Lesch-nyhan syndrome E79.10

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 01.01.2021

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Synonym(s)

Automutilation Syndrome; Autophagy; HGPRT deficiency; Hyperuricemia syndrome; Hypoxanthine-guanine phospho-ribosyl transferase deficiency

History
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Catel and Schmidt, 1959; Lesch and Nyhan, 1964

Definition
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X-chromosomal recessive inherited disorder of the purine metabolism, including skin changes, nephrolithiasis, intelligence defects and self-mutilation tendency.

Occurrence/Epidemiology
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Incidence: 1/100.000 inhabitants/year.

Etiopathogenesis
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X-linked recessive inherited absence of hypoxantine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase in cells with greatly increased uric acid production and autophagy. Mutations in the gene coding for the enzyme HGPRT (gene locus: Xq26-q27.2) are discussed as the cause. Pathogenetically, this is a disorder in the structure of purine bodies. The consequences are increased uric acid production and uric acid storage in various organs, basal brain ganglia, joints and kidneys.

Clinical features
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  • Integument: Ulcerative or crusted skin defects as a result of automutilation in the form of autophagy, esp. on lips, hands, fingers, etc.
  • Extracutaneous manifestations: gouty nodules (cartilages of ears, joints, etc.), nephrolithiasis(urate stones), haematuria, gouty arthritis, oligophrenia, developmental delay, nystagmus. Severe mental retardation with spasticity, hyperreflexia, clonus, positive Babinski reflex, choreoathetosis, hyperkinesia and hyperpyrexia seizures, acroosteolysis.

Laboratory
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Uric acid 5-15 mg/dl; hyperlipidemia, lack of HGPRTase, secondary anemia.

Diagnosis
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Prenatal diagnosis possible by detection of missing enzyme activity (HGPRT activity measurement) from amniotic fluid cells and chorionvilli (or molecular genetic by direct mutation detection) Prenatal diagnosis already performed in the pre-implantation (8-cell) stage!

Differential diagnosis
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Idiopathic mental retardation; epilepsy with involuntary injuries; Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome; Möbius syndrome; Pseudo-Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

Complication(s)
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Renal failure

Therapy
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Causal therapy not known, allopurinol for hyperuricemia.

Progression/forecast
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Death mostly around the age of 10 years in the context of organ damage in hyperuricemia and uric acid crystal deposits.

Literature
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  1. Catel W, Schmidt J (1959) On familial gouty diathesis associated with cerebral and renal symptoms in an infant. Dtsch med Wschr 84: 2145-2147
  2. Ghei M et al (2002) Pathogenesis of hyperuricemia: recent advances. Curr Rheumatol Rep 4: 270-274
  3. Gibbs D et al (1984) First-trimester diagnosis of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Lancet II: 1180
  4. Lesch M, Nyhan WL (1964) A familiar disorder of uric acid metabolism and central nervous system function. Am J Med 36: 561-570
  5. Robey KL et al (2003) Modes and patterns of self-mutilation in persons with Lesch-Nyhan disease. Dev Med Child Neurol 45: 167-171

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Please ask your physician for a reliable diagnosis. This website is only meant as a reference.

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Last updated on: 01.01.2021