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Spastic ataxia 8, autosomal recessive, with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy(SPAX8)

MedGen UID:
1382553
Concept ID:
C4479653
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: SPAX8
SNOMED CT: NK6 homeobox 2-related autosomal recessive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (1217379007); NKX6-2-related autosomal recessive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (1217379007); Autosomal recessive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, progressive spastic ataxia (1217379007); SPAX8 - spastic ataxia 8 (1217379007)
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): NKX6-2 (10q26.3)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0033043
OMIM®: 617560
Orphanet: ORPHA527497

Disease characteristics

Excerpted from the GeneReview: NKX6-2-Related Disorder
NKX6-2-related disorder is characterized by a spectrum of progressive neurologic manifestations resulting from diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination. At the severe end of the spectrum is neonatal-onset nystagmus, severe spastic tetraplegia with joint contractures and scoliosis, and visual and hearing impairment, all of which rapidly progress resulting in death in early childhood. At the milder end of the spectrum is normal achievement of early motor milestones in the first year of life followed by slowly progressive complex spastic ataxia with pyramidal findings (spasticity with increased muscle tone and difficulty with gait and fine motor coordination) and cerebellar findings (nystagmus, extraocular movement disorder, dysarthria, titubation, and ataxia) with loss of developmental milestones. To date NKX6-2-related disorder has been reported in 25 individuals from 13 families. [from GeneReviews]
Authors:
Viorica Chelban  |  Namik Kaya  |  Fowzan Alkuraya, et. al.   view full author information

Additional description

From OMIM
Spastic ataxia-8 with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (SPAX8) is an autosomal recessive progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by onset of primarily motor dysfunction within the first year of life. Affected individuals initially have hypotonia and later develop ataxia, spasticity, and a pyramidal syndrome with weakness and loss of ambulation. Other features may include dystonia, dysarthria, and abnormal eye movements. Brain imaging shows cerebellar atrophy and hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. One family with cognitive impairment has also been reported (summary by Chelban et al., 2017). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spastic ataxia, see SPAX1 (108600).  http://www.omim.org/entry/617560

