Beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration: a new X-linked dominant disorder with brain iron accumulation

Susan J. Hayflick*, Michael C. Kruer, Allison Gregory, Tobias B. Haack, Manju A. Kurian, Henry H. Houlden, James Anderson, Nathalie Boddaert, Lynn Sanford, Sami I. Harik, Vasuki H. Dandu, Nardo Nardocci, Giovanna Zorzi, Todd Dunaway, Mark Tarnopolsky, Steven Skinner, Kenton R. Holden, Steven Frucht, Era Hanspal, Connie Schrander-StumpelCyril Mignot, Delphine Heron, Dawn E. Saunders, Margaret Kaminska, Jean-Pierre Lin, Karine Lascelles, Stephan M. Cuno, Esther Meyer, Barbara Garavaglia, Kailash Bhatia, Rajith de Silva, Sarah Crisp, Peter Lunt, Martyn Carey, John Hardy, Thomas Meitinger, Holger Prokisch, Penelope Hogarth

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders with high iron in the basal ganglia encompass an expanding collection of single gene disorders collectively known as neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. These disorders can largely be distinguished from one another by their associated clinical and neuroimaging features. The aim of this study was to define the phenotype that is associated with mutations in WDR45, a new causative gene for neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation located on the X chromosome. The study subjects consisted of WDR45 mutation-positive individuals identified after screening a large international cohort of patients with idiopathic neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Their records were reviewed, including longitudinal clinical, laboratory and imaging data. Twenty-three mutation-positive subjects were identified (20 females). The natural history of their disease was remarkably uniform: global developmental delay in childhood and further regression in early adulthood with progressive dystonia, parkinsonism and dementia. Common early comorbidities included seizures, spasticity and disordered sleep. The symptoms of parkinsonism improved with l-DOPA; however, nearly all patients experienced early motor fluctuations that quickly progressed to disabling dyskinesias, warranting discontinuation of l-DOPA. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed iron in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus, with a 'halo' of T-1 hyperintense signal in the substantia nigra. All patients harboured de novo mutations in WDR45, encoding a beta-propeller protein postulated to play a role in autophagy. Beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration, the only X-linked disorder of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, is associated with de novo mutations in WDR45 and is recognizable by a unique combination of clinical, natural history and neuroimaging features.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1708-1717
JournalBrain
Volume136
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • iron
  • NBIA
  • autophagy
  • basal ganglia
  • Rett syndrome

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