Exp Neurobiol.  2013 Jun;22(2):128-131. 10.5607/en.2013.22.2.128.

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia with a Novel SPAST Mutation Misdiagnosed with Subacute Combined Degeneration

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 110-744, Korea. jjsaint@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicines, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 110-744, Korea. sparkle@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (AD-HSP) is due to mutations in the "spastin" gene (SPAST gene) encoding the AAA protein. The main clinical features of "pure" HSP are progressive lower-limb spasticity with corticospinal tracts and dorsal column degeneration without peripheral neuropathy. Here we report the case of HSP with novel SPAST gene mutation that misdiagnosed with subacute combined degeneration initially. A 58-year-old man with gait disturbance came to our hospital. He was unable to regulate his steps by himself. The impaired gait began 3 years after he had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy for 6 months. Thereafter, he started feeling tingling sensations in the hands and feet and acquired gait difficulties. He denied having a family history of abnormal gait or developmental problem. We diagnosed him with subacute combined degeneration on the evidence of history of gastrectomy, lower normal limit of vitamin B12 (363 pg/ml), apparent absence of vibration sensations and paresthesia in the feet. He was intramuscularly administered cyanocobalamin regularly. However, there was no improvement in his condition. We reconsidered his symptoms and signs, decided to examine the SPAST gene, which is the most common mutation in HSP. The SPAST gene, c.870+1delG, heterozygote, splicing mutation is detected from the gene sample. There was no previous information of this polymorphism or mutation at this locus. We examined his two children, and the same mutation was founded in his son. We report a patient of novel SPAST gene mutation with AD-HSP which is misdiagnosed with SCD.

Keyword

hereditary spastic paraplegia; SPAST protein; subacute combined degeneration

MeSH Terms

Child
Foot
Gait
Gastrectomy
Hand
Heterozygote
Humans
Muscle Spasticity
Paresthesia
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Porphyrins
Pyramidal Tracts
Sensation
Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary
Subacute Combined Degeneration
Vibration
Vitamin B 12
Porphyrins
Vitamin B 12
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