Medicine:Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome
Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome (GLH) or cerebellotrigeminal-dermal dysplasia is a rare neurocutaneous (Phakomatosis) disorder affecting the trigeminal nerve and causing several other neural and physical abnormalities.[1] Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome has been diagnosed in only 34 people.[2] Cases of Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome may be under-reported as other diseases share the characteristics of cerebellar malformation shown in Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome.[1][2] Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome was first characterized in 1979.[3]
Presentation
Physical
Physical characteristics of the syndrome can vary and are not universal. People with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome often have a short skull(brachycephaly), thin lips, low-set and posterior-angled ears, and scalp alopecia above both ears.[4] This bilateral scalp alopecia is the most consistent physical characteristic of Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome.[5] In addition to the shortness of the skull, it is also misshapen and often flattened on the back.[2] Some people with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome also have wide-set(hypertelorism) and crossed eyes(strabismus).[4] Scarring or clouding of the cornea occurs in the majority of people with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome.[6] A short stature is common.[1]
Neurological
Aside from the physical characteristics of the eyes there is also less sensation in the eyes when stimulated.[4] The eyes also show low motor control(ataxia).[4] Along with ataxia comes a lack of coordination or ability to judge the distance of objects(dysmetria).[6] MRIs show a constant feature of rhombencephalosynapsis–a condition marked by the absence or partial absence of the cerebellar vermis and varying degrees of fusion in the cerebellum in every case of Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome.[4][7][8] Also absent are the trigeminal nerve of the trigeminal cave and the foramen rotundum, causing abnormal sensations on the forehead and the corneas.[6][8] One Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome case in Japan also presents fever-induced seizures.[9] Others may or may not present with non-fever-induced seizures.[4] Malformations of motor centers in the brain cause reduced muscle strength(Hypotonia).[8] Eleven of fifteen people in one study showed moderate-to-severe intellectual disability.[6] In cases where it has been noted, head nodding is present.[6] Hydrocephalus and enlargement of the ventricular system is consistently present.[6] A reduced corpus callosum is present in some cases(agenesis of the corpus callosum).[6]
Behavioral
Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome is associated with irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and self-harming behavior.[4] Developmental disabilities often present as intellectual disability with social, occupational, and learning disabilities.[4] Reduced eye sensation may cause self-harm to the eyes; one patient is on record as having put her fingers into her eyes to the point of causing additional corneal damage beyond what is normally characteristic of the syndrome.[4]
Causes
The exact causes of Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome are currently unknown. Mutations of the ACP2 gene have been implicated but not confirmed.[4] One case of siblings — both with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome — has been observed, showing possible evidence of recessive inheritance.[2] The Brazilian parents of these siblings showed some degree of inbreeding, being first cousins.[2] Five of the 34 people diagnosed with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome have also come from Brazil.[2] Lack of expression from the WNT1, FGF8, FGF17, OTX2, fgf8, and fgf17 genes have all been implicated as possibly being the cause of cerebellum fusion.[4]
Diagnosis
All cases of Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome present scalp alopecia, varying degrees of low-set ears and most have a flattened skull.[10] Scalp alopecia has been present in all but one case though it can be asymmetrical or, in a single case, only present on one side.[5] All people with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome also have delayed motor milestones.[10] All people with the syndrome have malformation of the cerebellum.[10] Certain characteristics are often present in those with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome but are not consistent enough to rule out the syndrome if they are not present. Reduced eye sensation, or trigeminal anesthesia, is present in about three-quarters of people with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome.[5] Malformations of the skull, rotations of the ears, and abnormalities of the face are features that vary widely and cannot be used alone to diagnose Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome as these characteristics overlap with some other diseases.[5] Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome has been diagnosed as early as 21 weeks with prenatal MRI showing fusion of the cerebellum and later confirmed postnatal with skull and facial abnormalities at six weeks.[11]
