title: Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration in two Chinese children: identification of a novel PANK2 gene mutation.
abstract: Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (formerly Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome), the most prevalent form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, is a rare degenerative brain disease characterised by predominantly extrapyramidal dysfunction resulting from mutations in the PANK2 (pantothenate kinase 2) gene. Using DNA mutation analysis, the authors identified a novel missense mutation (P354L) in exon 4 of the PANK2 gene in an adolescent with classic pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration. DNA-based diagnosis of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration plays a key role in determination, and can make the diagnosis more simply, directly, and economically because it obviates the need for unnecessary biochemical tests. Once pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration-like symptoms are identified, mutation analysis and target screening for the family of the proband can provide efficient and accurate evidence of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration inheritance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. chanky1@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics*; D006211:Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); C023088:pantothenate kinase