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Hereditary spastic paraplegia 35(SPG35)

MedGen UID:
501249
Concept ID:
C3496228
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Leukodystrophy, dysmyelinating, and spastic paraparesis with or without dystonia; Spastic paraplegia 35; Spastic paraplegia 35, autosomal recessive; SPASTIC PARAPLEGIA 35, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE, WITH OR WITHOUT NEURODEGENERATION
SNOMED CT: Autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia type 35 (764688002)
Modes of inheritance:
Autosomal recessive inheritance
MedGen UID:
141025
Concept ID:
C0441748
Intellectual Product
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that is observed for traits related to a gene encoded on one of the autosomes (i.e., the human chromosomes 1-22) in which a trait manifests in individuals with two pathogenic alleles, either homozygotes (two copies of the same mutant allele) or compound heterozygotes (whereby each copy of a gene has a distinct mutant allele).
 
Gene (location): FA2H (16q23.1)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0012866
OMIM®: 612319
Orphanet: ORPHA171629

Definition

Fatty acid hydroxylase-associated neurodegeneration (FAHN) is characterized early in the disease course by central nervous system involvement including corticospinal tract involvement (spasticity), mixed movement disorder (ataxia/dystonia), and eye findings (optic atrophy, oculomotor abnormalities), and later in the disease course by progressive intellectual impairment and seizures. With disease progression, dystonia and spasticity compromise the ability to ambulate, leading to wheelchair dependence. Life expectancy is variable. FAHN is considered to be a subtype of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). [from GeneReviews]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
Fatty acid hydroxylase-associated neurodegeneration (FAHN) is a progressive disorder of the nervous system (neurodegeneration) characterized by problems with movement and vision that begin during childhood or adolescence.

Changes in the way a person walks (gait) and frequent falls are usually the first noticeable signs of FAHN. Affected individuals gradually develop extreme muscle stiffness (spasticity) and exaggerated reflexes. They typically have involuntary muscle cramping (dystonia), problems with coordination and balance (ataxia), or both. The movement problems worsen over time, and some people with this condition eventually require wheelchair assistance.

People with FAHN often develop vision problems, which occur due to deterioration (atrophy) of the nerves that carry information from the eyes to the brain (the optic nerves) and difficulties with the muscles that control eye movement. Affected individuals may have a loss of sharp vision (reduced visual acuity), decreased field of vision, impaired color perception, eyes that do not look in the same direction (strabismus), rapid involuntary eye movements (nystagmus), or difficulty moving the eyes intentionally (supranuclear gaze palsy).

Speech impairment (dysarthria) also occurs in FAHN, and severely affected individuals may lose the ability to speak. People with this disorder may also have difficulty chewing or swallowing (dysphagia). In severe cases, they may develop malnutrition and require a feeding tube. The swallowing difficulties can lead to a bacterial lung infection called aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. As the disorder progresses, some affected individuals experience seizures and a decline in intellectual function.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in people with FAHN shows signs of iron accumulation, especially in an area of the brain called the globus pallidus, which is involved in regulating movement. Similar patterns of iron accumulation are seen in certain other neurological disorders such as infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy and pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration. All these conditions belong to a class of disorders called neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA).  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/fatty-acid-hydroxylase-associated-neurodegeneration