Clinical features

From HPO
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.
Leukodystrophy
MedGen UID:
6070
Concept ID:
C0023520
Disease or Syndrome
Leukodystrophy refers to deterioration of white matter of the brain resulting from degeneration of myelin sheaths in the CNS. Their basic defect is directly related to the synthesis and maintenance of myelin membranes. Symmetric white matter involvement at MRI is a typical finding in patients with leukodystrophies.
Spasticity
MedGen UID:
7753
Concept ID:
C0026838
Sign or Symptom
A motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes with increased muscle tone, exaggerated (hyperexcitable) tendon reflexes.
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.
Torticollis
MedGen UID:
11859
Concept ID:
C0040485
Sign or Symptom
Torticollis is a twisted neck as a result of shortening of sternocleidomastoid muscle. This short and fibrotic muscle pulls the head laterally and rotates the chin and face to the opposite end. Facial asymmetry may be a manifestation (summary by Engin et al., 1997).
Hyperreflexia
MedGen UID:
57738
Concept ID:
C0151889
Finding
Hyperreflexia is the presence of hyperactive stretch reflexes of the muscles.
Abnormal pyramidal sign
MedGen UID:
68582
Concept ID:
C0234132
Sign or Symptom
Functional neurological abnormalities related to dysfunction of the pyramidal tract.
Cognitive impairment
MedGen UID:
90932
Concept ID:
C0338656
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Abnormal cognition is characterized by deficits in thinking, reasoning, or remembering.
Truncal ataxia
MedGen UID:
96535
Concept ID:
C0427190
Sign or Symptom
Truncal ataxia is a sign of ataxia characterized by instability of the trunk. It usually occurs during sitting.
Global developmental delay
MedGen UID:
107838
Concept ID:
C0557874
Finding
A delay in the achievement of motor or mental milestones in the domains of development of a child, including motor skills, speech and language, cognitive skills, and social and emotional skills. This term should only be used to describe children younger than five years of age.
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.
Limb ataxia
MedGen UID:
196692
Concept ID:
C0750937
Finding
A kind of ataxia that affects movements of the extremities.
Limb dystonia
MedGen UID:
152944
Concept ID:
C0751093
Sign or Symptom
A type of dystonia (abnormally increased muscular tone causing fixed abnormal postures) that affects muscles of the limbs.
Head titubation
MedGen UID:
299071
Concept ID:
C1608410
Sign or Symptom
A head tremor of moderate speed (3 to 4 Hz) in the anterior-posterior direction.
Developmental regression
MedGen UID:
324613
Concept ID:
C1836830
Disease or Syndrome
Loss of developmental skills, as manifested by loss of developmental milestones.
Loss of ambulation
MedGen UID:
332305
Concept ID:
C1836843
Finding
Inability to walk in a person who previous had the ability to walk.
Severe global developmental delay
MedGen UID:
332436
Concept ID:
C1837397
Finding
A severe delay in the achievement of motor or mental milestones in the domains of development of a child.
Motor delay
MedGen UID:
381392
Concept ID:
C1854301
Finding
A type of Developmental delay characterized by a delay in acquiring motor skills.
CNS hypomyelination
MedGen UID:
892446
Concept ID:
C4025616
Finding
Reduced amount of myelin in the central nervous system resulting from defective myelinogenesis.
Brain atrophy
MedGen UID:
1643639
Concept ID:
C4551584
Disease or Syndrome
Partial or complete wasting (loss) of brain tissue that was once present.
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).
Abnormal exteroceptive sensation
MedGen UID:
1779297
Concept ID:
C5539790
Finding
A type of somatic sensory dysfunction characterized by abnormality of superficial sensation that is mediated by receptors in skin and mucous membranes.
Joint contracture
MedGen UID:
3228
Concept ID:
C0009918
Anatomical Abnormality
A limitation in the passive range of motion of a joint resulting from loss of elasticity in the periarticular tissues owing to structural changes of non-bony tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules or skin. A contracture prevents movement of the associated body part.
Hypotonia
MedGen UID:
10133
Concept ID:
C0026827
Finding
Hypotonia is an abnormally low muscle tone (the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle). Even when relaxed, muscles have a continuous and passive partial contraction which provides some resistance to passive stretching. Hypotonia thus manifests as diminished resistance to passive stretching. Hypotonia is not the same as muscle weakness, although the two conditions can co-exist.
Scoliosis
MedGen UID:
11348
Concept ID:
C0036439
Disease or Syndrome
The presence of an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.
Frontal bossing
MedGen UID:
67453
Concept ID:
C0221354
Congenital Abnormality
Bilateral bulging of the lateral frontal bone prominences with relative sparing of the midline.
Partial congenital absence of teeth
MedGen UID:
43794
Concept ID:
C0020608
Congenital Abnormality
Tooth agenesis in some form is a common human anomaly that affects approximately 20% of the population. Although tooth agenesis is associated with numerous syndromes, several case reports describe nonsyndromic forms that are either sporadic or familial in nature, as reviewed by Gorlin et al. (1990). The incidence of familial tooth agenesis varies with each class of teeth. Most commonly affected are third molars (wisdom teeth), followed by either upper lateral incisors or lower second premolars; agenesis involving first and second molars is very rare. Also see 114600 and 302400. Selective tooth agenesis without associated systemic disorders has sometimes been divided into 2 types: oligodontia, defined as agenesis of 6 or more permanent teeth, and hypodontia, defined as agenesis of less than 6 teeth. The number in both cases does not include absence of third molars (wisdom teeth). Faulty use of the terms, however, have confounded their use. The term 'partial anodontia' is obsolete (Salinas, 1978). Genetic Heterogeneity of Selective Tooth Agenesis Other forms of selective tooth agenesis include STHAG2 (602639), mapped to chromosome 16q12; STHAG3 (604625), caused by mutation in the PAX9 gene (167416) on chromosome 14q12; STHAG4 (150400), caused by mutation in the WNT10A gene (606268) on chromosome 2q35; STHAG5 (610926), mapped to chromosome 10q11; STHAG7 (616724), caused by mutation in the LRP6 gene (603507) on chromosome 12p13; STHAG8 (617073), caused by mutation in the WNT10B gene (601906) on chromosome 12q13; STHAG9 (617275), caused by mutation in the GREM2 gene (608832) on chromosome 1q43; STHAG10 (620173), caused by mutation in the TSPEAR gene (612920) on chromosome 21q22; and STHAGX1 (313500), caused by mutation in the EDA gene (300451) on chromosome Xq13. A type of selective tooth agenesis that was formerly designated STHAG6 has been incorporated into the dental anomalies and short stature syndrome (DASS; 601216). Of 34 unrelated patients with nonsyndromic tooth agenesis, van den Boogaard et al. (2012) found that 56% (19 patients) had mutations in the WNT10A gene (STHAG4), whereas only 3% and 9% had mutations in the MSX1 (STHAG1) and PAX9 (STHAG3) genes, respectively. The authors concluded that WNT10A is a major gene in the etiology of isolated hypodontia. Genotype-Phenotype Correlations Yu et al. (2016) observed that the most frequently missing permanent teeth in WNT10B-associated oligodontia were the lateral incisors (83.3%), whereas premolars were missing only 51.4% of the time, which they noted was a pattern 'clearly different' from the oligodontia patterns resulting from WNT10A mutations. They also stated that the selective pattern in WNT10B mutants was different from that associated with mutations in other genes, such as MSX1, in which second premolars are missing, and PAX9, in which there is agenesis of molars.
Dental crowding
MedGen UID:
11850
Concept ID:
C0040433
Finding
Changes in alignment of teeth in the dental arch
Bulbous nose
MedGen UID:
66013
Concept ID:
C0240543
Finding
Increased volume and globular shape of the anteroinferior aspect of the nose.
High palate
MedGen UID:
66814
Concept ID:
C0240635
Congenital Abnormality
Height of the palate more than 2 SD above the mean (objective) or palatal height at the level of the first permanent molar more than twice the height of the teeth (subjective).
Gingival overgrowth
MedGen UID:
87712
Concept ID:
C0376480
Finding
Hyperplasia of the gingiva (that is, a thickening of the soft tissue overlying the alveolar ridge. The degree of thickening ranges from involvement of the interdental papillae alone to gingival overgrowth covering the entire tooth crown.
Long face
MedGen UID:
324419
Concept ID:
C1836047
Finding
Facial height (length) is more than 2 standard deviations above the mean (objective); or, an apparent increase in the height (length) of the face (subjective).
Synophrys
MedGen UID:
98132
Concept ID:
C0431447
Congenital Abnormality
Meeting of the medial eyebrows in the midline.
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.
Hypometric saccades
MedGen UID:
98065
Concept ID:
C0423082
Finding
Saccadic undershoot, i.e., a saccadic eye movement that has less than the magnitude that would be required to gain fixation of the object.
Limited extraocular movements
MedGen UID:
388060
Concept ID:
C1858427
Finding
Limited mobility of the eye within its socket.
Upgaze palsy
MedGen UID:
1369853
Concept ID:
C4476705
Disease or Syndrome
A limitation of the ability to direct one's gaze above the horizontal meridian.

