Clinical and pathologic evidence of corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy in familial tauopathy.

BACKGROUND

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are neurodegenerative tauopathies. Sporadic and familial cases of PSP and CBD have been noted, but both have not been reported in a single family.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical, oculomotor, balance, functional imaging, histopathologic, and genetic studies in a family with CBD and PSP.

DESIGN

A report of the clinical and pathological features in a familial tauopathy.

SETTING

University of Minnesota. Patients We evaluated 2 siblings and clinically assessed 20 additional family members.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Demonstration of salient features in deceased and living family members.

RESULTS

Histopathologically confirmed CBD in one sibling and PSP in another deceased sibling were demonstrated; both had clinical features of corticobasal syndrome. In addition, 3 siblings had probable PSP by clinical criteria. Genetic studies of 4 affected family members demonstrated the H1/H1 haplotype but did not reveal pathogenic tau mutations. The family history revealed consanguinity.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report, to our knowledge, of CBD and PSP in 2 individuals in a single family who presented with corticobasal syndrome and had other affected siblings with clinical PSP. Despite clinical and pathologic heterogeneity, a unifying genetic etiology appears likely in this familial tauopathy.