Adult type beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency in three siblings

In recent years, there have been described a number of patients with beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency of juvenile onset. The clinical features in these patients are myoclonus, cherry-red spots, insidious visual loss, corneal clouding, gargoyle like appearance and ataxia. The condition appears to be transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Pathologically it has been characterized that there are vacuolation of lymphocytes, and inclusion bodies such as concentric membranous bodies in the ganglion cells of the rectum. Here we report a patient with beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency of juvenile onset in whom unusual "fingerprint" profiles were obtained in the submucosal ganglion cells in the rectum and will discuss the clinical significance of the inclusion bodies.