Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2016; 14(01): 025-030
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1579627
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Holoprosencephaly and Recurrent Episodes of Severe Neurogenic Hypernatremia

Piero Pavone
1   Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital OVE-Policlinico, Catania, Italy
,
Andrea D. Praticò
2   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
3   Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
,
Martino Ruggieri
2   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
,
Renata Rizzo
2   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
,
Raffaele Falsaperla
1   Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital OVE-Policlinico, Catania, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

05 September 2014

17 December 2014

Publication Date:
23 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a severe and complex malformation caused by incomplete cleavage of the prosencephalon and incomplete development of paramedian structures. Many causes have been recognized as responsible for this malformation including maternal diabetes, chromosomal abnormalities, and heterozygous mutations, involving four major genes (SHH, Z1C2, SIX3, and TGIF) and other less frequently reported genes. HPE has frequently been reported as a feature of complex malformative syndromes such as Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome, CHARGE syndrome (acronym of Coloboma, Heart defects, choanal Atresia, Retardation of growth and/or development, Genitourinary malformation and Ear abnormalities), and Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome. Moreover, children with HPE may present with other anomalies aside from those of the brain and face, including endocrine disorders such as diabetes insipidus, adrenal hypoplasia, hypogonadism, thyroid hypoplasia, and growth hormone deficiency. We report a boy with typical clinical signs of HPE including neuroradiologic findings resembling severe congenital hydrocephalus. The patient also presented with a specific metabolic anomaly consisting of recurrent episodes of hypernatremia.