A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease

Fahr’s disease, an uncommon disorder characterized by bilateral intracranial brain parenchymal calcification, presents with diverse neurological manifestations. It is often an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder with incomplete penetrance. The most frequently implicated are mutations involving S...

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Main Authors: Anu Jacob, George Sarin Zacharia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Muller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_20_25
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author Anu Jacob
George Sarin Zacharia
author_facet Anu Jacob
George Sarin Zacharia
author_sort Anu Jacob
collection DOAJ
description Fahr’s disease, an uncommon disorder characterized by bilateral intracranial brain parenchymal calcification, presents with diverse neurological manifestations. It is often an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder with incomplete penetrance. The most frequently implicated are mutations involving SLC20A2 on chromosome 8p, while others involve genes XPR1, PDGFRB, PDGFB, and IBGC1. Neuroimaging typically reveals symmetrical dense calcifications, predominantly affecting the basal ganglia but may extend to other brain regions. Diagnosis relies on classical imaging findings, exclusion of alternative etiologies, and a positive family history or genetic analysis. This case report describes a patient with dysarthria, choreoathetosis, and spasticity, with CT brain confirming dense bilateral calcification of the basal ganglia, in whom, despite extensive evaluation, no specific etiology was identified, prompting consideration of Fahr’s disease. Neuroimaging of the patient’s son confirmed similar findings, suggesting the familial nature of the disease. Unfortunately, effective therapies to prevent or halt disease progression are lacking, and treatment mainly focuses on managing symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-5469003f23b740b5af8c52e4e2cb21b12025-08-20T03:30:09ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMuller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research0975-97272321-37012025-01-01161899110.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_20_25A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s diseaseAnu JacobGeorge Sarin ZachariaFahr’s disease, an uncommon disorder characterized by bilateral intracranial brain parenchymal calcification, presents with diverse neurological manifestations. It is often an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder with incomplete penetrance. The most frequently implicated are mutations involving SLC20A2 on chromosome 8p, while others involve genes XPR1, PDGFRB, PDGFB, and IBGC1. Neuroimaging typically reveals symmetrical dense calcifications, predominantly affecting the basal ganglia but may extend to other brain regions. Diagnosis relies on classical imaging findings, exclusion of alternative etiologies, and a positive family history or genetic analysis. This case report describes a patient with dysarthria, choreoathetosis, and spasticity, with CT brain confirming dense bilateral calcification of the basal ganglia, in whom, despite extensive evaluation, no specific etiology was identified, prompting consideration of Fahr’s disease. Neuroimaging of the patient’s son confirmed similar findings, suggesting the familial nature of the disease. Unfortunately, effective therapies to prevent or halt disease progression are lacking, and treatment mainly focuses on managing symptoms.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_20_25basal gangliabraincalcificationfahr’sintracranial
spellingShingle Anu Jacob
George Sarin Zacharia
A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease
Muller Journal of Medical Sciences and Research
basal ganglia
brain
calcification
fahr’s
intracranial
title A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease
title_full A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease
title_fullStr A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease
title_full_unstemmed A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease
title_short A case of familial intracranial calcification – Fahr’s disease
title_sort case of familial intracranial calcification fahr s disease
topic basal ganglia
brain
calcification
fahr’s
intracranial
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_20_25
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