Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere Syndrome as a Mimic of Neuroimmune Disorders: 3 Cases From the Clinic and Review of the Literature

J Child Neurol. 2017 May;32(6):528-532. doi: 10.1177/0883073816689517. Epub 2017 Jan 24.

Abstract

We present 3 patients identified at 2 different institutions with Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome. Each patient was initially diagnosed with a neuroimmune disorder for a period of a few weeks to a few months. In each case, genetic analysis revealed mutations in one of the riboflavin transporters, confirming Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome. It is likely that Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome is more common than previously reported, and because it mimics neuroimmune disorders, it may be misdiagnosed as such. It shares many features with diseases such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy, may present with positive cerebrospinal fluid antibody titers, and may transiently respond to intravenous immunoglobulin. We review the literature on Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome and Fazio-Londe syndrome, 2 riboflavin transporter disorders, looking for clinical presentations that may lead to confusion with neuroimmune disorders. We emphasize the importance of correctly diagnosing the disease, as its treatment is relatively benign and will stop progression of the disease and may even reverse it.

Keywords: Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome; Fazio Londe syndrome; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; motor neuropathy; neuroimmune disorder; riboflavin transporter deficiency.; sensory neuropathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / diagnosis*
  • Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / genetics
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / genetics
  • Humans
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation / genetics

Substances

  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • SLC52A3 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome