Mental retardation and seizure disorder in Schimke immunoosseous dysplasia

Schimke immunoosseous dysplasia (SID) is a rare, pleiotropic disorder compromising spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, nephrotic syndrome, defective T-cell-mediated immunity, and vascular changes which can lead to cerebral infarcts. The cause is unknown but an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern has been suggested. Understanding of the clinical phenotype is evolving; however, the neurologic spectrum is not well known. We report on a 17-year-old woman who presented with behavior changes, developmental regression, and partial complex seizures in early childhood. Computed tomographic scan of the brain was normal at that time. Short stature and cognitive deficits became evident several months later. At 4 1/2 years, she developed nephrotic syndrome and later malignant hypertension. Recent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed focal encephalomalacia in the parietal regions and a magnetic resonance angiography documented narrowing of the middle cerebral arteries. A skeletal survey showed evidence of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. We have not been able to identify an immune defect. To our knowledge this is the first reported patient with SID, profound mental retardation, and a seizure disorder. This case supports the theory that an intrinsic vascular defect may be more important in the pathogenesis of SID than a T-cell-mediated immune deficit.