Juvenile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis: clinical and molecular investigation in a large family in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis (JNCL, CLN 3, Batten Disease) (OMIM #204200) belongs to the most common group of neurodegenerative disorders of childhood. We report the clinical data and molecular analysis of a large Brazilian family. METHOD Family composed of two consanguineous couples and thirty-two children. Clinical data of ten JNCL patients and molecular analyses on 13 participants were obtained. RESULTS The large 1.02 kb deletion was detected. The most severe phenotype, with autistic behavior, tics and parkinsonism was seen in a 12-year-old female and a milder phenotype in a 14-year-old male. Nyctalopia was the first symptom in one deceased child. The visual loss of six patients has been first observed in the school and not at home. CONCLUSION The report highlights the phenotypical intrafamily variation in 10 affected children of this family. The molecular investigation of this large family in our metabolic center turned possible the diagnosis, right approach and genetic counseling.