Novel compound heterozygous mutations in the PANK2 gene in a Chinese patient with atypical pantothenate kinase‐associated neurodegeneration

We investigated the presence of mutations in the pantothenate kinase (PANK2) gene in a 27‐year‐old male Chinese patient with atypical pantothenate kinase‐associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), formerly Hallervorden‐Spatz syndrome. Automated DNA sequence analyses revealed compound heterozygous mutations in the exon 3 and 5. This patient had a 10‐year history of PKAN characterized by a slight tremor of the right hand when writing at onset and a slow progressive rigidity of the neck and the right arm and resting tremor in upper extremities. Dysarthria, dysphagia, and dystonic‐athetoid movements of the face and right fingers were marked. Magnetic resonance showed the typical “eye‐of‐the‐tiger” sign. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society