Pallido-luyso-nigral atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Clinical and neuropathological studies of a case of pallido-luyso-nigral atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a young woman with a strong likelihood of a similar familial past medical history have been presented. Microscopic examination revealed neuronal loss and gliosis of globus pallidus, corpus luysii and substantia nigra. Pallor of the pyramidal tracts and neuronal loss in hypoglossal nuclei and anterior horns with gliosis were present. The rarity of the association of a pallido-luyso-nigral atrophy and an ALS, the occurrence of an ALS at such a young age and the fact that her grandmother died of Parkinson disease at age 30 suggest that this association may represent more than a coincidental occurrence.