Clinical features

From HPO
Urinary incontinence
MedGen UID:
22579
Concept ID:
C0042024
Finding
Loss of the ability to control the urinary bladder leading to involuntary urination.
Urinary urgency
MedGen UID:
39315
Concept ID:
C0085606
Finding
Urge incontinence is the strong, sudden need to urinate.
Ankle clonus
MedGen UID:
68672
Concept ID:
C0238651
Finding
Clonus is an involuntary tendon reflex that causes repeated flexion and extension of the foot. Ankle clonus is tested by rapidly flexing the foot upward.
Cerebellar ataxia
MedGen UID:
849
Concept ID:
C0007758
Disease or Syndrome
Cerebellar ataxia refers to ataxia due to dysfunction of the cerebellum. This causes a variety of elementary neurological deficits including asynergy (lack of coordination between muscles, limbs and joints), dysmetria (lack of ability to judge distances that can lead to under- or overshoot in grasping movements), and dysdiadochokinesia (inability to perform rapid movements requiring antagonizing muscle groups to be switched on and off repeatedly).
Dysarthria
MedGen UID:
8510
Concept ID:
C0013362
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Dysarthric speech is a general description referring to a neurological speech disorder characterized by poor articulation. Depending on the involved neurological structures, dysarthria may be further classified as spastic, flaccid, ataxic, hyperkinetic and hypokinetic, or mixed.
Dystonic disorder
MedGen UID:
3940
Concept ID:
C0013421
Sign or Symptom
An abnormally increased muscular tone that causes fixed abnormal postures. There is a slow, intermittent twisting motion that leads to exaggerated turning and posture of the extremities and trunk.
Neurodegeneration
MedGen UID:
17999
Concept ID:
C0027746
Cell or Molecular Dysfunction
Progressive loss of neural cells and tissue.
Babinski sign
MedGen UID:
19708
Concept ID:
C0034935
Finding
Upturning of the big toe (and sometimes fanning of the other toes) in response to stimulation of the sole of the foot. If the Babinski sign is present it can indicate damage to the corticospinal tract.
Seizure
MedGen UID:
20693
Concept ID:
C0036572
Sign or Symptom
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.
Spastic paraplegia
MedGen UID:
20882
Concept ID:
C0037772
Disease or Syndrome
Spasticity and weakness of the leg and hip muscles.
Hyperreflexia
MedGen UID:
57738
Concept ID:
C0151889
Finding
Hyperreflexia is the presence of hyperactive stretch reflexes of the muscles.
Dysmetria
MedGen UID:
68583
Concept ID:
C0234162
Finding
A type of ataxia characterized by the inability to carry out movements with the correct range and motion across the plane of more than one joint related to incorrect estimation of the distances required for targeted movements.
Dysdiadochokinesis
MedGen UID:
115975
Concept ID:
C0234979
Sign or Symptom
A type of ataxia characterized by the impairment of the ability to perform rapidly alternating movements, such as pronating and supinating his or her hand on the dorsum of the other hand as rapidly as possible.
Mental deterioration
MedGen UID:
66713
Concept ID:
C0234985
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Loss of previously present mental abilities, generally in adults.
Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum
MedGen UID:
138005
Concept ID:
C0344482
Congenital Abnormality
Underdevelopment of the corpus callosum.
Spastic tetraparesis
MedGen UID:
658719
Concept ID:
C0575059
Disease or Syndrome
Spastic weakness affecting all four limbs.
Gait disturbance
MedGen UID:
107895
Concept ID:
C0575081
Finding
The term gait disturbance can refer to any disruption of the ability to walk.
Cerebellar atrophy
MedGen UID:
196624
Concept ID:
C0740279
Disease or Syndrome
Cerebellar atrophy is defined as a cerebellum with initially normal structures, in a posterior fossa with normal size, which displays enlarged fissures (interfolial spaces) in comparison to the foliae secondary to loss of tissue. Cerebellar atrophy implies irreversible loss of tissue and result from an ongoing progressive disease until a final stage is reached or a single injury, e.g. an intoxication or infectious event.
Lower limb spasticity
MedGen UID:
220865
Concept ID:
C1271100
Finding
Spasticity (velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes with increased muscle tone and hyperexcitable tendon reflexes) in the muscles of the lower limbs, hips, and pelvis.
Abnormal periventricular white matter morphology
MedGen UID:
435926
Concept ID:
C2673431
Finding
A structural abnormality of the myelinated axons (white matter) located near the cerebral ventricles.
Dysmyelinating leukodystrophy
MedGen UID:
479834
Concept ID:
C3278204
Finding
Intellectual disability
MedGen UID:
811461
Concept ID:
C3714756
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Intellectual disability, previously referred to as mental retardation, is characterized by subnormal intellectual functioning that occurs during the developmental period. It is defined by an IQ score below 70.
Atrophy/Degeneration affecting the brainstem
MedGen UID:
870454
Concept ID:
C4024900
Disease or Syndrome
Thin corpus callosum
MedGen UID:
1785336
Concept ID:
C5441562
Anatomical Abnormality
An abnormally thin corpus callous, due to atrophy, hypoplasia or agenesis. This term is intended to be used in situations where it is not known if thinning of the corpus callosum (for instance, as visualized by magnetic resonance tomography) is due to abnormal development (e.g. a leukodystrophy) or atrophy following normal development (e.g. neurodegeneration).
Nystagmus
MedGen UID:
45166
Concept ID:
C0028738
Disease or Syndrome
Rhythmic, involuntary oscillations of one or both eyes related to abnormality in fixation, conjugate gaze, or vestibular mechanisms.
Optic atrophy
MedGen UID:
18180
Concept ID:
C0029124
Disease or Syndrome
Atrophy of the optic nerve. Optic atrophy results from the death of the retinal ganglion cell axons that comprise the optic nerve and manifesting as a pale optic nerve on fundoscopy.
Strabismus
MedGen UID:
21337
Concept ID:
C0038379
Disease or Syndrome
A misalignment of the eyes so that the visual axes deviate from bifoveal fixation. The classification of strabismus may be based on a number of features including the relative position of the eyes, whether the deviation is latent or manifest, intermittent or constant, concomitant or otherwise and according to the age of onset and the relevance of any associated refractive error.
External ophthalmoplegia
MedGen UID:
57662
Concept ID:
C0162292
Disease or Syndrome
Paralysis of the external ocular muscles.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Kerstens HCJW, Van Lith BJH, Nijkrake MJ, De Swart BJM, Van den Bemd LAC, Smeets RJEM, Klemens F, Van de Warrenburg BPC, Van der Wees PJ, Geurts ACH
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021 Jun 24;16(1):283. doi: 10.1186/s13023-021-01915-0. PMID: 34167574Free PMC Article
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Arch Neurol 2001 May;58(5):789-94. doi: 10.1001/archneur.58.5.789. PMID: 11346374

