Menkes Disease (MNK)

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MedlinePlus Genetics: ⁴² Menkes syndrome is a disorder that affects copper levels in the body. It is characterized by sparse, kinky hair; failure to gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive); and deterioration of the nervous system. Additional signs and symptoms include weak muscle tone (hypotonia), sagging facial features, seizures, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Children with Menkes syndrome typically begin to develop symptoms during infancy and often do not live past age 3. Early treatment with copper may improve the prognosis in some affected individuals. In rare cases, symptoms begin later in childhood.Occipital horn syndrome (sometimes called X-linked cutis laxa) is a less severe form of Menkes syndrome that begins in early to middle childhood. It is characterized by wedge-shaped calcium deposits in a bone at the base of the skull (the occipital bone), coarse hair, and loose skin and joints.

MalaCards based summary: Menkes Disease, also known as copper transport disease, is related to occipital horn syndrome and disorder of copper metabolism, and has symptoms including seizures An important gene associated with Menkes Disease is ATP7A (ATPase Copper Transporting Alpha), and among its related pathways/superpathways are Detoxification of Reactive Oxygen Species and Copper homeostasis. The drugs Histidine and Copper have been mentioned in the context of this disorder. Affiliated tissues include skin, brain and bone, and related phenotypes are seizure and spasticity

NINDS: ⁵² Menkes disease is caused by a defective gene named ATPTA1 that regulates the metabolism of copper in the body. The disease primarily affects male infants. Copper accumulates at abnormally low levels in the liver and brain, but at higher than normal levels in the kidney and intestinal lining. Affected infants may be born prematurely, but appear healthy at birth and develop normally for 6 to 8 weeks. Then symptoms begin, including floppy muscle tone, seizures, and failure to thrive.  Menkes disease is also characterized by subnormal body temperature and strikingly peculiar hair, which is kinky, colorless or steel-colored, and breaks easily. There is often extensive neurodegeneration in the gray matter of the brain. Arteries in the brain may be twisted with frayed and split inner walls. This can lead to rupture or blockage of the arteries. Weakened bones (osteoporosis) may result in fractures.

GARD: ¹⁹ Menkes disease (MD) is an inherited condition that impacts the way the body processes copper levels in the body. MD primarily affects the nervous system and connective tissue with symptoms that tend to get worse over time. Symptoms of MD usually appear within the first few months of life and include sparse, kinky hair; slow growth (failure to thrive); and seizures. Additional features may include low muscle tone (hypotonia), sagging facial features, and developmental and intellectual disability. Occipital horn syndrome is a less severe form of MD that begins in early to middle childhood. MD is caused by alterations in the ATP7A gene and is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern. MD mainly affects boys.

UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: ⁷³ An X-linked recessive disorder of copper metabolism characterized by generalized copper deficiency. MNKD results in progressive neurodegeneration and connective-tissue disturbances: focal cerebral and cerebellar degeneration, early growth retardation, peculiar hair, hypopigmentation, cutis laxa, vascular complications and death in early childhood. The clinical features result from the dysfunction of several copper-dependent enzymes. A mild form of the disease has been described, in which cerebellar ataxia and moderate developmental delay predominate.

CDC: ² Muscular dystrophies are a group of genetic disorders that result in muscle weakness over time. Each type of muscular dystrophy is different from the others. It is important to get help as early as possible. Muscular dystrophy has no cure, but acting early may help an individual with muscular dystrophy get the services and treatments he or she needs to lead a full life.

Orphanet: ⁵⁸ A rare congenital disorder of copper metabolism with severe multisystemic manifestations that are primarily characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and marked connective tissue anomalies. A pathognomonic feature is the typical sparse, abnormal steely hair.

OMIM®: ⁵⁷ Menkes disease (MNK) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by generalized copper deficiency. The clinical features result from the dysfunction of several copper-dependent enzymes. (309400) (Updated 08-Dec-2022)

Wikipedia: ⁷⁵ Menkes disease (MNK), also known as Menkes syndrome, is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by... more...

Clinical features from OMIM®:

Search NIH Clinical Center for Menkes Disease