Microphthalmia and brain atrophy: a novel neurodegenerative disease.
OBJECTIVE
To delineate the features of a novel neurodegenerative disease.


METHODS
We report three children of three related families with congenital microphthalmia and blindness, and progressive spasticity, microcephaly, seizures, and profound mental retardation.


RESULTS
A magnetic resonance imaging scan was normal at birth. However, follow-up studies showed progressive atrophy involving the cerebral white matter and cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, and corpus callosum. The white matter changes extended into the subcortical region leaving only small islands of remaining cortical tissue. Known metabolic conditions involving white matter degeneration were excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
We propose this to be a novel autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder to be coined MOBA (microphthalmia brain atrophy) disease.
Department of Pediatrics, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Øivind J
ØJ
Kanavin
Monika
M
Haakonsen
Andrès
A
Server
Tariq J
TJ
Bajwa
Marjo S
MS
van der Knaap
Petter
P
Strømme
D001284:Atrophy; D001766:Blindness; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005192:Family Health; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008850:Microphthalmos / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies