Homocystinuria: Diagnosis and Neuroimaging Findings of Iranian Pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE: Homocystinuria is a neurometabolic diseases characterized by symptoms include Neurodevelopmental delay, lens dislocation, long limbs and thrombosis. MATERIALS & METHODS: The patients who were diagnosed as homocystinuria marfaniod habits, seizure in the Neurology Department of Mofid Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Iran between 2004 and 2014 were included in our study. The disorder was confirmed by clinical andneuroimaging findings along withneurometabolic and genetic assessment fromreference laboratory in Germany. We assessed age, gender, past medical history, developmental status, clinical manifestations, and neuroimaging findings of 20 patients with homocystinuria. RESULTS: A total of 75% of patients were offspring from consanguineous marriages. A total of 95% of patients had a history of developmental delay and 40% had developmental regression. A total of 75% had seizures from these 45% showed refractory seizures. Seizures among 13 patients werecontrolled with suitable homocystinuria treatment. The patients with homocystinuriawere followed for approximately 10 years and the follow-ups showed that the patients with an early diagnosis and treatment had more favorable clinical responses for growth index, controlled refractory seizures, neurodevelopmental status, and neuroimaging findings. Neuroimaging findings include brain atrophy and/or white matter involvement. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, we suggest that early assessment and detectionplayan important role in the prevention of disease progression and clinical signs. Homocystinuria in patients with a positive family history, developmental delays, or regression, refractory, or recurrent seizures should take precedence over other causes.