Abstract
The clinical and pathological features of siblings with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy were reported. Early clinical symptoms were marked hypotonia in legs, mental regression and poor vision. Laboratory data were normal except for the mild elevation of GOT and LDH in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. MRI showed progressive atrophy of cerebellar vermis and brainstem. EEG showed a progressive increase in the amount and amplitude of the fast activities over the age of 3 years. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) showed progressive worsening with no response by 2 years and 6 months. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) showed no cortical response by 4 years. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of both motor and sensory nerves was within normal limits. Pathologically, spheroid bodies were found in the axons of central and peripheral nerves, remarkedly in brainstem and dorsal column. MRI, ABR and SEP findings were clinically useful, suggestive of the degeneration of brainstem.
