Brain-lung-thyroid disease: clinical features of a kindred with a novel thyroid transcription factor 1 mutation

J Child Neurol. 2012 Jan;27(1):68-73. doi: 10.1177/0883073811413584. Epub 2011 Aug 3.

Abstract

Brain-lung-thyroid disease is a rare familial disorder caused by mutations in thyroid transcription factor 1, a gene that regulates neuronal migration. We report the clinical features of ten patients from a single family with a novel gene mutation, including observations regarding treatment. Neurologic features of the kindred included developmental delay, learning difficulties, psychosis, chorea, and dystonia. Three patients had a history of seizure, which has not been previously reported in genetically confirmed cases. Low-dose dopamine-receptor blocking drugs were poorly tolerated in 2 patients who received this therapy, levodopa improved chorea in 3 of 4 children, and diazepam was markedly effective in a single adult patient. Chorea related to brain-lung-thyroid disease appears to respond paradoxically to antidopaminergic drugs. The unusual therapeutic response seen in our patients and others may help elucidate how disease-related migratory deficits affect neural pathways associated with motor control.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain Diseases / complications
  • Brain Diseases / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lung Diseases / complications
  • Lung Diseases / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Thyroid Diseases / complications
  • Thyroid Diseases / genetics*
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • NKX2-1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors