Two siblings with Cockayne's syndrome, 4 year and 2-year old girls, were reported.Moreo ver, clinical findings of 20 cases with this synd rome, including our two cases, in Japan were discussed.
Case P.O. (4-year) has been mentally retarded since 3 months, and exhibited cachectic dwar fism, pepper and salt type retinitis pigmentosa, photosensitivity, microcephaly, motor disturban ce and cerebellar signs.These signs were typical of Cockayne's syndrome.
Case S.O. (2ye ar), a younger sister of R.O., has been retarded in motor develoment since 8 months of age, and exhibited pepper and salt type retinitis pigmentosa, photosensitivity, microceph aly, mental difficiency and cerebellar signs.The re was no cachectic dwarfism, but short stature was present.These signs were not typical of Cockayne's syndrome.
In both c ases, computed tomography of the brain showed calcifications in the basal ganglia, and in R.O.the basal ganglia was enhancnd after infusion of contrast medium.This finding sugge sted that the blood-brain barrier was destroyed in the basal ganglia.
In both cases, nerve conduction velocities were determined in the right median nerve and the right peroneal nerve.Peripheral neuropathy was found in R.O., evidenced by markedly slow nerve conduction velocities.In S.O., nerve conduction velocities were at the lower limits of normal val ues or slightly slow.
The serum arylsulfatase-A activity in both cases was normal.
Clinical findings of Cockayne's syndrome in Japan were reviewed.The estimated age of onset varied from I month after birth to 3 years of age. Ten males and nine females were reported.In one case the sex of the patient was not referred.In the family history, consanguinity was found in 11 families of 17 affected families.There were 6 sib ling cases in 3 families.The results described above with regard to the family history are com patible with the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.The clinical signs of 20 cases inclu ded mental deficiency in 19 cases, cachectic dwa rfism in 17 cases, photosensitivity in 16 cases, pepper and salt type retinitis pigmentosa in 15 cases, microcephaly in 16 cases and ankylosis in 16 cases.Other signs such as partial deafness, sunken eyes, optic atrophy and cerebellar signs etc.were observed in some more than half of cases.
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