Fragile X Syndrome and Periventricular Heterotopias: A Rare Association

Author(s):  
Jakob Bidstrup ◽  
Jonas Kjeldbjerg Hansen

AbstractFragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common hereditary cause of intellectual disability in males, with an estimated prevalence of 1:4000. Epilepsy occurs in 10 to 20% of males with FXS and usually has a favorable prognosis and positive response to antiepileptic medication. Numerous anomalies in the central nervous system have been reported in FXS. Among these, periventricular heterotopia (PH) has been reported in two previous cases. Epilepsy is also a common comorbidity in PH, but in contrast to epilepsy in FXS, the severity may vary markedly. We present a boy with FXS, PH, and epilepsy—a combination not previously reported in the literature. The presented case suggests a necessity to consider PH in cases of refractory epilepsy or status epilepticus in patients with FXS, emphasizes the importance of ruling out FXS in children with intellectual disability even if there are only discreet or no clinical signs of the disorder, and underscores that FXS should be considered in patients with PH if no other cause can be found.

Author(s):  
Agustini Utari ◽  
Joyce Lo ◽  
Tzuhan Tong ◽  
Tri Indah Winarni ◽  
Sultana MH Faradz ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques Bellavance ◽  
Morin Diane ◽  
Catherine Mello

Purpose The behavioral phenotype of fragile X syndrome (FXS) and intellectual disability (ID) proposed by Hagerman et al. (2009) was primarily based on data from male children and teens. The purpose of this study was to promote a better understanding of how this condition manifests in adults. Design/methodology/approach A total of 18 men of FXS were paired with men with Down syndrome on the basis of age and level of ID. A screening checklist was created on the basis of existing scales and the Hagerman et al. (2009) behavioral phenotype and completed by care providers. Findings Five of the 12 features of the phenotype were significantly more present among men with FXS than in men with Down syndrome. Originality/value This study provides partial confirmation for Hagerman et al.’s (2009) behavioral phenotype of FXS among men with moderate ID and identified some traits that warrant further investigation.


Author(s):  
Ann M. Mastergeorge ◽  
Jacky Au

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability known, and it is the most common single gene disorder associated with autism (Belmonte and Bourgeron 2006; Reddy 2005). It is caused by the lack or deficiency of the FMR1 protein, FMRP (Loesch et al. 2004b). The typical physical features of FXS include prominent ears, hyperextensible finger joints, flat feet, soft skin, and in adolescence and adulthood large testicles (macroorchidism) and a long face (Hagerman 2002b). The behavioral features include poor eye contact, hyperarousal to stimuli, anxiety, hyperactivity, attention deficit, impulsivity, hand stereotypies (such as hand biting and hand flapping), and social deficits including autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Budimirovic et al. 2006; Clifford et al. 2007; Hall et al. 2008b; Hatton et al. 2006b; Sullivan et al. 2007b). Fragile-X syndrome was first reported by Lubs (1969) in two brothers who had intellectual disability and the appearance of a marker X chromosome, which is a fragile site on their X chromosome. It was later detected that this fragile site on the X chromosome only occurred when the chromosomes were studied in a folate-deficient tissue culture media (Sutherland 1977). Therefore cytogenetic studies were utilized to document cases of FXS throughout the 1980s until the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 gene (FMR1) was discovered in 1991 (Verkerk et al. 1991). The FMR1 gene was found to have a trinucleotide (CGG) repeat sequence at the 5’ untranslated region, with the normal range later determined to be up to 44 repeats, a gray zone of 45–54 repeats, a premutation of 55–200 repeats, and a full mutation range of more than 200 repeats (Maddalena et al. 2001). Those individuals with the full mutation have a deficit or absence of the FMR1 protein (FMRP) that causes the physical, behavioral, and cognitive features of FXS (Loesch et al. 2004b). Females with the full mutation have another X chromosome that is producing FMRP, depending on the activation ratio (AR) or the percentage of cells that have the normal X chromosome as the active X chromosome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Daman Kumari ◽  
Inbal Gazy

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common heritable form of intellectual disability, as well as the most common known monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affecting 1 in 4000–8000 people worldwide [...]


1998 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 09-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
TÊMIS MARIA FÉLIX ◽  
JOÃO MONTEIRO DE PINA-NETO

Three families with the fragile X syndrome were studied with the aim to establish the most frequent clinical signs in the affected individuals and heterozygous women. The clinical evaluation, IQ level measurements and cytogenetic studies were performed in 40 subjects, 20 males and 20 females. The fragile X diagnosis was confirmed in all the male individuals with mental retardation. In the postpubertal subjects the most frequent clinical signs were inner canthal distance < 3.5 cm, macro-orchidism, long and narrow face and high arched palate while in the prepubertal subjects the behavioral characteristics as hyperactivity and poor eye contact were the most frequent and were observed in all patients. Twenty six percent of the heterozygous women presented with mental retardation and showed clinical signs rather than behavioral ones. All male individuals with mental retardation were observed as having fragile X [fra(X)] in lymphocytes culture. Sixty three percent of women showed fra(X). There was a positive correlation between the frequency of fra(X) and the clinical characteristics. We emphasize the importance of the clinical evaluation in the study of familial mental retardation and in the screening of isolated cases with suspect of having the fragile X syndrome.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9s2 ◽  
pp. JEN.S25524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A. Suhl ◽  
Stephen T. Warren

Fragile X syndrome is a monogenic disorder and a common cause of intellectual disability. Despite nearly 25 years of research on FMR1, the gene underlying the syndrome, very few pathological mutations other than the typical CGG-repeat expansion have been reported. This is in contrast to other X-linked, monogenic, intellectual disability disorders, such as Rett syndrome, where many point mutations have been validated as causative of the disorder. As technology has improved and significantly driven down the cost of sequencing, allowing for whole genes to be sequenced with relative ease, in-depth sequencing studies on FMR1 have recently been performed. These studies have led to the identification of novel variants in FMR1, where some of which have been functionally evaluated and are likely pathogenic. In this review, we discuss recently identified FMR1 variants, the ways these novel variants cause dysfunction, and how they reveal new regulatory mechanisms and functionalities of the gene.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. A. VRIES ◽  
D. J. J. HAULEY ◽  
B. A. OOSTRA ◽  
M. F. NIERMEIJER

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Dolton ◽  
Ansar Choudry

We describe a case of a patient with a diagnosis of moderate learning disability with challenging behaviour and treatment refractory epilepsy. Antiepileptics can increase challenging behaviour; however, antipsychotics can provoke seizures. This results in a difficult balance for patient care. Due to worsening seizures, the patient was prescribed perampanel. This increased her aggression and agitation resulting in admission. We trialled four antipsychotic drugs to reduce her challenging behaviour, two of which worsened her seizures. It was necessary to continue antiepileptic medication to maintain adequate seizure control. However, the resulting uncontrolled challenging behaviour persisted, meaning she was unable to return to her family home on discharge. This case emphasises the difficult scenario clinician’s encounter when balancing the use of antipsychotics and antiepileptics. The case demonstrates the significant functional loss due to challenging behaviour, balanced against controlling life threatening seizures.


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