Peripheral neuropathy in late-onset Krabbe disease: report of three cases

Neurol Sci. 2013 Jan;34(1):79-83. doi: 10.1007/s10072-012-0956-6. Epub 2012 Jan 25.

Abstract

Late-onset Krabbe disease may have variable misleading clinical manifestations and be a puzzling problem for physicians. We report clinical and peripheral nerve studies of three patients with adult-onset Krabbe disease. Two cases had a predominantly spastic paraparesis; in one case, the symptoms mimicked a cerebrovascular disorder. Predominantly, demyelinating neuropathy was observed in one case and axonal neuropathy in two cases. In all cases, no typical intracytoplasmic inclusions were found. These observations suggest that peripheral neuropathy in adult-onset Krabbe disease has variable clinical and pathological characteristics, different from those described in the classic form.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Female
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / etiology
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / pathology
  • Galactosylceramidase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell / complications*
  • Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Peripheral Nerves / pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Galactosylceramidase