Project description:BackgroundCerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is a very rare autosomal recessive lipid storage disorder affecting bile acid biosynthesis. It is manifested by subtle neurological and non-neurological symptoms due to abnormal tissue lipid deposition. Diagnosis is usually delayed but early diagnosis and replacement therapy can prevent devastating neurological sequelae.Case presentationWe present a case of a 25-year-old Asian Indian woman who presented with gait difficulty, fusiform swellings of bilateral tendo-Achilles and infrapatellar tendons, along with history of bilateral cataract surgery 1 year earlier. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical, biochemical, imaging, and histopathological analysis and replacement therapy was started.ConclusionsThe peculiarity of the present case is the absence of any neurological manifestations which are usually the early clues to the diagnosis of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. The present case report emphasizes the fact that early age bilateral cataracts along with bilateral tendo-Achilles xanthomas can be early pointers toward the diagnosis of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.
Project description:Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare and severe, but treatable, inborn disorder of bile acid biosynthesis and sterol storage with autosomal recessive inheritance and variable clinical presentation. CTX treatment consists of chenodeoxycholic acid and must be started as early as possible to prevent permanent disability. Psychiatric manifestations are rare and non-specific, and often lead to significant diagnostic and treatment delay. Therefore, better recognition of the gamut of psychiatric manifestations in CTX can diminish the risk of misdiagnosis and irreversible neurological deterioration. We hereby describe the psychiatric features in CTX. A complete review of all published cases of CTX in the medical literature was undertaken and the case reports with psychiatric presentation were collected and analyzed. We also describe the psychiatric features in relation to the neurological semeiology in six patients with CTX diagnosed at the La Salpêtrière Hospital. We conclude that psychiatric manifestations in CTX follow a bimodal/bitemporal pattern, appearing early in the disease course in the form of a behavioral/personality disorder associated with learning difficulties or mental retardation, or manifesting in advanced disease in the setting of dementia as rich neuropsychiatric syndromes, such as frontal, orbitofrontal or frontotemporal syndromes of cortico-subcortical dementia encompassing behavioral/personality disturbance, affective/mood disorders or psychotic disorders. Behavioral/personality disturbance in childhood or adolescence, especially when accompanied by learning difficulties, should therefore lead to further investigation to exclude CTX, as early diagnosis and treatment is critical for prognosis.
Project description:Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare hereditary disease described by a mutation in the CYP27A1 gene, which encodes the sterol 27-hydroxylase enzyme involved in the synthesis of bile acid. Accumulation of cholesterol and its metabolite, cholestanol, in multiple body organs causes the symptoms of this disease. In addition, a mutation in the COG8 gene, which encodes a subunit of conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, causes another rare disorder attributed to type IIh of congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG). We described a rare case of CTX disorder associated with a mutation on COG8 gene, which presented by unusual symptoms.
Project description:BackgroundThe "hot cross bun" sign is a cruciform hyperintensity is seen on T2 weighted imaging within the pons. The sign is considered to be pathognomic for Multiple system atrophy type C. The clinical and radiological features of Multiple system atrophy type C overlap with the autosomal dominant inherited ataxias. We present a case series of 3 African patients with genetically proven Spinocerebellar Ataxia presenting with the Hot cross bun sign and a scoping review of similar studies.CasesWe described the phenotypic and radiological presentation of genetically confirmed SCA-2 in two, and SCA-7 in one patient, with the "hot cross bun" sign.Literature reviewWe performed a scoping review on the Hot Cross Bun Sign.A total of 66 articles were retrieved. We describe the diverse aetiologies of the sign and associated phenotypic and radiological features. We review the Spinocerebellar Ataxias described with a Hot cross bun sign and make comparisons to Multiple System Atrophy Type C [Ref. 1,2].ConclusionsTo our knowledge this is the first description of an African cohort presenting with the Hot Cross Bun Sign. We expand the differential diagnosis of the Hot Cross Bun Sign.
Project description:Xanthomatosis is a genetic disease inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The specific phenotypic features are associated with patient's genetic profile. The result of the mutation is disorder of cholesterol synthesis and the accumulation of its precursors in tissues. The characteristic symptoms are progressive cerebellar ataxia, cataract, diarrhea, and the deposition of cholesterol in the tendons. Our objective is to follow-up information to treatment efficacy of 22-year-old patient diagnosed with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis through 1.5 year observation. In 2012, an 11-year-old patient with a long history of deformed feet and frequent yellowing of the skin, was admitted to the Department of Neurology due to seizures. In 2013, the patient began to suffer from diarrhea, and its frequency was correlated with the concentration of bilirubin in the blood. In the same year cataract was diagnosed. Gradually, the patient starts to complain about progressive difficulties in moving. In 2019, genetic tests confirmed the diagnosis of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. Since July 2021, the patient has been treated with chenodeoxycholic acid. The deterioration of patient's mobility has been significantly inhibited, consequently his quality of life has improved. The presented case report underscores the efficacy of CDCA supplementation in halting the progression of CTX, resulting in marked improvements in the patient's quality of life.
Project description:BackgroundCerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare recessive genetic disease characterized by disruption of bile acid synthesis due to inactivation of the CYP27A1 gene. Treatment is available in the form of bile acid replacement. CTX is likely underdiagnosed, and prevalence estimates based on case diagnosis are probably inaccurate. Large population-based genomic databases are a valuable resource to estimate prevalence of rare recessive diseases as an orthogonal unbiased approach building upon traditional epidemiological studies.MethodsWe leveraged the Hardy-Weinberg principle and allele frequencies from gnomAD to calculate CTX prevalence. ClinVar and HGMD were used to identify high-confidence pathogenic missense variants and to calculate a disease-specific cutoff. Variant pathogenicity was also assessed by the VarSome implementation of the ACMG/AMP algorithm and the REVEL in silico predictor.ResultsCTX prevalence estimates were highest in Asians (1:44,407-93,084) and lowest in the Finnish population (1:3,388,767). Intermediate estimates were found in Europeans, Americans, and Africans/African Americans (1:70,795-233,597). The REVEL-predicted pathogenic variants accounted for a greater increase in prevalence estimates for Europeans, Americans, and Africans/African Americans compared with Asians. We identified the most frequent alleles designated pathogenic in ClinVar (p.Gly472Ala, p.Arg395Cys), labeled pathogenic based on sequence consequence (p.Met1?), and predicted to be pathogenic by REVEL (p.Met383Lys, p.Arg448His) across populations. Also, we provide a prospective geographic map of estimated disease distribution based on CYP27A1 variation queries performed by healthcare providers from selected specialties.ConclusionsPrevalence estimates calculated herein support and expand upon existing evidence indicating underdiagnosis of CTX, suggesting that improved detection strategies are needed. Increased awareness of CTX is important for early diagnosis, which is essential for patients as early treatment significantly slows or prevents disease progression.
Project description:Objective: To characterize the clinical phenotypes associated with the "hot cross bun" sign (HCBs) on MRI and identify correlations between neuroimaging and clinical characteristics. Methods: Firstly, we screened a cohort of patients with HCBs from our radiologic information system (RIS) in our center. Secondly, we systematically reviewed published cases on HCBs and classified all these cases according to their etiologies. Finally, we characterized all HCBs cases in detail and classified the disease spectra and their clinical heterogeneity. Results: Out of a total of 3,546 patients who were screened, we identified 40 patients with HCBs imaging sign in our cohort; systemic literature review identified 39 cases, which were associated with 14 diseases. In our cohort, inflammation [neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)] and toxicants [toxic encephalopathy caused by phenytoin sodium (TEPS)] were some of the underlying etiologies. Published cases by systemic literature review were linked to metabolic abnormality, degeneration, neoplasm, infection, and stroke. We demonstrated that the clinical phenotype, neuroimaging characteristics, and HCBs response to therapy varied greatly depending on underlying etiologies. Conclusion: This is the first to report HCBs spectra in inflammatory and toxication diseases. Our study and systemic literature review demonstrated that the underpinning disease spectrum may be broader than previously recognized.
