New Neuroimaging Findings in Enoyl-CoA Hydratase Short-Chain 1 (ECHS1) Deficiency
Hiroko Tada1, Keiko Ichimoto2, Kei Murayama3
1Department of Pediatrics, Chibaken Saiseikai Narashino Hospital, Narashino, JPN.
Insights
Enoyl-CoA hydratase short-chain 1 (ECHS1) deficiency can cause Leigh syndrome. This case highlights potential specific cerebellar involvement in ECHS1 variants, suggesting a need for focused neuroimaging.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Neurology
Background:
- Enoyl-CoA hydratase short-chain 1 (ECHS1) variants are a frequent cause of Leigh syndrome.
- Leigh syndrome is a severe multisystem disorder affecting the central nervous system.
Abstract:
Enoyl-CoA hydratase short-chain 1 (ECHS1) variants are among the most common causes of Leigh syndrome. A five-year-old boy with ECHS1 deficiency initially presented with acute encephalopathy during the neonatal period. The patient had a high serum lactate level and a normal lactate/pyruvate ratio. Diffusion-weighted imaging showed reduced diffusion in the peri-rolandic subcortical white matter on day 3 and in the entire cortex and subcortical white matter on day 7. The patient subsequently presented with poor feeding, hypotonia, nystagmus, cerebellar ataxia, hearing loss, and strabismus. At one year of age, neuroimaging revealed reduced diffusion, hyperperfusion on arterial spin labeling, and increased lactate on magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in the cerebellum. Cerebellar lesions have not previously been reported as imaging findings of ECHS1 deficiency except in one previous report of a patient with the same ECHS1 variant. Therefore, the ECHS1variant may specifically involve the cerebellum.
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