Neuroimaging features in Wolfram syndrome type 1

Wolfram syndrome type 1 is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder which is characterized by the co-existence of diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness, and hence is also referred to as the acronym DIDMOAD. In this neuroimage, the typical neuroimaging features of a genetically confirmed case of Wolfram syndrome type 1 are presented. The presence of left-sided vestibulocochlear dysplasia is a novel finding in our case which has not been reported previously.

Central nervous system PET-CT imaging reveals regional impairments in pediatric patients with Wolfram syndrome

Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is inherited as an autosomal recessive disease with main clinical features of diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, diabetes insipidus and deafness. However, various neurological defects may also be detected. The aim of this study was to evaluate aspects of brain structure and function using PET-CT (positron emission tomography and computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in pediatric patients with WFS. Regional changes in brain glucose metabolism were measured using standardized uptake values (SUVs) based on images of (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in 7 WFS patients aged 10.1-16.0 years (mean 12.9±2.4) and in 20 healthy children aged 3-17.9 years (mean 12.8±4.1). In all patients the diagnosis of WFS was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the WFS1 gene. Hierarchical clustering showed remarkable similarities of glucose uptake patterns among WFS patients and their differences from the control group. SUV data were subsequently standardized for age groups <13 years old and>13 years old to account for developmental differences. Reduced SUVs in WFS patients as compared to the control group for the bilateral brain regions such as occipital lobe (-1.24±1.20 vs. -0.13±1.05; p = 0.028) and cerebellum (-1.11±0.69 vs. -0.204±1.00; p = 0.036) were observed and the same tendency for cingulate (-1.13±1.05 vs. -0.15±1.12; p = 0.056), temporal lobe (-1.10±0.98 vs. -0.15±1.10; p = 0.057), parietal lobe (-1.06±1.20 vs. -0.08±1.08; p = 0.058), central region (-1.01±1.04 vs. -0.09±1.06; p = 0.060), basal ganglia (-1.05±0.74 vs. -0.20±1.07; p = 0.066) and mesial temporal lobe (-1.06±0.82 vs. -0.26±1.08; p = 0.087) was also noticed. After adjusting for multiple hypothesis testing, the differences in glucose uptake were non-significant. For the first time, regional differences in brain glucose metabolism among patients with WFS were shown using PET-CT imaging.

WS1 gene mutation analysis of Wolfram syndrome in a Chinese patient and a systematic review of literatures

Wolfram syndrome is a rare hereditary disease characterized by diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. The outcome of this disease is always poor. WFS1 gene mutation is the main cause of this disease. A patient with diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, renal tract disorder, psychiatric abnormality, and cataract was diagnosed with Wolfram syndrome. Mutations in open reading frame (ORF) of WFS1 gene was analyzed by sequencing. Mutations in WFS1 gene was also summarized by a systematic review in Pubmed and Chinese biological and medical database. Sequencing of WFS1 gene in this patient showed a new mutation, 1962G>A, and two other non-sense mutations, 2433A>G and 2565G>A. Systematic review included 219 patients in total and identified 172 WFS1 gene mutations, most of which were located in Exon 8. These mutations in WFS1 gene might be useful in prenatal diagnosis of Wolfram syndrome.

Various clinical aspects of DIDMOAD (Wolfram) syndrome

The association of juvenile diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes insipidus (DI), optic atrophy (OA) and sensorineural deafness (D) is known as DIDMOAD or Wolfram syndrome. Aside from these four cardinal features, a wide variety of abnormalities of the nervous system, urinary tract and endocrine glands have been described in this syndrome. In this report, the clinical features of six patients with DIDMOAD syndrome are presented. All six patients had DM. Five of the six patients had DI, five OA and five displayed abnormal audiogram findings. In addition, two had goiter, two delayed puberty, one seizure and one mental retardation with depression attacks. Urinary tract dilatation was recorded in five patients. Four patients developed typical complications of DM. One of them had overt nephropathy and arthropathy despite the short duration of DM. In addition, this patient had diabetic retinopathy, which is considered to be rare in this syndrome.

[Wolfram's syndrome: correlation of clinical signs and neurological images]

Wolfram's syndrome is defined by the association of diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, optic atrophy and nerve deafness. Other neurological anomalies, such as ataxia, nystagmus, tonic pupil, dizziness, dysarthria, dysphagia and epilepsy are rarely described and tend to appear later than the primary manifestations. We describe a patient with Wolfram's syndrome whose magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the head showed brainstem and cerebellar atrophy years before the appearance of clinical signs of brainstem disfunction. We conclude that alterations in MRI precede neurological symptoms by several years in Wolfram's syndrome.

Wolfram (DIDMOAD) syndrome: a complex long-term problem in management

We describe five patients with Wolfram syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness). Three of the patients appear to have had very gradual onset of diabetes mellitus at an early age yet all patients when tested for C-peptide response to glucagon were severely deficient. All patients are registered blind from primary optic atrophy, two have severe hearing difficulties and three high tone sensorineural hearing loss on audiometry. Four patients have cranial diabetes insipidus which in two cases is partial and of gradual onset and was attributed to poor control of the diabetes mellitus. In one case treatment of the insipidus relieved enuresis. All five patients have evidence of dilatation of the urinary tract and one patient is managed in the long-term by self-catheterisation which has resulted in one episode of bacteraemia. One patient has marked testicular atrophy and investigation reveals this to be due to primary hypogonadism and not to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. One female patient had her menarche delayed until the age of 19 years but has subsequently had the only successful pregnancy in a patient with this syndrome of which we are aware.