AUTHOR=Dong Siqi , Tuo Ya , Qi Zihan , Zhang Yuanfeng , Liu Xiaoni , Huang Ping , Chen Xiangjun 

TITLE=Case report: Novel compound heterozygous variants in the PANK2 gene in a Chinese patient diagnosed with ASD and ADHD

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1118076

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1118076

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p>The PANK2 gene, which encodes mitochondrial pantothenate kinase 2 protein, is the disease-causing gene for pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). We report a case of atypical PKAN with autism-like symptoms presenting with speech difficulties, psychiatric symptoms, and mild developmental retardation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed the typical “eye-of-the-tiger” sign. Whole-exon sequencing revealed <italic>PANK2</italic> p.Ile501Asn/p.Thr498Ser compound heterozygous variants. Our study highlights the phenotypic heterogeneity of PKAN, which can be confused with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and requires careful clinical identification.</p>