- Hallervorden-Spatz disease
- Gilman and Barrett neuroaxonal dystrophy type I
A very rare disease beginning in childhood, with degeneration of the globus pallidus, red nucleus, and reticular part of the substantia nigra of the brain. It is characterized by progressive Parkinson-like rigidity, athetotic movements, and progressive mental and emotional retardation. Onset is in late childhood; death usually occurs within 10 years, but courses of up to 30 years have been described. Aetiology unknown; considered one form of iron storage disease. A heredo-familial syndrome, inherited as an autosomal recessive trait; some unrelated cases reported
The original description concerned a sibship of 12 in which 5 sisters showed clinically increasing dysarthria and progressive dementia, and at autopsy brown discoloration of the globus pallidus and substantia nigra.
- J. Hallervorden, H. Spatz:
Eigenartige Erkrankung im extrapyramidalen System mot besonderer Beteiligung des Globus pallidus und der Substantia nigra: Ein Beitrag zu den Beziehungen zwischen diesen beiden Zentren.
Zeitschrift für die gesamte Neurologie und Psychiatrie, 1922, 79: 254-302.
- S. Gilman, R. E. Barrett:
Hallervorden-Spatz disease and infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy: Clinical characteristics and nosological considerations.
Journal of Neurological Sciences, Amsterdam, 1973, 19: 189-205.