is important for AMN patients, especially for ‘pure AMN’ patients. When encountering patients with ‘myeloneuropathy-only’, neurologists should not ignore the tests of VLCFA or/and the ABCD1 gene.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12883-019-1449-5AdrenomyeloneuropathyAddison diseaseSpastic paraparesisVery long chain fatty acidABCD1
spellingShingle Jie Li
Hongfen Wang
Zizi He
Xiangqing Wang
Jing Tang
Dehui Huang
Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy
BMC Neurology
Adrenomyeloneuropathy
Addison disease
Spastic paraparesis
Very long chain fatty acid
ABCD1
title Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy
title_full Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy
title_fullStr Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy
title_full_unstemmed Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy
title_short Clinical, neuroimaging, biochemical, and genetic features in six Chinese patients with Adrenomyeloneuropathy
title_sort clinical neuroimaging biochemical and genetic features in six chinese patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy
topic Adrenomyeloneuropathy
Addison disease
Spastic paraparesis
Very long chain fatty acid
ABCD1
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12883-019-1449-5
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