Two Further Cases of Spondyloenchondrodysplasia (SPENCD) With Immune Dysregulation

Although the diagnosis of spondyloenchondrodysplasia (SPENCD) can only be made in the presence of characteristic metaphyseal and vertebral lesions, a recent report has highlighted the pleiotropic manifestations of this disorder which include significant neurological involvement and variable immune dysfunction. Here we present two patients, one of whom was born to consanguineous parents, further illustrating the remarkable clinical spectrum of this disease. Although both patients demonstrated intracranial calcification, they were discordant for the presence of mental retardation, spasticity and white matter abnormalities. And whilst one patient had features consistent with diagnoses of Sjogren syndrome, polymyositis, hypothyroidism and severe scleroderma, the other patient had clinical manifestations and an autoantibody profile of systemic lupus erythematosus. These cases further illustrate the association of SPENCD with immune dysregulation and highlight the differential diagnosis with Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and other disorders associated with the presence of intracranial calcification. Undoubtedly, identification of the underlying molecular and pathological basis of SPENCD will provide important insights into immune and skeletal regulation. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.