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Query: UMLS:C0018799 (heart disease)
 34,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

McLeod syndrome was originally described on the basis of a specific blood group phenotype with weak expression of Kell antigens. This erythrocyte abnormality also causes acanthocytosis. The haematological findings are associated with abnormalities in other organ systems, including neuromuscular manifestations. A 51-year-old patient was followed up for 11 years. He presented with persistent muscle creatine kinase elevation and progressive heart disease and later developed a slowly progressive neuropathy and choreic movements. His younger brother presented with grand mal seizures, involuntary movements and high muscle creatine kinase when aged 43 years. Clinical myopathy was absent in both, yet muscle biopsy showed mild myopathic changes. The presence of a motor axonopathy was supported by electrophysiological findings. One brother also showed sensory axonopathy. The movement disorder suggested accompanying basal ganglia dysfunction. Earlier reports of McLeod syndrome are reviewed with respect to neuromuscular involvement. Absence of the Kx membrane protein seems to be the cause of this multi-system disorder.
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PMID:McLeod syndrome: a distinct form of neuroacanthocytosis. Report of two cases and literature review with emphasis on neuromuscular manifestations. 151 5

The X-linked McLeod syndrome is defined by absent Kx red blood cell antigen and weak expression of Kell antigens, and this constellation may be accidentally detected in routine screening of apparently healthy blood donors. Most carriers of this McLeod blood group phenotype have acanthocytosis and elevated serum creatine kinase levels and are prone to develop a severe neurological disorder resembling Huntington's disease. Onset of neurological symptoms ranges between 25 and 60 years, and the penetrance of the disorder appears to be high. Additional symptoms of the McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome that warrant therapeutic and diagnostic considerations include generalized seizures, neuromuscular symptoms leading to weakness and atrophy, and cardiopathy mainly manifesting with atrial fibrillation, malignant arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy. Therefore, asymptomatic carriers of the McLeod blood group phenotype should have a careful genetic counseling, neurological examination and a cardiologic evaluation for the presence of a treatable cardiomyopathy.
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PMID:McLeod syndrome: a neurohaematological disorder. 1768 54