title: Genotype does not predict severity of behavioural phenotype in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this investigation was to examine genotype and clinical phenotype differences in individuals with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) who were homozygous for a common disease-causing deletion or compound heterozygous. The secondary aim was to cross-validate the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale (UBDRS), a disease-specific JNCL rating scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty individuals (28 males, 32 females; mean age 15y 1mo, SD 4y 9mo, range 5y 8mo--31y 1mo) with JNCL completed the UBDRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant genotype and clinical phenotype differences were identified when comparing individuals homozygous for the deletion with a heterogeneous group of compound heterozygous individuals. There were significant correlations among related behaviour items and scales on the CBCL and UBDRS (Spearman's rho ranging from 0.39 [p<0.05] to 0.72 [p<0.01]). Behaviour and physical function ratings were uncorrelated, supporting divergent validity of these two constructs in JNCL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous reports of genotype and clinical phenotype differences were unsupported in this investigation, which did not find differences between individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the CLN3 deletion. The CBCL, an already validated measure of behaviour problems, appears valid for use in JNCL and cross-validates well with the UBDRS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. heather_adams@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Heather R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vierhile
authors.forename: Erika F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: de Blieck
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics*; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C105199:CLN3 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones