U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Spasticity-ataxia-gait anomalies syndrome(SPAHGC)

MedGen UID:
905660
Concept ID:
C4225178
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: Spasticity, childhood-onset, with hyperglycinemia
SNOMED CT: Childhood-onset spasticity with hyperglycinemia (773492007); Spasticity, ataxia, gait anomalies syndrome (773492007); Childhood-onset spasticity with variant non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (773492007)
Modes of inheritance:
Autosomal recessive inheritance
MedGen UID:
141025
Concept ID:
C0441748
Intellectual Product
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that is observed for traits related to a gene encoded on one of the autosomes (i.e., the human chromosomes 1-22) in which a trait manifests in individuals with two pathogenic alleles, either homozygotes (two copies of the same mutant allele) or compound heterozygotes (whereby each copy of a gene has a distinct mutant allele).
 
Gene (location): GLRX5 (14q32.13)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0014803
OMIM®: 616859
Orphanet: ORPHA401866

Definition

Childhood-onset spasticity with hyperglycinemia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by onset of slowly progressive spasticity that results in impaired gait in the first decade of life. Imaging of the central nervous system shows leukodystrophy and/or lesions in the upper spinal cord. More variable features include visual defects and mild learning disabilities. Serum glycine is increased, but CSF glycine is only mildly increased or normal; serum lactate is normal. The disorder represents a form of 'variant' nonketotic hyperglycinemia and is distinct from classic nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH, or GCE; 605899), which is characterized by significantly increased CSF glycine. Several forms of 'variant' NKH, including SPAHGC, appear to result from defects of mitochondrial lipoate biosynthesis (summary by Baker et al., 2014). [from OMIM]

Clinical features

From HPO
Dysarthria
MedGen UID:
8510
Concept ID:
C0013362
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Dysarthric speech is a general description referring to a neurological speech disorder characterized by poor articulation. Depending on the involved neurological structures, dysarthria may be further classified as spastic, flaccid, ataxic, hyperkinetic and hypokinetic, or mixed.
Leukodystrophy
MedGen UID:
6070
Concept ID:
C0023520
Disease or Syndrome
Leukodystrophy refers to deterioration of white matter of the brain resulting from degeneration of myelin sheaths in the CNS. Their basic defect is directly related to the synthesis and maintenance of myelin membranes. Symmetric white matter involvement at MRI is a typical finding in patients with leukodystrophies.
Spastic diplegia
MedGen UID:
44181
Concept ID:
C0023882
Disease or Syndrome
Spasticity (neuromuscular hypertonia) primarily in the muscles of the legs, hips, and pelvis.
Spasticity
MedGen UID:
7753
Concept ID:
C0026838
Sign or Symptom
A motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes with increased muscle tone, exaggerated (hyperexcitable) tendon reflexes.
Babinski sign
MedGen UID:
19708
Concept ID:
C0034935
Finding
Upturning of the big toe (and sometimes fanning of the other toes) in response to stimulation of the sole of the foot. If the Babinski sign is present it can indicate damage to the corticospinal tract.
Seizure
MedGen UID:
20693
Concept ID:
C0036572
Sign or Symptom
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.
Hyperreflexia
MedGen UID:
57738
Concept ID:
C0151889
Finding
Hyperreflexia is the presence of hyperactive stretch reflexes of the muscles.
Abnormal pyramidal sign
MedGen UID:
68582
Concept ID:
C0234132
Sign or Symptom
Functional neurological abnormalities related to dysfunction of the pyramidal tract.
Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum
MedGen UID:
138005
Concept ID:
C0344482
Congenital Abnormality
Underdevelopment of the corpus callosum.
Gait disturbance
MedGen UID:
107895
Concept ID:
C0575081
Finding
The term gait disturbance can refer to any disruption of the ability to walk.
Increased CSF lactate
MedGen UID:
257904
Concept ID:
C1167918
Finding
Increased concentration of lactate in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Spastic ataxia
MedGen UID:
376528
Concept ID:
C1849156
Disease or Syndrome
Increased CSF glycine concentration
MedGen UID:
1691638
Concept ID:
C5139615
Finding
Abnormally increased levels of glycine in cerebrospinal fluid.
Hyperglycinemia
MedGen UID:
82817
Concept ID:
C0268559
Disease or Syndrome
An elevated concentration of glycine in the blood.
Increased circulating lactate concentration
MedGen UID:
332209
Concept ID:
C1836440
Finding
Abnormally increased level of blood lactate (2-hydroxypropanoic acid). Lactate is produced from pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase during normal metabolism. The terms lactate and lactic acid are often used interchangeably but lactate (the component measured in blood) is strictly a weak base whereas lactic acid is the corresponding acid. Lactic acidosis is often used clinically to describe elevated lactate but should be reserved for cases where there is a corresponding acidosis (pH below 7.35).
Reduced tissue glycine cleavage enzyme activity
MedGen UID:
1053784
Concept ID:
CN377977
Finding
Concentration or activity of the glycine cleavage enzyme below the lower limit of normal. This enzyme can be measured in multiple tissues including leukocytes and cultured fibroblasts.
Nystagmus
MedGen UID:
45166
Concept ID:
C0028738
Disease or Syndrome
Rhythmic, involuntary oscillations of one or both eyes related to abnormality in fixation, conjugate gaze, or vestibular mechanisms.
Optic atrophy
MedGen UID:
18180
Concept ID:
C0029124
Disease or Syndrome
Atrophy of the optic nerve. Optic atrophy results from the death of the retinal ganglion cell axons that comprise the optic nerve and manifesting as a pale optic nerve on fundoscopy.
Strabismus
MedGen UID:
21337
Concept ID:
C0038379
Disease or Syndrome
A misalignment of the eyes so that the visual axes deviate from bifoveal fixation. The classification of strabismus may be based on a number of features including the relative position of the eyes, whether the deviation is latent or manifest, intermittent or constant, concomitant or otherwise and according to the age of onset and the relevance of any associated refractive error.
Visual impairment
MedGen UID:
777085
Concept ID:
C3665347
Finding
Visual impairment (or vision impairment) is vision loss (of a person) to such a degree as to qualify as an additional support need through a significant limitation of visual capability resulting from either disease, trauma, or congenital or degenerative conditions that cannot be corrected by conventional means, such as refractive correction, medication, or surgery.
Decreased activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
MedGen UID:
326605
Concept ID:
C1839888
Finding

