Early mitochondrial dysfunction in an infant with Alexander disease

Pediatr Neurol. 2006 Oct;35(4):293-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2006.03.010.

Abstract

Alexander disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by macrocephaly and progressive demyelination with frontal lobe preponderance. The infantile form, the most frequent variant, appears between birth and 2 years of age and involves a severe course with a rapid neurologic deterioration. Although magnetic resonance imaging is useful for diagnosis, currently diagnosis is confirmed by the finding of missense mutation in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene. This case reports a female who presented at the age of 5 months with refractory epilepsy and hypotonia. Laboratory examinations, muscle biopsy examination, and energetic metabolic study in muscle indicated increased concentrations of lactate, mitochondria with structural abnormalities, and decreased cytochrome-c oxidase activity respectively. Later, both clinical course and magnetic resonance findings were compatible with Alexander disease, which was confirmed by the finding of a novel glial fibrillary acidic protein gene mutation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alexander Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alexander Disease / genetics
  • Biopsy
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency / genetics
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / genetics
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mitochondria, Muscle / pathology
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / diagnosis*
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / genetics
  • Muscle Hypotonia / diagnosis
  • Muscle Hypotonia / genetics
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Mutation, Missense

Substances

  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Lactic Acid