Vol. 5(11), pp. 467-470, November 2013
DOI: 10.5897/IJMMS2013.0927
ISSN 2006-9723 ©2013 Academic Journals
http://www.academicjournals.org/IJMMS
International Journal of Medicine
and Medical Sciences
Case Report
A novel RAB-27A mutation causing Griscelli syndrome
type 2 with severe central nervous system involvement:
Case report and review of literature
Ali M. Alsuheel
1
*, Ayed A. Shati
1
, Amer A. Alshehri
2
and Mansour Y. Otaif
2
1
Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2
Pediatric Department, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Accepted 8 October, 2013
Griscelli syndrome (GS) is one of the rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by
hypopigmentation of the hair, hepatosplenomegally, primary immunodeficiency and neurological
manifestations. It was described by Griscelli et al. (1978) in France, who reported two girls who were
presented with silver gray hair, several episodes of fever, hepatosplenomegally and pancytopenia.
There are three types of Griscelli syndrome based on clinical features and genetic mutations. We report
a five month old girl diagnosed as Griscelli syndrome type 2 (OMIM #607624) presenting with
significant central nervous system involvement. The molecular studies of the RAB27A gene were
performed. Coding sequence revealed a novel homozygous deletion at (c.138delC). In communities
with high incidence of consanguineous marriages, we should keep in mind the rare primary
immunodeficiency diseases with autosomal recessive inheritance. Early diagnosis and treatment will
help in improvement of the outcome.
Key words: Griscelli syndrome type 2, RAB27A, CNS involvement.
INTRODUCTION
Griscelli syndrome is one of the rare autosomal recessive
disease characterized by hypopigmentation of the hair,
hepatosplenomegally, primary immunodeficiency and
neurological manifestations. It was described by Claude
Griscelli and Michel Prunierasin 1978 in France, who
reported two girls who were presented with silver gray
hair, several episodes of fever, hepatosplenomegally and
pancytopenia (Griscelli et al., 1978; Tomita and Suzuki,
2004; Rezaei et al., 2009).
There are three types of this syndrome published so
far, Griscelli syndrome type 1 (OMIM #214450) which is
characterized by neurological manifestations and MYO5A
gene mutation. Griscelli syndrome type 2 represents
patients with silvery gray hair, immunologic abnormalities
and variable neurologic defects which are related to
RAB27A gene. Finally, Griscelli syndrome type 3 presents
as hypopigmentation in the hair and skin without another
findings which are related to a mutation in the 2q37.3
chromosome (Tomita and Suzuki, 2004; Rezaei et al.,
2009; Klein et al., 1994; Ménasché et al., 2000). We
report a 5 month old girl with seizure, silvery grey hair
and hepatosplenomegally which fulfill features of Griscelli
syndrome type 2 and confirmed by gene study with a
novel gene mutation.
CASE REPORT
A 5-month-old Saudi female infant, the first child of
consanguineous parents (first cousins). The patient’s
past medical history was uneventful until the age of 5
months, when she was referred to Aseer Central
*Corresponding author E-mail: alsoheel11@hotmail.com.