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Neurocognitive functioning in Lesch-Nyhan disease and partial hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2002

DAVID J. SCHRETLEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
JAMES C. HARRIS
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
KAREN S. PARK
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
HYDER A. JINNAH
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
NATALIA OJEDA DEL POZO
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Now in Department of Psychology, Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao, Spain

Abstract

Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND) is a rare, X-linked genetic disorder that involves the nearly complete absence of an enzyme (hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase, or HPRT) that is essential for purine salvage. In addition to hyperuricemia, all patients with classic LND suffer from movement disorder and compulsive self-injury, and most have mental retardation. Patients with partial HPRT deficiency (variants) always have hyperuricemia and often have neurologic abnormalities, but do not self-injure and usually are described as having normal intelligence. Here we compare 15 patients with LND to 9 variants and 13 normal adolescents and adults. Testing revealed unambiguous and qualitatively similar cognitive deficits in both patient groups. The variants produced scores that were intermediate between those of patients with LND and normal participants on nearly every cognitive measure. We discuss these findings in terms of what is known about the neuropathology of LND. (JINS, 2001, 7, 805–812.)

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2001 The International Neuropsychological Society

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