Desmosterolosis: an illustration of diagnostic ambiguity of cholesterol synthesis disorders

Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2014 Jun 25:9:94. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-9-94.

Abstract

Desmosterolosis is an autosomal recessive disorder of cholesterol biosynthesis caused by biallelic mutations of DHCR24 (homozygous or compound heterozygous), which encodes 3-β-hydroxysterol Δ-24-reductase. We report two sisters homozygous for the 571G>A (E191K) DHCR24 mutation. Comparison of the propositae to other reported individuals shows that psychomotor developmental delay, failure to thrive, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, cerebral white matter atrophy and spasticity likely constitute the minimal desmosterolosis phenotype. The nonspecific features of desmosterolosis make it difficult to suspect clinically and therefore screening for it should be entertained early in the diagnostic evaluation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / diagnosis*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / metabolism
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / pathology
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / diagnosis*
  • Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / pathology

Substances

  • Cholesterol

Supplementary concepts

  • Desmosterolosis