Co-occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A in a patient with a novel mutation in the mitofusin-2 gene.
Mitofusin-2 gene (MFN2) mutations cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A (CMT2A), sometimes complicated by additional features such as optic atrophy, hearing loss, upper motor neuron signs and cerebral white-matter abnormalities. Here we report, for the first time, the occurrence of motor neuron disease, consistent with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in a 62-year-old woman affected by early-onset slowly progressive CMT2A, due to a novel MFN2 mutation. After age 60, rate of disease progression changed and she rapidly developed generalised muscle wasting, weakness, and fasciculations, together with dysarthria and dysphagia. Clinical features, EMG findings, and fast progression were consistent with ALS superimposed on CMT.
Unit of Clinic of Central and Peripheral Degenerative Neuropathies, IRCCS Foundation, C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
Chiara
C
Marchesi
Claudia
C
Ciano
Ettore
E
Salsano
Lorenzo
L
Nanetti
Micaela
M
Milani
Cinzia
C
Gellera
Franco
F
Taroni
Gian Maria
GM
Fabrizi
Antonino
A
Uncini
Davide
D
Pareyson
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; C470018:MFN2 protein, human