Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0013421 (dystonia)
 8,418 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We analyzed trace metals in frozen brain tissue of several subcortical nuclei from 3 patients with primary adult-onset dystonia and 10 control subjects. Copper levels were significantly increased in the globus pallidus and putamen of patients with dystonia A slight increase in manganese content was identified in the putamen and thalamus of patients with dystonia. Our findings show for the first time an accumulation of trace metals in the lentiform nuclei in patients with primary dystonia, which may play a pathogenetic role in primary dystonia and may explain recent ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings.
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PMID:Increased tissue copper and manganese content in the lentiform nucleus in primary adult-onset dystonia. 1044 94

We report here four children (three girls, one boy) with head tremor followed longitudinally, ages 15 months to 11 years, with follow-up over 1 to 8 years. Each demonstrated onset of head tremor between the ages of 5 and 10 months. In each case head tremor was characterized by a predominant "yes-yes" or "no-no" movement of the head. In two of the children the movement was slightly skewed with chin movement toward the shoulder. Oscillations were at a frequency of about 1 to 2 Hz. They were accentuated when sitting upright without head support, increased at times of movement, and dissipated while lying flat or sleeping. The children were unable to voluntarily suppress the action and did not experience any sensation of movement. Three of the children had shuddering spells prior to onset of head tremor. Two children have developed mild dystonic posturing of the legs when intently concentrating. Their general and neurologic examinations were normal. Normal investigations included brain magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, urine amino acids and organic acids screening, serum lactate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, antinuclear antibodies, and ceruloplasmin and copper levels. A family history of tremor was present in two children, maternal epilepsy in one child, and infantile shuddering occurred in the father of one child. Therapy included trials of selective and nonselective beta-adrenergic blockers, alpha-adrenergic agonists, anticholinergics, anticonvulsants, and amantadine. One child responded well to both timolol and trihexyphenidyl. A second child responded moderately to primidone. Two have not been treated. Two have had head tremor spontaneously remit. We conclude from this small series of children with head tremor that it can evolve from a prior history of shuddering spells, occurs in the context of a positive family history of tremor, and can be accompanied by the development of a mild dystonia. Therapeutic response is variable to multiple agents. Spontaneous remission occurs, suggesting a benign course.
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PMID:Childhood head tremor. 1064 5

A recent study reported an increase of brain tissue copper content in the lentiform nuclei of patients with primary adult-onset dystonia. In this study we analyze copper-metabolizing proteins (Menkes protein, Wilson protein, ceruloplasmin) by Western blot analysis in frozen brain tissue (lentiform nuclei) of 3 patients with primary dystonia. Menkes protein was reduced in all patients, while Wilson protein and ceruloplasmin were increased in the 2 patients with focal dystonia and reduced in the patient with generalized dystonia. Our data provides further evidence for a disturbance of copper metabolism in primary dystonia.
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PMID:Changes of copper-transporting proteins and ceruloplasmin in the lentiform nuclei in primary adult-onset dystonia. 1085 53

Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism resulting from the absence or dysfunction of a copper transporting P-type ATPase encoded on chromosome 13. This ATPase is expressed in hepatocytes where it is localized to the trans-Golgi network and transports copper into the secretory pathway for incorporation into ceruloplasmin and excretion into the bile. Under physiologic circumstances, biliary excretion represents the sole mechanism for copper excretion, and thus affected individuals have progressive copper accumulation in the liver. When the capacity for hepatic storage is exceeded, cell death ensues with copper release into the plasma, hemolysis, and tissue deposition. Presentation in childhood may include chronic hepatitis, asymptomatic cirrhosis, or acute liver failure. In young adults, neuropsychiatric symptoms predominate and include dystonia, tremor, personality changes, and cognitive impairments secondary to copper accumulation in the central nervous system. The laboratory diagnosis of Wilson's disease is confirmed by decreased serum ceruloplasmin, increased urinary copper content, and elevated hepatic copper concentration. Molecular genetic analysis is complex as more than 100 unique mutations have been identified and most individuals are compound heterozygotes. Copper chelation with penicillamine is an effective therapy in most patients and hepatic transplantation is curative in individuals presenting with irreversible liver failure. Elucidation of the molecular genetic basis of Wilson's disease has permitted new insights into the mechanisms of cellular copper homeostasis.
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PMID:Wilson's disease. 1107 1

We report a young adult female case of Wilson's disease presenting with mental disorder and frontal lobe signs. The patient was admitted to our neurological unit on October 4, 1999 because of schizophrenia-like symptom, dysphagia, dysarthria and gait disturbance. She showed slowly progressive rigidity and dystonia. Her parents were the second cousins. Neurological examination revealed bilateral pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, frontal lobe signs (include the imitation behavior). Tendon reflexes were slightly exaggerated in all extremities. Bilateral Babinski, Chaddock and Hoffmann signs were positive. Her verbal IQ on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-revised was 49. Biochemical examination revealed low plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentration. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Cranial MRI demonstrated diffuse brain atrophy and enlargement of the lateral ventricles. T2-weighted images of the MRI demonstrated hyperintense signal in both thalamus and basal ganglia. SPECT showed hypoperfusion in the left frontal lobe, both thalamus and basal ganglia. EEG revealed diffuse theta wave. The diagnosis of Wilson's disease was made and the treatment of D-penicillamine 900 mg per day was started. This hypoperfusion of SPECT and EEG findings improved after 2 months under D-penicillamine therapy. Neurological findings showed slight improvement. A few Wilson's disease patients presenting with mental disorder have been reported. Wilson's disease should always be considered in differential diagnosis of mental disorders. We emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of Wilson's disease.
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PMID:[A young adult female case of Wilson's disease presenting with mental disorder and frontal lobe signs]. 1108 96

