Expanding SPG7 dominant optic atrophy phenotype: Infantile nystagmus and optic atrophy without spastic paraplegia

Spastic paraplegia is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive leg weakness and spasticity due to degeneration of corticospinal axons. SPG7 encodes paraplegin, and pathogenic variants in the gene cause hereditary spastic paraplegia as an autosomal recessive trait. Various ophthalmological findings including optic atrophy, ophthalmoplegia, or nystagmus have been reported in patients with spastic paraplegia type 7. We report a 15-year-old male patient with a novel heterozygous variant, c.1224T>G:p.(Asp408Glu) in SPG7 (NM_003119.3) causing early onset isolated optic atrophy and infantile nystagmus prior to the onset of neurological symptoms. Therefore, SPG7 should be considered a cause of infantile nystagmus with optic atrophy.

Automated summary

This study reported a 15-year-old male patient who displayed isolated optic atrophy and infantile nystagmus before the onset of neurological symptoms. A novel heterozygous variant in the SPG7 gene was found to be the cause. Therefore, SPG7 should be considered as a potential cause for infantile nystagmus with optic atrophy.