Menkes disease: a rare cause of bilateral inguinal hernias

Management of hyperplastic gastric polyp following upper gastrointestinal bleeding in infant with Menkes’ disease

We report a case of an infant with Menkes’ disease (MD) presented at the age of five months, with coffee ground vomiting, melaena with a significant drop of haemoglobin. Urgent endoscopic assessment revealed a friable bleeding trans-pyloric multi-lobulated sessile polyp. Due to further significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding, polypectomy occurred. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed with a grasp-and-snare technique using a dual channel operating gastroscope. Haemostasis was achieved by application of argon plasma coagulation where required. No perforation occurred. Repeated debridement was required 6 wk after which the growth was excised completely with no further blood transfusion required after that procedure. Histological examination confirmed ulcerated and inflamed hyperplastic polyp. We discuss our endoscopic technique and discuss the reported gastrointestinal manifestation of MD in the literature.

Looking past the lump: genetic aspects of inguinal hernia in children

Inguinal hernia is associated with a multitude of genetic syndromes. Disorders of the microfibril, elastin, collagen, and the glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix can result in an increase in the likelihood of inguinal hernia. In addition, inguinal hernia may be the presenting feature of disorders of sexual differentiation. Inguinal hernia of unknown etiology also occurs more commonly in several other groups of genetic diseases including chromosomal disorders, microdeletion disorders such as 22q11.2 microdeletion, and in single gene disorders. We review the genetics of connective tissue formation and focus on a series of genetic conditions that may present with or are characterized by a higher risk of inguinal hernia. A comprehensive review of the literature aims to provide a diagnostic framework to aid in the identification of patients with inguinal hernia as part of underlying genetic disease.

Menkes' disease: case report

Menkes’ disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder due to an intracellular defect of a copper transport protein. We describe a 7 months male patient who presented with seizures, hypoactivity and absence of visual contact. The investigation disclosed pilli torti and thrycorrexis nodosa in the hair, low serum levels of both copper and ceruloplasmin, brain magnetic resonance study showed atrophy and white matter hypointensities on T1-weighted images, electroencephalogram reveals moderate background activity disorganization and epileptiform activity, and muscle biopsy with type 2 fiber atrophy. The clinical, laboratorial, genetic, muscle biopsy and neurophysiological findings in Menkes’ disease are discussed.