Transcranial sonography is a new diagnostic tool, allowing not only the evaluation of cerebral arteries but also the two-dimensional display of the brain parenchyma. In this review we will summarize basics of the application, the ultrasound anatomy of the brain and sonographic findings in some movement disorders. While in normal adults basal ganglia nuclei are hypoechogenic, they are hyperechogenic in certain basal ganglia disorders. In Parkinson's disease, for example, the substantia nigra can be depicted as a distinctly echogenic area. An elevated echogenicity of the lentiform nuclei was noticed in patients with primary adult-onset dystonia. In both disorders the altered echogenicity may arise from higher heavy metal tissue content (i.e. iron in Parkinson's disease and copper in primary dystonia). Our findings converge to the hypothesis that transcranial ultrasound sensitively detects pathological metal accumulation not identified by other neuroimaging techniques (CT and MRI) and therefore provides new insights in the diagnosis of basal ganglia disorders. The implications of these findings for the understanding of the pathogenesis and its usefulness for the early diagnosis of movement disorders are outlined.
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PMID:Neuroimaging in basal ganglia disorders: perspectives for transcranial ultrasound. 1121 89

The Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome (HSS) is a rare condition characterized by extrapyramidal and pyramidal signs, dystonia, dysarthria, retinal degeneration, dementia and a progressive course. The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increased the number of clinical and pathological reports of HSS. MRI pallidal abnormalities are called "eye of the tiger" signs. The combination of clinical features and MRI findings can be considered as highly suggestive of a diagnosis of HSS. Patient 1 was a 28 year old man who had been well until the age of 25 years. He developed dysarthria, difficulty with his gait and dystonia in his arms at the age of 28 years. Patient 2 was a 33 year old man who was the older brother of the first patient. He developed gait difficulty, tongue dystonia and dystonia of both arms at the age of 25 years. Each patient had spastic gait, dysarthria, dystonic posturing of both arms and generalized hyperreflexia, but no Kayser-Fleischer rings or retinitis pigmentosa. Blood chemistry, urine copper, serum copper and serum ceruloplasmin were all normal. MRI of the brain showed the "eye of the tiger" sign in the globus pallidus on T2 weighted images. These siblings had clinical features and MRI findings consistent with HSS. They are the first to be reported in Thailand.
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PMID:Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome in two siblings diagnosed by clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging. 1125 96

Studies on postmortem tissue of patients with primary adult-onset dystonia revealed a significant increase in copper levels and a reduction of copper transporting Menkes protein of the lentiform nuclei. Here we demonstrate that patients with idiopathic adult-onset cervical dystonia (n = 14) have reduced Menkes mRNA copies and lower copper levels in leukocytes compared to controls (n = 17; U test, p < 0.05). Changes were less distinct in patients with blepharospasm. Therefore, disturbances of copper metabolism in focal dystonia may not be restricted to the basal ganglia.
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PMID:Reduction of Menkes mRNA and copper in leukocytes of patients with primary adult-onset dystonia. 1126 18

A few patients with an affected CNS involving abnormalities in copper metabolism have been described that do not fit any known nosological entities such as Wilson's disease or Menkes' disease. Three sporadic patients (two men and one woman) were examined with involuntary movements and dysarthria associated with abnormal concentrations of serum copper, serum ceruloplasmin, and urinary copper excretion. The onset of neurological symptoms occurred at the age of 15 to 17 years. The common clinical symptoms were involuntary movements and dysarthria. The involuntary movements included dystonia in the neck, myoclonus in the shoulder, athetosis in the neck, and rapid orobuccal movements. The dysarthria consisted of unclear, slow, and stuttering speech. Two of the three patients did not have dementia. A cousin of the female patient had been diagnosed as having Wilson's disease and had died of liver cirrhosis. Laboratory findings showed a mild reduction in serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations, whereas urinary copper excretion was significantly reduced in all three patients. Two of the three patients showed a high signal intensity in the basal ganglia on T2 weighted brain MRI. In conclusion, the unique findings of involuntary movements, dysarthria, and abnormal serum copper and urinary copper concentrations suggest that the three patients may constitute a new clinical entity that is distinct from either Wilson's or Menkes disease.
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PMID:A new neurological entity manifesting as involuntary movements and dysarthria with possible abnormal copper metabolism. 1172 1

The pathogenesis of idiopathic adult onset dystonia (ID) is still unclear. Although neuropathologic studies did not reveal consistent abnormalities, electrophysiologic and neuroimaging findings point toward a disinhibition and overactivity of the frontal motor cortical areas caused by an altered basal ganglia outflow. The lentiform nuclei are assumed to play a major role in this scenario. Recent neurochemical analysis of brain tissue stimulated by transcranial ultrasound studies demonstrated an increased copper content of the lentiform nuclei in patients with ID. The shift of brain copper level may substantially influence neuronal activity causing a reduced inhibitory output from the lentiform nuclei to the motor cortex. The reason for the presumably altered copper metabolism is not clear, but preliminary findings suggest that reduced levels of the Menkes protein, a membrane ATPase exporting copper out of the cells, may be implicated. Disturbances of brain copper metabolism may explain various phenomena of ID; however, it needs to be determined whether these observations represent the basic pathogenetic mechanism of ID or reflect another as yet unidentified pathologic process.
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PMID:Evidence for disturbances of copper metabolism in dystonia: from the image towards a new concept. 1175 12


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