open access

Vol 58, No 1 (2024)
Research Paper
Submitted: 2023-10-06
Accepted: 2023-12-08
Published online: 2023-12-29
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Small vessel disease in primary familial brain calcification with novel truncating PDGFB variants

Maha Yektay Farahmand12, Johan Wasselius3, Elisabet Englund4, Irwin Braverman5, Andreas Puschmann126, Andreea Ilinca12
·
Pubmed: 38156729
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2024;58(1):94-105.
Affiliations
  1. Division of Neurology, Department for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
  2. Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
  3. Section of Neuroradiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
  4. Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
  5. Department of Dermatology, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
  6. SciLifeLab National Research Infrastructure, Sweden

open access

Vol 58, No 1 (2024)
Research papers
Submitted: 2023-10-06
Accepted: 2023-12-08
Published online: 2023-12-29

Abstract

Introduction. Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by bilateral calcification in the brain, especially in the basal ganglia, leading to neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) have been described in patients with PFBC and pathogenic variants in the gene for platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide (PDGFB), suggesting a manifest cerebrovascular process. We present below the cases of two PFBC families with PDGFB variants and stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) episodes. We examine the possible correlation between PFBC and vascular events as stroke/TIA, and evaluate whether signs for vascular disease in this condition are systemic or limited to the cerebral vessels.

Material and methods. Two Swedish families with novel truncating PDGFB variants, p.Gln140* and p.Arg191*, are described clinically and radiologically. Subcutaneous capillary vessels in affected and unaffected family members were examined by light and electron microscopy.

Results. All mutation carriers showed WMH and bilateral brain calcifications. The clinical presentations differed, with movement disorder symptoms dominating in family A, and psychiatric symptoms in family B. However, affected members of both families had stroke, TIA, and/or asymptomatic intracerebral ischaemic lesions. Only one of the patients had classical vascular risk factors. Skin microvasculature was normal.

Conclusions. Patients with these PDGFB variants develop microvascular changes in the brain, but not the skin. PDGFB-related small vessel disease can manifest radiologically as cerebral haemorrhage or ischaemia, and may explain TIA or stroke in patients without other vascular risk factors.

Abstract

Introduction. Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by bilateral calcification in the brain, especially in the basal ganglia, leading to neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) have been described in patients with PFBC and pathogenic variants in the gene for platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide (PDGFB), suggesting a manifest cerebrovascular process. We present below the cases of two PFBC families with PDGFB variants and stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) episodes. We examine the possible correlation between PFBC and vascular events as stroke/TIA, and evaluate whether signs for vascular disease in this condition are systemic or limited to the cerebral vessels.

Material and methods. Two Swedish families with novel truncating PDGFB variants, p.Gln140* and p.Arg191*, are described clinically and radiologically. Subcutaneous capillary vessels in affected and unaffected family members were examined by light and electron microscopy.

Results. All mutation carriers showed WMH and bilateral brain calcifications. The clinical presentations differed, with movement disorder symptoms dominating in family A, and psychiatric symptoms in family B. However, affected members of both families had stroke, TIA, and/or asymptomatic intracerebral ischaemic lesions. Only one of the patients had classical vascular risk factors. Skin microvasculature was normal.

Conclusions. Patients with these PDGFB variants develop microvascular changes in the brain, but not the skin. PDGFB-related small vessel disease can manifest radiologically as cerebral haemorrhage or ischaemia, and may explain TIA or stroke in patients without other vascular risk factors.

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Keywords

stroke, TIA, idiopathic basal ganglia calcification-5, Mendelian inheritance in man number 615483, cerebral small vessel disease, microbleeds, genetic diseases

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Title

Small vessel disease in primary familial brain calcification with novel truncating PDGFB variants

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 58, No 1 (2024)

Article type

Research Paper

Pages

94-105

Published online

2023-12-29

Page views

381

Article views/downloads

378

DOI

10.5603/pjnns.97716

Pubmed

38156729

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2024;58(1):94-105.

Keywords

stroke
TIA
idiopathic basal ganglia calcification-5
Mendelian inheritance in man number 615483
cerebral small vessel disease
microbleeds
genetic diseases

Authors

Maha Yektay Farahmand
Johan Wasselius
Elisabet Englund
Irwin Braverman
Andreas Puschmann
Andreea Ilinca

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