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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 2002 Jun;72(6):801–804. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.72.6.801

Phenocopies in a large GCH1 mutation positive family with dopa responsive dystonia: confusing the picture?

D Grimes 1, C Barclay 1, J Duff 1, Y Furukawa 1, A Lang 1
PMCID: PMC1737930  PMID: 12023430

Abstract

Objective: To study a large Canadian family with presumed DRD.

Methods: The clinical features of the family were collected before molecular genetic mutational analysis.

Results: All nine individuals in whom a clinical diagnosis of DRD was definite or probable were heterozygous for a GCH1 gene deletion. However, eight of nine possibly clinically affected members did not carry the GCH1 mutation.

Conclusions: Great care must be taken in diagnosing DRD even in families with the classic phenotype, because of potential phenocopies of the disease.

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