The Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Adrenoleukodystrophy: A Case Series of Iranian Family

Objective

Adrenoleukodystrophy disorder is one of the x-linked genetic disorders caused by the myelin sheath breakdown in the brain. In this study, we present 4 yr experience on this disorder.

Materials & Methods

The patients diagnosed as adrenoleukodystrophy in the Neurology Department of Mofid Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Iran from 2010 to 2014 were enrolled into the study. The disorder was confirmed by neuroimaging and clinical findings along with genetic and neurometabolic assessment at Reference Laboratory in Germany. We assessed age, gender, past medical history, developmental status, clinical manifestations, and neuroimaging findings of populous family with adrenoleukodystrophy.

Results

All of the patients were one populous family with high rate of consanguineous marriages. This disorder was confirmed by genetic assessment, VLCFA and brain MRI.

c.253_254insC, p.R85Pfs112* was found in heterozygote state and the VLCFA assessment showed the typical pattern for adrenoleukodystrophy/ adrenomyeloneuropathy. This diagnosis was in agreement with the family history and the clinical history of the patient. Since there have been a number of cases in patient’s family in the past, so intensive follow-up on the family especially detection the female members of the family of childbearing age was recommended. The amount of C-26, C24/C22 and C26/C22 was elevated. All patients with the same genotype had wide ranges of clinical presentation.

Conclusion

Early diagnose of this disease might help us for early intervention and prenatal diagnosis for the disease in next siblings.