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Wang J, Fang F, Ding C, Li J, Wu Y, Zhang W, Bao X, Lv J, Wang X, Ren X; Paediatric Neurology Study Group
Dev Med Child Neurol 2023 Mar;65(3):416-423. Epub 2022 Sep 15 doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15385. PMID: 36109173
Narendiran S, Debnath M, Shivaram S, Kannan R, Sharma S, Christopher R, Seshagiri DV, Jain S, Purushottam M, Mangalore S, Bharath RD, Bindu PS, Sinha S, Taly AB, Nagappa M
J Neurogenet 2022 Mar;36(1):21-31. Epub 2022 May 2 doi: 10.1080/01677063.2022.2064463. PMID: 35499206
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Brain 2017 Dec 1;140(12):3112-3127. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx273. PMID: 29126212Free PMC Article
Blackstone C
Annu Rev Neurosci 2012;35:25-47. Epub 2012 Apr 20 doi: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150400. PMID: 22540978Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Wang J, Fang F, Ding C, Li J, Wu Y, Zhang W, Bao X, Lv J, Wang X, Ren X; Paediatric Neurology Study Group
Dev Med Child Neurol 2023 Mar;65(3):416-423. Epub 2022 Sep 15 doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15385. PMID: 36109173
Méreaux JL, Banneau G, Papin M, Coarelli G, Valter R, Raymond L, Kol B, Ariste O, Parodi L, Tissier L, Mairey M, Ait Said S, Gautier C, Guillaud-Bataille M; French SPATAX clinical network, Forlani S, de la Grange P, Brice A, Vazza G, Durr A, Leguern E, Stevanin G
Brain 2022 Apr 29;145(3):1029-1037. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab386. PMID: 34983064
Wang X, Li XY, Piao Y, Yuan G, Lin Y, Chen H, Wang Z, Li C, Wang C
Am J Med Genet A 2022 Jan;188(1):237-242. Epub 2021 Aug 30 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62475. PMID: 34459558
Hellberg C, Alinder E, Jaraj D, Puschmann A
Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Dec;69:79-84. Epub 2019 Oct 29 doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.10.028. PMID: 31706130
Zhao M, Chen YJ, Wang MW, Lin XH, Dong EL, Chen WJ, Wang N, Lin X
Mol Diagn Ther 2019 Dec;23(6):781-789. doi: 10.1007/s40291-019-00426-w. PMID: 31630374

