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Disease Profile

Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome

Prevalence
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.

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US Estimated

Europe Estimated

Age of onset

Childhood

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ICD-10

E88.8

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant A pathogenic variant in only one gene copy in each cell is sufficient to cause an autosomal dominant disease.

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Autosomal recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of each gene of the chromosome are needed to cause an autosomal recessive disease and observe the mutant phenotype.

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X-linked
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.

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X-linked
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.

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Mitochondrial or multigenic Mitochondrial genetic disorders can be caused by changes (mutations) in either the mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA that lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria and inadequate production of energy.

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Multigenic or multifactor Inheritance involving many factors, of which at least one is genetic but none is of overwhelming importance, as in the causation of a disease by multiple genetic and environmental factors.

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Not applicable

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Other names (AKA)

MTS; Deafness dystonia syndrome; DDS;

Categories

Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases; Eye diseases;

Summary

The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 52368

Definition
An X-linked syndromic intellectual disability characterized by clinical manifestations commencing with early childhood onset hearing loss, followed by adolescent onset progressive dystonia or ataxia, visual impairment from early adulthood onwards and dementia from the 4th decade onwards.

Epidemiology
Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome (MTS) prevalence is unknown. More than 90 cases (37 families) are known, but not all cases have been reported in the literature.

Clinical description
The onset of rapidly progressive prelingual or postlingual sensorineural hearing loss, the only typical symptom, occurs in early childhood (18 months). The audiological phenotype is characterized by auditory neuropathy, characterized by preserved OAE (otoacoustic emissions,) abnormal ABR (Auditory brain stem response), very poor speech discrimination, worsening in noisy environment and questionable benefit of treatment with cochlear implants (very few cases reported). Neuropsychologic manifestations, such as personality changes, paranoia, and mild intellectual deficit may emerge at the same time. A slowly progressive movement disorder, appearing as gegenhalten (diffuse resistance to limb movement), dystonia (mostly generalized or focal) or ataxia develops from early adolescence and is associated with brisk tendon reflexes, ankle clonus and extensor plantar responses. Patients experience reduced visual acuity, photophobia, acquired color vision defect and central scotomas starting from about 20 years of age and leading to legal blindness at around age 30 to 40. Slowly progressive dementia develops from the 4th decade onwards. In those with a contiguous gene deletion syndrome (CGS), recurrent infections may be present. Carrier females may be mildly affected with mild hearing impairment and focal dystonia. Despite the X linked recessive inheritance of the disease, there are a few cases where the proband was a female with dystonia.

Etiology
MTS is caused by either a mutation in the TIMM8A gene (located to Xq22) or by a CGS at Xq22, resulting in a deafness-dystonia peptide 1 (DDP1) deficiency. If the CGS includes the Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene, recurrent infections secondary to this X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) are present.

Diagnostic methods
A combination of hearing impairment and recurrent infections due to XLA in a male patient should elicit sequencing of the TIMM8A gene. Neuroimaging is employed to verify the presence of cerebral atrophy. In cases of suspected CGS; testing for XLA is possible.

Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis includes MELAS syndrome; mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (encephalomyopathic form with methylmalonic aciduria); Arts syndrome; X-linked spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and 4; McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome; Usher syndrome type 1 and 2; Wolfram syndrome; autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural deafness type DFNB; Pendred syndrome; and other forms of dystonia or rarely Friedreich ataxia.

Antenatal diagnosis
Prenatal diagnosis may be proposed to affected couples or parents for further pregnancies.

Genetic counseling
MTS is transmitted in an X-linked recessive manner. Genetic counseling should be provided to affected families. Genetic counseling should be proposed to individuals having the disease-causing mutation informing them that there is 25% risk of passing the mutation to offspring.

Management and treatment
Treatment of MTS is symptomatic and evolves over time. Hearing aids are used with variable success. For mild hearing loss, a hearing device and cochlear implants are an option whereas hearing aids with visual clues are used in cases with more severe hearing loss. The management of the hearing impairment is challenged by the fact that it is an auditory neuropathy. Management of dystonia and ataxia includes treatment with GABA-agonists together with psycho-motor re-education and physical therapy. Other supportive measures include therapies for the deaf-blind, addressing progressive sensory deficits, such as tactile sign language. In those with secondary complications, intravenous immunoglobulin may prevent infections in XLA. Furthermore, live viral vaccines should be avoided in cases of XLA. In adulthood, regular neurological evaluation (assessment for dementia and/or psychiatric manifestations) should be maintained.

Prognosis
Prognosis is poor. The combination of deafness and blindness severely affects communication, while the ongoing movement disorder results in an increasingly unstable gait. Life expectancy is highly variable and can range from death in the teenage years (after a rapidly progressive dystonia) to those that live into their 60's.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.

Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal cochlea morphology
0000375
Abnormality of somatosensory evoked potentials
0007377
Abnormality of visual evoked potentials
0000649
Absent brainstem auditory responses
0004463
Ankle clonus
Abnormal rhythmic movements of ankle
0011448
Babinski sign
0003487
Generalized dystonia
0007325
Global brain atrophy
Generalized brain degeneration
0002283
Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
0006801
Optic atrophy
0000648
Oromandibular dystonia
0012048
Postlingual sensorineural hearing impairment
0008596
Prelingual sensorineural hearing impairment
0000399
Vestibular dysfunction
0001751
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Agammaglobulinemia
0004432
Apraxia
0002186
Aspiration pneumonia
0011951
Caudate atrophy
0002340
Central scotoma
Central blind spot
0000603
Cerebral visual impairment
0100704
Color vision defect
Abnormal color vision
Abnormality of color vision

[ more ]

0000551
Dementia
Dementia, progressive
Progressive dementia

[ more ]

0000726
Dysphagia
Poor swallowing
Swallowing difficulties
Swallowing difficulty

[ more ]

0002015
Inability to walk
0002540
Paranoia
0011999
Personality changes
Personality change
0000751
Photophobia
Extreme sensitivity of the eyes to light
Light hypersensitivity

[ more ]

0000613
Postural instability
Balance impairment
0002172
Sensory neuropathy
Damage to nerves that sense feeling
0000763
Shuffling gait
Shuffled walk
0002362
Tremor
0001337
Visual loss
Loss of vision
Vision loss

[ more ]

0000572
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit
Attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficits
Childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

[ more ]

0007018
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormal electroretinogram
0000512
Abnormal posturing
0002533
Childhood onset
Symptoms begin in childhood
0011463
Constriction of peripheral visual field
Limited peripheral vision
0001133
Dysarthria
Difficulty articulating speech
0001260
Dystonia
0001332
Hyperreflexia
Increased reflexes
0001347
Increased susceptibility to fractures
Abnormal susceptibility to fractures
Bone fragility
Frequent broken bones
Increased bone fragility
Increased tendency to fractures

[ more ]

0002659
Mental deterioration
Cognitive decline
Cognitive decline, progressive
Intellectual deterioration
Progressive cognitive decline

[ more ]

0001268
Myopia
Close sighted
Near sighted
Near sightedness
Nearsightedness

[ more ]

0000545
Progressive sensorineural hearing impairment
0000408
Reduced visual acuity
Decreased clarity of vision
0007663
Spasticity
Involuntary muscle stiffness, contraction, or spasm
0001257
Visual impairment
Impaired vision
Loss of eyesight
Poor vision

[ more ]

0000505
X-linked recessive inheritance
0001419

Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Learn more

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus Genetics contains information on Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.