Three Cases of Cerebellar Hypoplasia and Vitamin A Deficiency

Abstract

Studies in animal models have established that intra-uterine vitamin A deficiency can hinder hindbrain formation; however, reports of such a phenomenon in humans had not been published until recently, when our group presented the case of an infant diagnosed with pontocerebellar hypoplasia and vitamin A deficiency. We currently report the cases of 3 infants with cerebellar hypoplasia and hypovitaminosis A, whose vitamin A consumption was determined to be adequate, and whose mothers had no such deficiency. We suggest a possible pathophysiology whereby a mutation in the gene coding for cytoplasmic retinol-binding protein II, which is expressed both in the placenta and the yolk sac (during fetal development) and in the absorptive intestinal cells, can cause vitamin A deficiency, forming hindbrain anomalies. Validation of our hypothesis will require further research, including fetal vitamin A measurements and hindbrain examination in cytoplasmic retinol-binding protein II knockout animals.