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SUDANESE JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS Vol. 11, No. 2
54
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Zellweger syndrome: A cause of neonatal
hypotonia and seizures
Abdelmoneim E. M. Kheir
Department of Pediatrics, Dallah Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Zellweger syndrome, a paradigm of human peroxisomal
disorders is characterized by dysmorphic features,
hypotonia, severe neuro-developmental delay,
hepatomegaly, renal cysts, sensorineural deafness and
retinal dysfunction. This is a case report of a baby boy
born with facial dysmorphism, profound hypotonia,
seizures, and hepatomegaly. The diagnosis was not
evident initially but only later when he presented with
obstructive jaundiced and renal cysts. He died at the
age of seven months. Biochemical studies revealed
elevation of very long chain fatty acids and phytanic
acid consistent with a peroxisomal disorder. The
recognition of this syndrome is important since it is a
fatal hereditary disease. Zellweger syndrome should
be included in the differential diagnosis of infantile
hypotonia and dysmorphism.
Key words:
Zellweger syndrome; Peroxisomal
disorders; Child
Correspondence to:
Dr. Abdelmoneim E. M. Kheir,
Department of Paediatrics,
Faculty of Medicine, P. O. Box 102,
University of Khartoum, Sudan
Email: moneimkheir62@hotmail.com
INTRODUCTION
The Peroxisomal disorders constitute clinically and
biochemically heterogeneous group of disease states
sharing an impairment of one or more peroxisomal
functions [1]. Up to now, at least 21 disorders have been
found which are linked to peroxisomal dysfunction.
Most of these show severe central nervous system
(CNS) involvement [2].
Peroxisomes are sub cellular organelles, surrounded
by a single membrane, 80 peroxisomal enzymes
have been identied. Peroxisomes are present in all
human cells except in mature erythrocytes and are
particularly abundant in liver and kidney. The most
important peroxisomal functions are lipid and amino
acid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, B- oxidation
of fatty acids, phytanic acid α oxidation, plasmalogen
biosynthesis – involved in platelet activation and
scavenging of free radicals [3].
The rst indication that peroxisomes may be involved
in human disease came in 1973 when Goldscher et
al [4] noted their apparent absence in the liver and
kidney of a child with a clinical diagnosis of Zellweger
syndrome. Zellweger (or cerebrohepatorenal)
syndrome was originally described as a lethal multiple
How to cite this article:
Kheir AEM. Zellweger Syndrome: A cause of
neonatal hypotonia and seizures. Sudan J Paediatr
2011;11(2):54-58.
SUDANESE JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS Vol. 11, No. 2
http://www.sudanjp.com
55
malformation syndrome of infancy [5].
The craniofacial features of Zellweger syndrome
are striking. These are characterized by paucity of
facial movement with a large anterior fontanelle,
prominent forehead, hypoplastic supraorbital ridges
and broad nasal root [6]. Other features include
severe neurological dysfunction, developmental
delay with hypotonia, sensorineural hearing loss and
ocular abnormalities namely cataract, and optic nerve
hyoplasia. Hepatomegaly is seen in 80% of cases
of Zellweger syndrome with raised levels of liver
enzymes and bilirubin; renal cortical cysts are seen in
70% of cases [7].
The pattern of inheritance is autosomal recessive,
and in three Zellweger patients mutations have been
shown to exist in two peroxisomal integral membrane
proteins [8].
The main stay of biochemical diagnosis of Zellweger
syndrome is the measurement of very long chain
fatty acids (VLCFA) which have a chain length
of 22 carbon atoms or greater [9]. Other clinically
useful assays exist for phytanic acid and pipecolic
acid. Histological diagnosis is also possible through
liver biopsy by using the diaminobenzidine staining
procedure to study the abundance, size and structure
of liver peroxisomes [10].
Prenatal diagnosis is also possible by direct analysis
of levels of VLCFA and bile acid intermediates in the
amniotic uid. Another approach is the cytochemical
staining of peroxisomes in chorionic villous sample.
Detailed DNA studies, including immunouorescence
and complementation assays, are now available for
conrmation and characterization of the pathological
mutation [11-13]. Recent studies in the Middle
East gave insight to the molecular phenotype of
peroxisomal disorders in the Arab population [11-13].
Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for
Zellweger syndrome and patients usually die in the
rst year of life [14].
CASE REPORT
A male baby (Saudi) was delivered by emergency
caesarian section at term due to fetal distress and
breech presentation. His Apgar scores were 1
in the 1st minute and 6 in the 5th minute. His
anthropometric measurements were as follows:
birth weight 2.47 kg; head circumference 33cm;
and length 47cm.
The baby needed active resuscitation at birth
and was admitted to the neonatal intensive
care unit. Further clinical examination revealed
dysmorphic features and hypotonia with a wide
anterior fontanelle, long philtrum, high arched
palate and a broad nasal bridge.
