A Case Report of Homocystinuria With Dystonia and Stroke
Arezoo Rezazadeh1, Shahram Oveisgharan2, Gholamali Shahidi3
1Department of Neurology, Valiasr Hospital, Khoramshahr, Iran.
Insights
This case study highlights homocystinuria, a rare genetic disorder. Early diagnosis and pyridoxine treatment can reverse neurological symptoms like dystonia, though vascular complications may persist.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Neurology
Background:
- Inherited homocystinuria is a rare autosomal recessive aminoacidopathy.
- Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent severe neurologic and vascular complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of homocystinuria in a 9-year-old girl with sequential symptoms.
- To investigate the effects of pyridoxine treatment on neurological and vascular complications.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case presentation.
- Laboratory evaluation of serum homocysteine levels.
- Neuroimaging (MRI/MRA) to assess brain structure and vasculature.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with lens dislocation, skeletal issues, and dystonia.
- Severe hyperhomocysteinemia was confirmed.
- Neuroimaging revealed white matter infarcts and carotid stenosis.
- Pyridoxine treatment significantly improved dystonia but not carotid stenosis.
Conclusions:
- Homocysteine may exert both reversible functional and irreversible structural effects.
- Pyridoxine can be effective in managing functional neurological deficits even at later stages.
- Vascular complications like carotid stenosis may require different management strategies.
Abstract:
Inherited homocystinuria is a rare autosomal recessive aminoacidopathy which through early diagnosis can prevent its severe neurologic and vascular complications. Here we report a 9-year-old girl with homocystinuria, presenting with sequential symptoms of bilateral lens dislocation, skeletal complication, and eventually dystonia from the age of 4 years. Laboratory evaluation revealed severe high serum homocysteine level. Although pathophysiologically unexplained, evidence of deep white matter watershed infarct along with remarkable ipsilateral carotid stenosis was detected on the contralateral side of the dystonia in the neuroimaging. Treatment with high dose of pyridoxine relieved limb and gait dystonia significantly, while carotid stenosis remained unchanged. Therefore, homocysteine might have both structural and irreversible effect and functional and reversible impact that could be overcome even in late stages.
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