Infantile progressive striato-thalamic degeneration in two siblings: a new syndrome

The clinical features, neuroimaging, and neuropathologic findings of a new syndrome, characterized by onset in early infancy, progressive course, choreiform movements, hypotonia, and dysphagia, are described in 2 siblings originating from a consanguineous marriage. The serial neuroimaging studies indicated progressive loss of volume of both caudate nuclei and change in signal intensity in putamina. Pathologically, there was severe neuronal loss and gliosis in the striatum and thalamus. This pathologic pattern in association with clinical and radiologic correlates, to our knowledge, has not been previously described. It appears that this syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder.