Introduction: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a set of neurodegenerative clinical features characterised by a progressive loss of strength in the lower limbs together with spasticity. It is the result of an axonal lesion in the corticospinal tracts. Type 1, known as SPG1, is the most common form of X-linked HSP. This is produced by a mutation in the gene for the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM). SPG1 presents with CRASH syndrome (corpus callosum hypoplasia, retardation, adducted thumbs, spasticity and hydrocephalus).
Case reports: We report the cases of three males, two brothers and a cousin (on the mother's side), with clinical features including intellectual disability, spastic paraparesis, long tract signs, facial dysmorphism and adducted thumbs. Neuroimaging revealed agenesis of the corpus callosum and ventriculomegaly in all three of them. Neurophysiological and metabolic studies were normal. The genetic study evidenced a specific mutation of the L1CAM gene (Xq28) in all three cases.
Conclusion: We describe the clinical-radiological findings in three males with CRASH syndrome due to mutation c.516G>A in exon 5 of the L1CAM gene. These seem to be the first cases reported in Spain, according to the current literature. We recommend suspecting this syndrome when spastic paraparesis, intellectual disability and adducted thumbs are associated.
Title: Paraplejia espastica hereditaria ligada al cromosoma X por mutacion en el gen L1CAM: presentacion de tres casos del sindrome CRASH.
Introduccion. La paraplejia espastica hereditaria (PEH) representa un conjunto de cuadros clinicos neurodegenerativos que se caracteriza por perdida progresiva de fuerza en los miembros inferiores con espasticidad. Esto se debe a una lesion axonal en los haces corticoespinales. La de tipo 1, conocida como SPG1, es la forma mas comun de PEH ligada al cromosoma X. Esta se produce por una mutacion en el gen de la molecula de adhesion celular L1 (L1CAM). La SPG1 se manifiesta con el sindrome CRASH (corpus callosum hypoplasia, retardation, adducted thumbs, spasticity and hydrocephalus). Casos clinicos. Tres varones, dos hermanos y un primo (materno), con un cuadro clinico de discapacidad intelectual, paraparesia espastica, piramidalismo, dismorfias faciales y pulgares en aduccion. La neuroimagen mostro agenesia del cuerpo calloso y ventriculomegalia en los tres. Los estudios neurofisiologico y metabolico fueron normales. El estudio genetico evidencio en todos ellos una mutacion concreta en el gen L1CAM (Xq28). Conclusion. Se describen los hallazgos clinicorradiologicos de tres varones afectos de sindrome CRASH por mutacion c.516G>A en el exon 5 del gen L1CAM. Estos parecen ser los primeros casos descritos en España segun la bibliografia actual. Recomendamos sospechar este sindrome cuando se asocian paraparesia espastica, discapacidad intelectual y pulgares aductos.