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVSpasticity-ataxia-gait anomalies syndrome

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Brioude F, Kalish JM, Mussa A, Foster AC, Bliek J, Ferrero GB, Boonen SE, Cole T, Baker R, Bertoletti M, Cocchi G, Coze C, De Pellegrin M, Hussain K, Ibrahim A, Kilby MD, Krajewska-Walasek M, Kratz CP, Ladusans EJ, Lapunzina P, Le Bouc Y, Maas SM, Macdonald F, Õunap K, Peruzzi L, Rossignol S, Russo S, Shipster C, Skórka A, Tatton-Brown K, Tenorio J, Tortora C, Grønskov K, Netchine I, Hennekam RC, Prawitt D, Tümer Z, Eggermann T, Mackay DJG, Riccio A, Maher ER
Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018 Apr;14(4):229-249. Epub 2018 Jan 29 doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.166. PMID: 29377879Free PMC Article
McCrindle BW, Rowley AH, Newburger JW, Burns JC, Bolger AF, Gewitz M, Baker AL, Jackson MA, Takahashi M, Shah PB, Kobayashi T, Wu MH, Saji TT, Pahl E; American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; and Council on Epidemiology and Prevention
Circulation 2017 Apr 25;135(17):e927-e999. Epub 2017 Mar 29 doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000484. PMID: 28356445
Miller DT, Adam MP, Aradhya S, Biesecker LG, Brothman AR, Carter NP, Church DM, Crolla JA, Eichler EE, Epstein CJ, Faucett WA, Feuk L, Friedman JM, Hamosh A, Jackson L, Kaminsky EB, Kok K, Krantz ID, Kuhn RM, Lee C, Ostell JM, Rosenberg C, Scherer SW, Spinner NB, Stavropoulos DJ, Tepperberg JH, Thorland EC, Vermeesch JR, Waggoner DJ, Watson MS, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH
Am J Hum Genet 2010 May 14;86(5):749-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.04.006. PMID: 20466091Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Jacquinet A, Millar D, Lehman A
Am J Med Genet A 2016 Aug;170(8):2141-72. Epub 2016 Jun 8 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37775. PMID: 27273803
Cereda A, Carey JC
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2012 Oct 23;7:81. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-7-81. PMID: 23088440Free PMC Article
Scambler PJ
Hum Mol Genet 2000 Oct;9(16):2421-6. doi: 10.1093/hmg/9.16.2421. PMID: 11005797
Kwaan HC, Bongu A
Semin Thromb Hemost 1999;25(2):199-208. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-994921. PMID: 10357087
Kirschner PA
Chest Surg Clin N Am 1998 May;8(2):449-72. PMID: 9619316