Management
Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome is rare and similar to other developmental disabilities. Management is similar to other developmental disabilities as there is no cure for malformations of the brain. Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome has been diagnosed mostly in poorer countries.[4] There have been no documented attempts made to educate children with the syndrome(when intellectual disability is present) to establish a baseline of intellectual ability due to these socioeconomic problems.[4]
Prognosis
The oldest person who has been diagnosed with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome was 29 years old at the time of his assessment in 2008.[4] Most people with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome are consistently low weight (3rd-25th percentile) and low stature due to a deficiency of growth hormone.[4] Low mobility is often an issue.[4] The cause of low mobility is thought to be neurological, therefore bone structure is not greatly affected.[4] Seizures may or may not be present and can result in injuries for those who are more mobile.[4] ADHD and bipolar disorder — which are sometimes present — can lead to dangerous behavior or outbursts.[4] While most people with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome show moderate intellectual disability, one case (age 14) has resulted in normal learning and social skills without intervention.[4]
Epidemiology
Most cases have been diagnosed in Latin America with five of the thirty-four being from Brazil.[2] Two of these Brazilians are related by blood(consanguinity) suggesting the possibility of Mendelian inheritance.[2] There has been one case of a Japanese patient with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome so far.[9] Two Armenian cases and two from Europe have been identified, signaling that the perceived prevalence in Latin America may be short-lived as better diagnostic techniques and information about this syndrome become more widespread.[5]
Eponym
Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez Syndrome is named for Manuel Rodríguez Gómez[3] and Alejandro Lopez-Hernandez.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome: two new cases and review of the literature.". Pediatr Neurol 40 (1): 58–62. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2008.10.001. PMID 19068257.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome in a child born to consanguineous parents: new evidence for an autosomal-recessive pattern of inheritance?". Pediatr Neurol 50 (6): 612–5. 2014. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.01.035. PMID 24690526.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gomez MR (1979). "Cerebellotrigeminal and focal dermal dysplasia: a newly recognized neurocutaneous syndrome.". Brain Dev 1 (4): 253–6. doi:10.1016/s0387-7604(79)80039-x. PMID 95427.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 "Two new Brazilian patients with Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome: reviewing the expanded phenotype with molecular insights.". Am J Med Genet A 146A (5): 649–57. 2008. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.32173. PMID 18247421.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome: reappraisal of the diagnostic criteria.". Eur. J. Pediatr. 169 (12): 1523–8. 2013. doi:10.1007/s00431-010-1259-7. PMID 20652311.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome: an easily missed diagnosis.". Eur J Med Genet 51 (3): 198–208. 2008. doi:10.1016/j.ejmg.2008.01.004. PMID 18342593.
- ↑ "Gómez-López-hernández syndrome versus rhombencephalosynapsis spectrum: a rare co-occurrence with bipartite parietal bone.". Am J Med Genet A 164A (2): 480–3. 2014. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.36276. PMID 24311025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "GTrigeminal nerve agenesis with absence of foramina rotunda in Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome.". Am J Med Genet A 167A (1): 238–42. 2015. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.36830. PMID 25339626.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome in a Japanese patient: a case report.". Brain Dev 37 (3): 356–8. 2015. doi:10.1016/j.braindev.2014.05.002. PMID 24856766.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Four new patients with Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome and proposed diagnostic criteria.". Am J Med Genet A 161A (2): 320–6. 2013. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.35817. PMID 23292994.
- ↑ "GPrenatal magnetic resonance imaging in Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome and review of the literature.". Am J Med Genet A 138 (4): 369–73. 2005. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.30967. PMID 16158443.
- ↑ Lopez-Hernandez, A (2013). "Craniosynostosis, ataxia, trigeminal anaesthesia and parietal alopecia with pons-vermis fusion anomaly (atresia of the fourth ventricle). Report of two cases.". Neuropediatrics 13 (2): 99–102. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1059606. PMID 7133329.
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