Stormorken syndrome

Other names:Stormorken-Sjaastad-Langslet syndrome thrombocytopathy, asplenia, and miosis

Stormorken-Sjaastad-Langslet syndrome is characterized by thrombocytopathy, asplenia, miosis, muscle fatigue, migraine, dyslexia, and ichthyosis. It has been described in six members of one family.

Epidemiology

Stormorken syndrome is a rare disorder. Approximately a dozen cases have been reported in the medical literature.

Cause

Stormorken syndrome is caused by a mutation in the STIM1 gene. The protein produced from this gene is involved in controlling the entry of positively charged calcium atoms (calcium ions) into cells. The STIM1 protein recognizes when calcium ion levels are low and stimulates the flow of ions into the cell through special channels in the cell membrane called calcium-release activated calcium (CRAC) channels. The flow of calcium ions through CRAC channels triggers signaling within cells that helps control gene activity, cell growth and division, and immune function.

The STIM1 gene mutation involved in Stormorken syndrome leads to production of a STIM1 protein that is constantly turned on (constitutively active), which means it continually stimulates calcium ion entry through CRAC channels regardless of ion levels. Researchers suggest that the abnormal ion flow in platelets causes them to break down earlier than usual, leading to thrombocytopenia and bleeding problems in people with Stormorken syndrome. It is unknown how constitutively active STIM1 leads to the other features of the disorder.

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant pattern, a 50/50 chance.

This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. In some cases, an affected person inherits the mutation from one affected parent. Other cases result from new mutations in the gene and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.

Signs and symptoms

Affected individuals usually have thrombocytopenia, in which there are abnormally low numbers of blood cells called platelets. Platelets are involved in normal blood clotting; a shortage of platelets typically results in easy bruising and abnormal bleeding. In addition, affected individuals often have a muscle disorder, called tubular aggregate myopathy, that leads to muscle weakness. Another feature of Stormorken syndrome is permanent constriction of the pupils of the eyes (miosis), which may be caused by abnormalities in the muscles that control the size of the pupils. Other features include lack of a functioning spleen (asplenia), scaly skin (ichthyosis), headaches, and difficulty with reading and spelling (dyslexia).

For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. 80%-99% of people have these symptoms

• Abnormal thrombocyte morphology(Platelet abnormalities)
• Abnormality of coagulation
• Abnormality of the musculature(Muscular abnormality)
• Anemia(Low number of red blood cells or hemoglobin)
• Asplenia(Absent spleen)
• Deeply set eye(Deep set eye)
• High forehead
• Ichthyosis
• Miosis(Constricted pupils)
• Neurological speech impairment(Speech disorder)
• Purpura(Red or purple spots on the skin)
• Short stature(Decreased body height)

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Stormorken syndrome

Stormorken syndrome is a rare disease.