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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Patrick Chinnery, Dr Douglas Crompton, Dr Margaret Jackson, Emeritus Professor David Bates, Professor Sir John BurnORCiD
Neuroferritinopathy is a progressive potentially treatable adult-onset movement disorder caused by mutations in the ferritin light chain gene (FTL1). Features overlap with common extrapyramidal disorders: idiopathic torsion dystonia, idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, but the phenotype and natural history have not been defined. We studied a genetically homogeneous group of 41 subjects with the 460InsA mutation in FTL1, documenting the presentation, clinical course, biochemistry and neuroimaging. The mean age of onset was 39.4 years (SD = 13.3, range 13-63), beginning with chorea in 50%, focal lower limb dystonia in 42.5% and parkinsonism in 7.5%. The majority reported a family history of a movement disorder often misdiagnosed as Huntington's disease. The disease progressed relentlessly, becoming generalized over a 5-10 year period, eventually leading to aphonia, dysphagia and severe motor disability with subcortical/frontal cognitive dysfunction as a late feature. A characteristic action-specific facial dystonia was common (65%), and in 63% there was asymmetry throughout the disease course. Serum ferritin levels were low in the majority of males and post-menopausal females, but within normal limits for pre-menopausal females. MR brain imaging was abnormal on all affected individuals and one presymptomatic carrier. In conclusion, isolated parkinsonism is unusual in neuroferritinopathy, and unlike Huntington's disease, cognitive changes are absent or subtle in the early stages. Depressed serum ferritin is common and provides a useful screening test in routine practice, and gradient echo brain MRI will identify all symptomatic cases. © 2006 The Author(s).
Author(s): Chinnery PF, Crompton DE, Birchall D, Jackson MJ, Coulthard A, Lombes A, Quinn N, Wills A, Fletcher N, Mottershead JP, Cooper P, Kellett M, Bates D, Burn J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Brain
Year: 2007
Volume: 130
Issue: 1
Pages: 110-119
Print publication date: 01/01/2007
ISSN (print): 0006-8950
ISSN (electronic): 1460-2156
Publisher: Oxford University
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awl319
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awl319
PubMed id: 17142829
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