Cockayne syndrome–xeroderma pigmentosum complex with demyelination: A rare association

Abstract

Xeroderma pigmentosum–Cockayne syndrome (XP–CS) includes facial freckling and early skin cancers typical of XP and some features typical of CS, such as mental retardation, spasticity, short stature, and hypogonadism. XP–CS does not include skeletal involvement, the facial phenotype of CS, or CNS demyelination and calcifications. We present a rare patient whose genome probably harbored a specific combination of mutations producing a rare double syndrome of XP–CS, with facial phenotype of CS, and CNS demyelination.

Introduction

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by growth failure, severe and progressive neurological deterioration, cachexia, retinal degeneration, and photosensitivity. Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients are characterized by photosensitivity, pigmentation, ophthalmological complications, and development of cutaneous malignancies.[1]

Case Report

A 6-year-old girl, born of second degree consanguineous marriage, with a birth weight of 3.0 kg, with no postnatal complications, presented with a history of progressive loss of appetite and weight, and regression of developmental milestones for the past 3 years. A younger sibling died at 5 months of age due to intussusception. Another sibling is 3 months old and apparently healthy. Her maternal grandfather and all his brothers are blind (their sister is healthy).

On examination, she weighed 8 kg, her height was 83 cm, and head circumference was 41 cm (all below the third centile). There was generalized wasting, hair was sparse, brittle, coarse, and light colored, and angular stomatitis was present [Figure 1]. Her eyes were deep set, nose was beaked, and she had freckles on her face in a butterfly distribution over the malar area. Dental caries was present. She could sit but not walk, spoke only bisyllables in a staccato manner. She had photophobia, but could recognize her mother. She had generalized hypotonia, and the deep tendon reflexes were not elicitable. Plantar reflexes were flexor bilaterally. She had cerebellar signs, and glabellar tap and palmomental reflexes were elicitable.

Figure 1.

Photograph of a child showing freckles, cachexia, sunken eyes and sparse hair

Investigations

Blood counts, serum electrolytes, and urine: normal. X-rays: osteopenia, but no skeletal anomalies. Screening for errors of metabolism: normal. Ophthalmological examination: early optic atrophy. Magnetic resonance imaging: diffuse enlargement of all the ventricles, especially the 4th [Figure 2]; cerebellum was atrophic, especially the vermis; hyperintensity seen in centrum semiovale bilaterally in T2 weighted images, suggestive of white matter degeneration. Nerve conduction study: Evidence of demyelination and axonopathy.

Figure 2.

MRI showing enlargement of 4^th ventricle and atrophy of vermis

Discussion

The differential diagnosis of CS includes other premature aging syndromes, endocrinopathies, chromosomal anomalies, and metabolic disorders. These were ruled out by routine physical and laboratory examinations. Postnatal growth failure (height and weight < 5^th centile by 2 years) and progressive neurologic dysfunction manifested as early developmental delay are the two major criteria for diagnosing CS.[2–4] Of the minor criteria required (any three are essential), she had cutaneous photosensitivity with thin, dry hair, optic atrophy, dental caries, and a characteristic physical appearance of “cachectic dwarfism” with thinning of the skin and sunken eyes. Fujimoto et al.[1] reported two cases of XP with additional features of CS with identical mutation (G47R), but they were phenotypically distinct. Since our patient satisfied the criteria of profound postnatal decline of somatic and brain growth (CS), and photosensitivity with ophthalmological complications (XP),[5] we conclude she was a rare case of CS XP complex.