This was the rst baby for a young couple
who are rst degree relatives. There was no
antenatal care. The initial arterial blood gases
showed severe metabolic acidosis. Subsequently
he developed convulsions and was started on
intravenous phenobarbitone. Blood sugar and
biochemistry were normal. Brain ultrasound was
normal. All cultures were negative and weaned
off O2. The baby remained hypotonic with no
suck reex and was commenced on nasogastric
feeding.
The following investigations were also done and
were normal: complete blood count (CBC), urea
and electrolytes (U/E), calcium, magnesium,
total serum bilirubin (TSB), creatine kinase,
lactate and ammonia. TORCH screening was
also negative and chromosomal analysis showed
normal female karyotype. Investigations that
were found to be abnormal include elevated liver
enzymes (raised AST 304 IU/L, raised ALT 121
IU/L). Echocardiography revealed a small atrial
septal defect (ASD II: secundum-type).
The baby was discharged home on nasogastric
feeding, but was readmitted one week later with
obstructive jaundice (TSB 125 mg/dl, direct 92.5
mg/dl). Abdominal ultrasound showed multiple
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renal cysts. HIDA scan and spinal X-ray were
normal.
A clinical diagnosis of Zellweger syndrome was
made and VLCFA were explored (Table 1). An
EEG was grossly abnormal and showed left focal
epileptogenic activity consistent with partial
seizures (Figure 1). MRI brain scan showed
delayed myelination of the white matter (Figure
2) and no evidence of ischemic injury. DNA
study and skin biopsy for peroxisomal function,
immunoorescence and complementation
studies were not done as the parents declined
further investigations. The baby had multiple
admissions with bronchopneumonia and was
O2 dependent at home. The baby later died
peacefully at home at the age of 7 months.
Table 1 Results of long chain fatty acid and
phytanic acid*
Fatty acid C
22
27.1
μmol/L
(21.1 – 102.8)
Fatty acid C
24
53.9
μmol/L
(22.2 – 86-5)
Fatty acid C
26
↑9.6
μmol/L
(0.05 – 1.9-7)
C
24
/C
22
ratio
↑ 1.99 (0.0 – 1.15)
C
26
/C
22
ratio
↑0.354 (0.0 – 0.028)
Phytanic acid
↑ 39.89
μmol/L
(0.0 – 10)
Pristanate
↑ 11-15
μmol/L
(0.0 – 1)
* Reference values are in brackets
DISCUSSION
Zellweger’s syndrome is a rare hereditary
disorder affecting infants and usually results
in death. It was named after Hans Zellweger,
a former professor of paediatrics and genetics
at the University of lowa who researched this
disorder. Patients with this syndrome usually
have typical facial dysmorphism which may
become less characteristic if the patient survives
beyond the rst year of life. Zellwegr syndrome
should be considered in any infant who presents
with hypotonia and facial dysmorphism [1-
8]. In our case, the diagnosis was not evident
at birth despite the patient’s hypotonia, as the
facial dysmorphism was rather nonspecic
and the diagnosis was only possible later on
when he presented with prolonged conjugated
hyperbilirubinemia and routine abdominal
ultrasound showed renal cysts which are present
in 70% of cases of Zellweger syndrome.
The diagnosis is usually conrmed by nding
raised and phytanic acid, in addition to
histological detection by either liver biopsy
or skin broblast culture, both were strongly
refused by the parents of our case [1-4].
Currently there is no cure for Zellweger
syndrome or a standard course of treatment.
Infections should be guarded against to
prevent complications such as pneumonia
and respiratory distress. Other causes of death
include gastrointestinal bleeding and liver
failure. Treatment is mainly symptomatic and
supportive as patients do not survive beyond one
year of age [14].
In conclusion, Zellweger syndrome is one of many
dysmorphic syndromes subsequently shown
to result from an inborn error of metabolism.
Team work between the pediatrician, pediatric
neurologist, clinical biochemist and geneticist
is the key factor for further delineation; and the
recognition of this syndrome is important since it
is a fatal inherited disease. Zellweger syndrome
should be included in the differential diagnosis
of infantile hypotonia and dysmorphism.
SUDANESE JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS Vol. 11, No. 2
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57
Figure 1: An electroencephalogram was grossly
abnormal and showed left focal epileptogenic activity
(arrows) consistent with partial seizures.
Figure 2: Coronal cut of brain MRI showing delayed
myelination of the white matter.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank the family of the baby mentioned
in this report for permitting the use of the case
details. Thanks are also extended to the biochemistry
department at Dallah Hospital in Riyadh. I am
indebted to Dr. Tarig Dirar, Research Assistant at the
Sudan Medical and Scientic Research Institute, for
his guidance and assistance during writing up of this
case report.
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