Project description:ObjectivesCerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare genetic disorder of bile acid (BA) synthesis that can cause progressive neurological damage and premature death. Blood (normally serum or plasma) testing for CTX is performed by a small number of specialized laboratories, routinely by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurement of elevated 5α-cholestanol. We report here on a more sensitive biochemical approach to test for CTX particularly useful for confirmation of CTX in the case of a challenging diagnostic sample with 5α-cholestanol that, although elevated, was below the cut-off used for diagnosis of CTX (10 μg/mL or 1.0 mg/dL).Design and methodsWe have previously described liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) methodology utilizing keto derivatization to enable the sensitive quantification of plasma ketosterol BA precursors that accumulate in CTX. We have expanded this methodology to perform isotope dilution LC-ESI-MS/MS quantification of a panel of plasma ketosterol BA precursors, with internal standards readily generated using isotopically-enriched derivatization reagent.ResultsQuantification of plasma ketosterol BA precursors (7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one, 7α,12α-dihydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one and 7α,12α-dihydroxy-5β-cholestan-3-one) in a single LC-ESI/MS/MS test provided better discrimination between a CTX-positive and negative samples analyzed (n=20) than measurement of 5α-cholestanol alone.ConclusionsQuantification of plasma ketosterol BA precursors provides a more sensitive biochemical approach to discriminate between CTX negative and positive samples. A multiplexed LC-ESI-MS/MS test quantifying a panel of plasma ketosterols, with simple sample preparation, rapid analysis time and readily available internal standards, can be performed by most clinical laboratories. Wider availability of testing will benefit those affected with CTX.
Project description:Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of bile acid synthesis caused by pathogenic variants in the CYP27A1 gene encoding the mitochondrial enzyme sterol 27-hydroxylase. Patients with CTX can present with a wide range of symptoms, but most often have evidence of tendon xanthomas along with possible cataracts, atherosclerosis, or neurological dysfunction. Regardless of clinical phenotype, CTX patients typically exhibit levels of cholestanol and bile acid precursors in the circulation that are many fold increased over normal control concentrations. Here we report two siblings, one with the rare spinal xanthomatosis phenotype and the other with a very mild form of CTX manifesting as minor tendon xanthomatosis and gastrointestinal complaints who both carry compound heterozygous variants in CYP27A1: NM_000784.3: c.410G > A (p.Arg137Gln) and c.1183C > T (p.Arg395Cys). However, biochemical analysis of these patients revealed normal levels of serum cholestanol and relatively mild elevations of the bile acid precursors 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one and 7α,12α-dihydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one. The atypical biochemical presentation of these cases represents a diagnostic challenge for a disorder once thought to have a sensitive biomarker in cholestanol and highlight the need for thorough investigation of patients with symptomatology consistent with CTX that includes bile acid precursor biochemical testing and molecular analysis.
Project description:Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an inborn error of metabolism leading to progressive multisystem disease. Symptoms often begin in the first decade of life with chronic diarrhea, cataracts, developmental delay, intellectual disability, and cerebellar or pyramidal dysfunction. Later manifestations include tendon xanthomas, polyneuropathy, and abnormal neuroimaging. Pathogenic biallelic variants in CYP27A1 leading to compromised function of sterol 27-hydroxylase result in accumulation of detectable toxic intermediates of bile acid synthesis rendering both genetic and biochemical testing effective diagnostic tools. Effective treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid is available, making early diagnosis critical for patient care. Here we report a new patient with CTX and describe the early signs of disease in this patient. Initial symptoms included infantile spasms, which have not previously been reported in CTX. Developmental delay, mild intellectual disability with measured cognitive decline in childhood, was also observed. These clinical signs do not traditionally compel testing for CTX, and we highlight the need to consider this rare but treatable disorder among the differential diagnosis of children with similar clinical presentation. Increased awareness of early signs of CTX is important for improving time to diagnosis for this patient population.