Therapy

Schöls L, Rattay TW, Martus P, Meisner C, Baets J, Fischer I, Jägle C, Fraidakis MJ, Martinuzzi A, Saute JA, Scarlato M, Antenora A, Stendel C, Höflinger P, Lourenco CM, Abreu L, Smets K, Paucar M, Deconinck T, Bis DM, Wiethoff S, Bauer P, Arnoldi A, Marques W, Jardim LB, Hauser S, Criscuolo C, Filla A, Züchner S, Bassi MT, Klopstock T, De Jonghe P, Björkhem I, Schüle R
Brain 2017 Dec 1;140(12):3112-3127. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx273. PMID: 29126212Free PMC Article
Tran TH, Baglin G, Querques G
J Fr Ophtalmol 2012 May;35(5):353-5. Epub 2012 Mar 30 doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2011.12.004. PMID: 22463854
Sankaranarayanan R, Nessa A, Esmy PO, Dangou JM
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2012 Apr;26(2):221-32. Epub 2011 Nov 9 doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2011.08.003. PMID: 22075441

Prognosis

Eckhardt M
Int J Mol Sci 2023 Mar 3;24(5) doi: 10.3390/ijms24054908. PMID: 36902339Free PMC Article
Méreaux JL, Banneau G, Papin M, Coarelli G, Valter R, Raymond L, Kol B, Ariste O, Parodi L, Tissier L, Mairey M, Ait Said S, Gautier C, Guillaud-Bataille M; French SPATAX clinical network, Forlani S, de la Grange P, Brice A, Vazza G, Durr A, Leguern E, Stevanin G
Brain 2022 Apr 29;145(3):1029-1037. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab386. PMID: 34983064
Mari F, Berti B, Romano A, Baldacci J, Rizzi R, Grazia Alessandrì M, Tessa A, Procopio E, Rubegni A, Lourenḉo CM, Simonati A, Guerrini R, Santorelli FM
Neurogenetics 2018 May;19(2):123-130. Epub 2018 Feb 8 doi: 10.1007/s10048-018-0538-8. PMID: 29423566
Sankaranarayanan R, Nessa A, Esmy PO, Dangou JM
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2012 Apr;26(2):221-32. Epub 2011 Nov 9 doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2011.08.003. PMID: 22075441
Paisan-Ruiz C, Dogu O, Yilmaz A, Houlden H, Singleton A
Neurology 2008 Apr 15;70(16 Pt 2):1384-9. Epub 2008 Mar 12 doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000294327.66106.3d. PMID: 18337587Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Méreaux JL, Banneau G, Papin M, Coarelli G, Valter R, Raymond L, Kol B, Ariste O, Parodi L, Tissier L, Mairey M, Ait Said S, Gautier C, Guillaud-Bataille M; French SPATAX clinical network, Forlani S, de la Grange P, Brice A, Vazza G, Durr A, Leguern E, Stevanin G
Brain 2022 Apr 29;145(3):1029-1037. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab386. PMID: 34983064
Wang X, Li XY, Piao Y, Yuan G, Lin Y, Chen H, Wang Z, Li C, Wang C
Am J Med Genet A 2022 Jan;188(1):237-242. Epub 2021 Aug 30 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62475. PMID: 34459558
Sankaranarayanan R, Nessa A, Esmy PO, Dangou JM
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2012 Apr;26(2):221-32. Epub 2011 Nov 9 doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2011.08.003. PMID: 22075441
Chandran J, Ding J, Cai H
Mol Neurobiol 2007 Dec;36(3):224-31. Epub 2007 Jul 10 doi: 10.1007/s12035-007-0034-x. PMID: 17955197Free PMC Article
Harding AE
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1981 Oct;44(10):871-83. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.44.10.871. PMID: 7310405Free PMC Article

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