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVSpastic ataxia 8, autosomal recessive, with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Chelban V, Alsagob M, Kloth K, Chirita-Emandi A, Vandrovcova J, Maroofian R, Davagnanam I, Bakhtiari S, AlSayed MD, Rahbeeni Z, AlZaidan H, Malintan NT, Johannsen J, Efthymiou S, Ghayoor Karimiani E, Mankad K, Al-Shahrani SA, Beiraghi Toosi M, AlShammari M, Groppa S, Haridy NA, AlQuait L, Qari A, Huma R, Salih MA, Almass R, Almutairi FB, Hamad MH, Alorainy IA, Ramzan K, Imtiaz F, Puiu M, Kruer MC, Bierhals T, Wood NW, Colak D, Houlden H, Kaya N
Eur J Neurol 2020 Feb;27(2):334-342. Epub 2019 Oct 17 doi: 10.1111/ene.14082. PMID: 31509304Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Chelban V, Alsagob M, Kloth K, Chirita-Emandi A, Vandrovcova J, Maroofian R, Davagnanam I, Bakhtiari S, AlSayed MD, Rahbeeni Z, AlZaidan H, Malintan NT, Johannsen J, Efthymiou S, Ghayoor Karimiani E, Mankad K, Al-Shahrani SA, Beiraghi Toosi M, AlShammari M, Groppa S, Haridy NA, AlQuait L, Qari A, Huma R, Salih MA, Almass R, Almutairi FB, Hamad MH, Alorainy IA, Ramzan K, Imtiaz F, Puiu M, Kruer MC, Bierhals T, Wood NW, Colak D, Houlden H, Kaya N
Eur J Neurol 2020 Feb;27(2):334-342. Epub 2019 Oct 17 doi: 10.1111/ene.14082. PMID: 31509304Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Chelban V, Alsagob M, Kloth K, Chirita-Emandi A, Vandrovcova J, Maroofian R, Davagnanam I, Bakhtiari S, AlSayed MD, Rahbeeni Z, AlZaidan H, Malintan NT, Johannsen J, Efthymiou S, Ghayoor Karimiani E, Mankad K, Al-Shahrani SA, Beiraghi Toosi M, AlShammari M, Groppa S, Haridy NA, AlQuait L, Qari A, Huma R, Salih MA, Almass R, Almutairi FB, Hamad MH, Alorainy IA, Ramzan K, Imtiaz F, Puiu M, Kruer MC, Bierhals T, Wood NW, Colak D, Houlden H, Kaya N
Eur J Neurol 2020 Feb;27(2):334-342. Epub 2019 Oct 17 doi: 10.1111/ene.14082. PMID: 31509304Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Hosseini Bereshneh A, Hosseipour S, Rasoulinezhad MS, Pak N, Garshasbi M, Tavasoli AR
Eur J Med Genet 2020 May;63(5):103868. Epub 2020 Jan 28 doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2020.103868. PMID: 32004679

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