search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


Indian Journal of Human Genetics
Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Society of Human Genetics
ISSN: 0971-6866 EISSN: 1998-362x
Vol. 14, Num. 2, 2008, pp. 65-66

Indian Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 14, No. 2, May-August, 2008, pp. 65-66

Case Report

Hereditary multiple exostoses and schizophrenia

Department of UME, C.R.P San Juan de Dios (UME), Avenida de Zaragoza No 10, 44001, Teruel
Correspondence Address:C.R.P San Juan de Dios (UME), Avenida de Zaragoza No 10, 44001, Teruel
germantrucha@yahoo.es

Code Number: hg08014

Abstract

I report a case of a patient who suffered schizophrenia and multiple exostoses and argue the possible role of EXT gene and nearly chromosomal loci in further genetic investigations related to schizophrenia.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, multiple exostoses, genetics

In 1989 Aizenberg et al., presented a case history of two members of a family with multiple exostoses, ventricular brain enlargement and psychosis. [1]

Case Report

We report the case of a 36-year-old male, who was admitted in October 2007 and diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia. He had personal and family history of multiple exostoses [Figure - 1], but no family history of psychosis. Psychiatric manifestations of our case are similar to Aizenberg´s cases: Age of onset (around 20), labile and incongruent effect, lack of insight, marked paranoid delusions, no perceptual disturbances, lack of response to neuroleptic treatment, and poor social and laboral adjustment. The results of general blood chemistries were within normal limits. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a little ventricular enlargement.

After the patient′s psychotic behavior began, several trials were performed with high doses of various neuroleptic and mood stabilizer drugs (Haloperidol, Risperidone, Ziprasidone, Divalproex, Lithium.). Augmentation and combination strategies and electroconvulsive therapy were also tried with poor response, and several psychiatric hospitalizations were required. Finally, a slow and partial response to the combination of Olanzapine 20 mg/day, Haloperidol 20 mg/day, Lamotrigine 300 mg/day, clonazepam 2 mg/day and Zuclopenthixol 40 mg/day was obtained.

The patient suffered from multiple osteochondromas near the ends of long bones (mainly in his legs), which needed surgical orthopedic interventions when he reached late adolescence.

Discussion

Multiple exostoses is a genetically heterogeneous disease with at least three chromosomal loci: EXT1 (Chromosome 8), EXT2 (Chromosome 11), EXT 3 (Chromosome 19). An autosomal dominant pattern of transmission has been described, although approximately 20% of reported cases have no family history of the disease. [2] Exostoses are rarely present at birth, but gradually arise and increase in size with age with a wide spectrum of clinical presentation: from only radiologically distinguishable signs, to different skeletal deformities that remain minor physical anomalies of schizophrenics. [3]

Genetic transmission, phenotype-genotype correlation, variable spectrum of clinical manifestations and disease courses are very similar in both multiple exostoses and schizophrenia. All these shared characteristics and the cases reported, lead us to believe in the important role of EXT genes and nearly chromosomal loci, in further genetic investigations related to schizophrenia.

References

1.Aizenberg D, Blumensohn R, Shalev A, Munitz H. Multiple exostoses, brain ventricular enlargement and schizophrenia. Psychiatr J Univ Ott 1989;14:298-300.  Back to cited text no. 1  [PUBMED]  
2.Alvarez C, Tredwell S, De Vera M, Hayden M. The genotype-phenotype correlation of hereditary multiple exostoses. Clin Genet 2006;70:122-30.  Back to cited text no. 2  [PUBMED]  [FULLTEXT]
3.Alvarez C, De Vera M, Heslip TR, Casey B. Evaluation of the anatomic burden of patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2007;462:73-9.  Back to cited text no. 3    

Copyright 2008 - Indian Journal of Human Genetics


The following images related to this document are available:

Photo images

[hg08014f1.jpg]
Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil