Category: Parkinson's Disease: Genetics
Objective: To expand the clinical spectrum of WDR45 deficiency.
Background: Beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) due to WDR45 defect is a rare X-linked dominant disorder of autophagy. The clinical presentation is characterized by a biphasic course: developmental delay in early childhood and parkinsonism in young adulthood.
Method: We present the case of a 36-year-old girl with and a severe intellectual disability.
The patients presented at 30 months with an early onset generalized epilepsy, developmental delay, and a severe oral dyspraxia suggesting an Angelman-like syndrome. At the age of 6 years, speech impairment, subtle ataxia, behavioral disorders with happy dispositions, and sleep disturbance became evident. Brain TC showed brain atrophy and high-density foci in . Under valproic acid treatment she remained seizure free. At the age of 13 brain MRI confirmed a remarkable brain atrophy and disclosed bilateral of and substantia nigra suggesting iron accumulation. During the second decade of life she developed a progressive , dementia and disorder with loss of adaptive skills (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales II edition: Composite Score= 26). Menarche occurred at the age of 20 years by progesterone stimulation. the last examination, she presented , prominent dystonic posturing of legs and generalized , action, and rest tremor, limb rigidity. She showed severe instability and can walk with support. Brain MRI at age of 35 showed a further worsening of cerebral atrophy and stable iron accumulation.
Results: An extensive metabolic work-up was unremarkable. Array CGH, and molecular analysis of Prader Willi Syndrome/Angelman Syndrome locus revealed no alteration. Finally, NBIA panel identified a so far unreported de novo missense variant in WDR45 gene (c.439+5G>A).
Conclusion: Our findings expand the number of allelic variants associated with WDR45 deficiency. This condition should be considered in young patients presenting with Rett-like as well as Angelman-like syndrome, considering that at onset it may mimic a neurodevelopmental disorder while being a neurodegenerative disorder.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
F. Manti, F. Nardecchia, S. Galosi, C. Panteghini, B. Garavaglia, V. Leuzzi. Neurodevelopmental disorder and parkinsonism in a patient with WDR45 variant: a long-term outcome [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2020; 35 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neurodevelopmental-disorder-and-parkinsonism-in-a-patient-with-wdr45-variant-a-long-term-outcome/. Accessed November 22, 2024.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neurodevelopmental-disorder-and-parkinsonism-in-a-patient-with-wdr45-variant-a-long-term-outcome/