title: Joubert syndrome: Clinical and radiological characteristics of nine patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Joubert Syndrome (JS) is a rare genetic developmental disorder, first identified in 1969. In patients with JS, certain regions of the brain (mainly cerebellar vermis and brainstem) are underdeveloped or malformed. This can lead to impaired attention, visual, spatial, motor, language and social functional skills. JS is characterized by a host of features, many of which do not occur in every patient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To spotlight and increase awareness of clinical profile and neuroimaging findings of children with Joubert syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective case series study of patients with JS who attended the Pediatric Neurology Clinic in Aladan and Alfarawanya Hospitals in Kuwait, from September 2007 to September 2012. Clinical and radiological data were obtained from the patient medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cerebellar vermis hypoplasia/aplasia and apnea were present in all patients, polydactly in 3 of 16, renal problems with cysts in 5 patients and 11 of 16 had abnormal electroretinograms (ERGs). Blood investigations of organic acids, amino acids and very-long-chain fatty acid, were normal in the all the nine patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  JS is a rare genetic brain malformation with association of retinal dystrophy and renal abnormalities. The retinal dystrophy may be progressive. The prognosis of patients depends mainly on the degree of brain malformation.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Elmansoura University, Egypt.
authors: Ahmed Farag
authors: AF
authors: Elhassanien
authors: Hesham Abdel-Aziz
authors: HA
authors: Alghaiaty
keywords: Cerebellar vermis hypoplasia; Joubert syndrome; children; renal anomalies; retinal dystrophy
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