Various typical and atypical neurological manifestations can be seen as the initial symptoms of celiac disease (CD). We suggest that gluten toxicity is the most suspicious triggering risk factor for probable pathophysiological pathways of neurological involvement in atypical CD. The medical charts of 117 patients diagnosed with atypical CD were retrieved from a tertiary center in Ankara, Turkey. Eight patients reported as having neurologic manifestations as initiating symptoms were evaluated in detail. The initial neurological manifestations of CD in our study included atypical absence, which was reported first in this study, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, complex partial seizures, severe axial hypotonia and down phenotype, multifocal leukoencephalopathy, mild optic neuritis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and short duration headaches. Seizures mostly emphasizing atypical absence could be the initial presentation manifestation of CD, first described in this literature. Gluten toxicity could be one of the most powerful triggering factors for developing epilepsy in CD. Learning disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, short duration headaches, mild optic neuritis, encephalopathy, and DS could also be the initial neurological manifestations of atypical CD. A gluten-restricted diet may improve neurological complaints, epileptic discharges, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. All we found may be a small part of the full range of neurological disorders of unknown origin related to CD. Clinical suspicion should be the rule for accurate diagnosis of the disease.

A new form of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) with multisystem involvement and characteristic mitochondrial structural changes, due to choline kinase beta (CHKB) gene defects has been characterized by intellectual disability, autistic features, ichthyosis-like skin changes, and dilated cardiomyopathy. We define the clinical characteristics in 15 patients, from 14 unrelated families with so-called 'megaconial CMD', all having mutations in CHKB. Core clinical phenotype included global developmental delay prominent in gross-motor and language domains, severe intellectual disability (ID), and/or muscle weakness in all cases. Muscle biopsies were equivocally 'megaconial' in all. Other peculiarities were: ichthyosis-like skin changes (n = 11), increased serum CK levels (n = 12), microcephaly (n = 6), dysmorphic facial features (n = 7), neonatal hypotonia (n = 3), seizures (n = 3), epileptiform activity without clinically overt seizures (n = 2), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 2), decreased left ventricular systolic function (n = 2), congenital heart defects (n = 3), sensorineural (n = 1), and conductive hearing loss (n = 1). Ten patients had cranial neuroimaging (MRI-MRS) study, which was notably normal in all, other than one patient having a decreased choline: creatine peak. Intra-familial variability in clinical expression of the disease is noted in four families. Two siblings from the same family, one presenting with global developmental delay and dilated cardiomyopathy, and the other with ichthyosis, ID and proximal weakness without cardiomyopathy died at the ages of 2 years 1 month, and 7 years 4 months respectively. Evolution was progressive (n = 13) and static (n = 2).

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Introduction: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular dystrophy (BMD), are chronic and progressive and rare genetic disorders that cause systemic involvement such as progressive muscle deterioration, motor disability, cardiomyopathy, and respiratory problems, with an increased risk of cognitive decline and psychological problems They are a group of neuromuscular diseases in which psychological problems affect negatively on quality of life (Qol) not only patients but also caregivers. This study demonstrates the clinical features of patients with DMD/BMD and their caregivers and compares controls with respects to psychological and social aspects. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients (3 with BMD and 17 with DMD), aged between 8 and 18 years, and 20 age-matched healthy children were included in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. The patients were evaluated by the pediatric neurology, cardiology, and psychiatry departments at the study time. Their demographic and clinical features were recorded. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and its parent form, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were applied to all of the participants. Results: The QoL scores were lower in patients with moderate and severe DMD/ BMD and their caregivers. In patients with DMD and in both groups, emotional symptoms, peer problems and prosocial behavior scores were higher in the subsets of the SDQ. The PedsQL child-parent scores were lower in all of the subsets with statistical significance. Conclusions: DMD and BMD comprise a group of chronic diseases with multiple complications that are difficult to manage. A QoL equal or close to that of the healthy children should be targeted. Today, proposed or experimental treatments for this disease group are assessed based on their ability to enhance QoL. Inquiring into the QoL and counseling should become routine. KeywordsDuchenne musküler distrofi, becker musküler distrofi, sağlıkla ilişkili yaşam kalitesi Anah tar ke li me ler Duchenne muscular dystrophy, becker muscular dystrophy, health-related quality of life

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