A double CYP27A1 gene mutation in spinal cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis in a patient presenting with spastic gait: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2024 Jul 11;18(1):334. doi: 10.1186/s13256-024-04426-1.

Abstract

Background: Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX, OMIM #213700) is a rare inherited metabolic disease caused by the mutation in the CYP27A1 gene. Spinal CTX is a rare clinical subgroup of CTX which lacks typical symptoms seen in classical CTX. Here we report a spinal CTX case revealed double mutation of CYP27A1 gene.

Case presentation: A 42-year-old Asian man visited our hospital with spastic gait started at 35. Physical examination showed bilateral masses on his Achilles tendons and were identified as xanthoma on ankle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain and spinal cord MRI revealed high signal lesions in bilateral cerebellar dentate nuclei and long tract lesions involving lateral corticospinal and gracile tracts. Gene analysis revealed double heterozygous mutation, c.223C > T (p. Gln75Ter) and c.1214G > A (p. Arg405Gln).

Conclusions: We believe that novel mutation detected in our case might have a role in the pathomechanism in CTX. Moreover, spinal CTX should be considered in the patients only presenting with pyramidal symptoms, as CTX shows good prognosis in early treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid.

Keywords: CYP27A1; Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis; Chenodeoxycholic acid; Myelopathy; Spinal CTX.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Achilles Tendon / diagnostic imaging
  • Achilles Tendon / pathology
  • Adult
  • Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase* / genetics
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / etiology
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous* / complications
  • Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous* / diagnosis
  • Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous* / drug therapy
  • Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous* / genetics
  • Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous* / physiopathology

Substances

  • CYP27A1 protein, human
  • Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase