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X-Chromosome-Linked Copper Malabsorption

Asao Hirano, MD; Josefina F. Llena, MD; Joseph H. French, MD; Nitya R. Ghatak, MD

Arch Neurol. 1977;34(1):52-56.

Abstract
• The cerebellar cortices in two patients with X-chromosome-linked copper malabsorption (Menkes kinky-hair disease) were examined with both the light and electron microscope. Somatic sprouts and grotesque dendritic arborization were among the obvious light microscopical changes. At the fine structural level, the Purkinje cells were characterized by the presence of somatic spines although the surviving granule cells had already descended. Most spines were parts of synaptic complexes, but some were unattached to any presynaptic element. Similar spines were also observed on dendritic trunks. Astrocytic gliosis and nonspecific endothelial cell changes were noted.

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology (Drs Hirano and Llena), and the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics (Dr French), Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; and the Department of Pathology, Bowman-Gray Medical School, Winston-Salem, NC (Dr Ghatak).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 12, 1976.

Reprint requests to Division of Neuropathology, Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center, 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY 10467 (Dr Hirano).

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