Diagnosis

Yapijakis C, Pachis N, Sotiriadou T, Vaila C, Michopoulou V, Vassiliou S
In Vivo 2023 Jan-Feb;37(1):36-46. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13052. PMID: 36593018Free PMC Article
Chen J, Kanekar S
Clin Perinatol 2022 Sep;49(3):771-790. Epub 2022 Aug 22 doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2022.04.005. PMID: 36113934
Hussein A, Malguria N
Radiol Clin North Am 2020 Jul;58(4):815-830. Epub 2020 Apr 23 doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2020.02.003. PMID: 32471546
Jacquinet A, Millar D, Lehman A
Am J Med Genet A 2016 Aug;170(8):2141-72. Epub 2016 Jun 8 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37775. PMID: 27273803
D'Alton ME, Simpson LL
Semin Perinatol 1995 Oct;19(5):375-86. doi: 10.1016/s0146-0005(05)80015-1. PMID: 8821025

Therapy

Sawh-Martinez R, Steinbacher DM
Clin Plast Surg 2019 Apr;46(2):141-155. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2018.11.009. PMID: 30851747
Barbara MA, Abdilla Y, Calleja-Agius J
Neonatal Netw 2017 May 1;36(3):124-128. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.36.3.124. PMID: 28494823
Winter PR, Itinteang T, Leadbitter P, Tan ST
Acta Paediatr 2016 Feb;105(2):145-53. Epub 2015 Nov 27 doi: 10.1111/apa.13242. PMID: 26469095
Altemose GT, Buxton AE
Annu Rev Med 1999;50:159-77. doi: 10.1146/annurev.med.50.1.159. PMID: 10073270
Hersh JH, Podruch PE, Rogers G, Weisskopf B
J Pediatr 1985 Jun;106(6):922-7. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(85)80238-9. PMID: 4039753

Prognosis

Clemens RK, Pfammatter T, Meier TO, Alomari AI, Amann-Vesti BR
Vasa 2015 Mar;44(2):92-105. doi: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000414. PMID: 25698387
Cereda A, Carey JC
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2012 Oct 23;7:81. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-7-81. PMID: 23088440Free PMC Article
Bhatia S, Holla RG
Indian Pediatr 2005 Apr;42(4):373-5. PMID: 15876600
Stevens CA, Sargent LA
Am J Med Genet 2002 Jan 1;107(1):30-7. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.10123. PMID: 11807864
D'Alton ME, Simpson LL
Semin Perinatol 1995 Oct;19(5):375-86. doi: 10.1016/s0146-0005(05)80015-1. PMID: 8821025

Clinical prediction guides

Yapijakis C, Pachis N, Sotiriadou T, Vaila C, Michopoulou V, Vassiliou S
In Vivo 2023 Jan-Feb;37(1):36-46. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13052. PMID: 36593018Free PMC Article
Vanlerberghe C, Boutry N, Petit F
Clin Genet 2018 Jul;94(1):43-53. Epub 2018 Apr 11 doi: 10.1111/cge.13209. PMID: 29322497
Jacquinet A, Millar D, Lehman A
Am J Med Genet A 2016 Aug;170(8):2141-72. Epub 2016 Jun 8 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37775. PMID: 27273803
Clemens RK, Pfammatter T, Meier TO, Alomari AI, Amann-Vesti BR
Vasa 2015 Mar;44(2):92-105. doi: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000414. PMID: 25698387
Scambler PJ
Hum Mol Genet 2000 Oct;9(16):2421-6. doi: 10.1093/hmg/9.16.2421. PMID: 11005797

Recent systematic reviews

Martín-Martín M, Cortés-Martín J, Tovar-Gálvez MI, Sánchez-García JC, Díaz-Rodríguez L, Rodríguez-Blanque R
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Feb 7;19(3) doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031870. PMID: 35162892Free PMC Article
Maghfour J, Ly S, Haidari W, Taylor SL, Feldman SR
J Dermatolog Treat 2022 May;33(3):1231-1242. Epub 2020 Sep 14 doi: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1818678. PMID: 32886029
Payne LE, Gagnon DJ, Riker RR, Seder DB, Glisic EK, Morris JG, Fraser GL
Crit Care 2017 Nov 14;21(1):276. doi: 10.1186/s13054-017-1856-1. PMID: 29137682Free PMC Article
Caputo C, Wood E, Jabbour L
Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today 2016 Jun;108(2):174-80. Epub 2016 Jun 13 doi: 10.1002/bdrc.21129. PMID: 27297122
Stefan C, Iliescu DA, Batras M, Timaru CM, De Simone A
Rom J Ophthalmol 2015 Jan-Mar;59(1):14-8. PMID: 27373109Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...