Novel mutation in EIF2B gene in a case of adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Kotaro Mizutani.
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OBJECTIVE: Gluten sensitivity is associated with multiple neurological abnormalities including gluten ataxia, motor neuron disease-like neuropathy, small fiber type neuropathy, cognitive impairment, and even parkinsonism. We investigated whether or not gluten sensitivity is involved in Japanese patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia with extracerebellar presentation. PATIENTS OR MATERIALS: Fourteen patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia with extracerebellar presentation (autonomic instability, parkinsonism, or pyramidal dysfunction in varying combinations) were screened for anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) to analyze for the presence or absence of gluten sensitivity. Patients with typical MR findings of multiple system atrophy of the cerebellar type were excluded. As disease controls without cerebellar ataxia, 9 patients with Parkinson's disease and 18 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were screened for AGA. Forty-seven normal controls were also screened for AGA. RESULTS: We found a high prevalence of AGA in 5 (36%) of 14 cerebellar ataxia patients, but in only 1 (4%) of 27 disease controls without cerebellar ataxia (odds ratio, 14.4; 95% CI, 1.41147; p<0.05) and in only 1 (2%) of 47 normal controls (odds ratio, 25.6; 95% CI, 2.66246; p<0.001). Among the cerebellar ataxia patients, atypical features such as sensorimotor neuropathy and/or mild cognitive impairment were more prevalent in the AGA-positive group (60%) than in the AGA-negative group (0%). In one of the ataxic patients with AGA, a gluten-free diet had positive effects on neurological symptoms and nutritional status. CONCLUSION: Gluten sensitivity is involved in at least some of the unexplained neurological symptoms of Japanese patients with adult-onset, sporadic cerebellar ataxia.
Hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI), symmetric thickening of the inner table of the frontal bone, is relatively common in women but very rare in men. We report the case of an elderly male patient with HFI. This patient was accompanied by primary hypogonadism, which may be related to the underlying pathogenesis of HFI.
Falling accidents are predisposing factors in worsening the quality of life. Causes of falls included gait and balance problems, visual disorder, cognitive impairment and drugs. However, falls in neuropathic patients are not often investigated. We studied the actual condition and causes of falls associated with neuropathy. One hundred and ninety-three patients (122 males and 71 females, ages 57 +/- 15 years) with neuropathy were selected for evaluation. In all patients, more than half a year had passed since the onset of symptoms and the present condition was considered comparatively stable. We divided the patients into 2 groups: falling or non-falling. Patients experiencing accident accompanied by external injury once or more in the past year, or patients who answered "often fell" (1 time or more per month) on flat ground or in their residence comprised the fall group. The severity of disease was evaluated by modified Rankin Scale (0 to 5). The relationship between falls and neuropathic symptoms (proximal muscle weakness, distal muscle weakness, aching or numbness, and the position and vibration sensory loss) was statistically examined. The distribution of patients in the fall group according to modified Rankin Scale of neuropathy was scale 5: 0/0 (0%), scale 4: 5/36 (14%), scale 3: 24/72 (33%), scale 2: 7/56 (13%), and scale 1: 1/19 (5%). There were six fractures among all patients. Regarding the etiology, the fall group showed a high level of axonal neuropathies (44%). On analysis according to condition and symptoms in the patients with a score of 2, 3, or 4 who demonstrated a high rate of falls, there was a strong correlation between deep sensory loss and fall (p < 0.05). However, as independent factors, there were no correlations between falling and proximal muscle weakness, distal muscle weakness or aching numbness, respectively. We thought it necessary to add ataxic gait resulting from deep sensory loss to one of the fall risks.
We report a case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with IgM antibody against gangliosides GM2 and GD2. A 57-year-old woman presented with slowly progressive muscular weakness of the upper extremities and dysarthria. She fulfilled the clinical and electrophysiological criteria of ALS, and died from sudden suffocation about 3 years after the onset of illness. The patient's serum IgM antibody was shown to recognize the structure shared by GM2 and GD2. Since anti-GM2 antibodies have been implicated in motor neuropathy or motor neuron syndrome, this rare case might contribute to the understanding of the immunological aspects of ALS.