🧬 Menkes Disease (also known as “Kinky Hair Disease”) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder of copper metabolism. It results from mutations in the ATP7A gene 🧫, leading to defective intestinal absorption and cellular transport of copper. This causes systemic copper deficiency and defective connective tissue formation. 🔄 In contrast, Wilson Disease (ATP7B mutation) causes copper overload in tissues — the opposite biochemical problem. ⚖️

🧠 Pathophysiology

🔩 Copper is an essential cofactor for several enzymes (e.g. lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, dopamine β-hydroxylase, superoxide dismutase).
🧬 The ATP7A gene encodes a copper-transporting ATPase located in the intestinal mucosa and across the blood-brain barrier.
🚫 Defective copper transport → systemic copper deficiency → ↓ activity of lysyl oxidase → impaired collagen and elastin cross-linking.
🩸 Results in weak connective tissues, brittle hair, neurological dysfunction, and vascular fragility.

🧩 Clinical Features

💇‍♂️ “Kinky,” brittle, depigmented hair: Pathognomonic finding — hair appears sparse, twisted, and steel-coloured due to keratin cross-link defects.
🐢 Developmental delay and hypotonia: Severe neurodegeneration, seizures, poor feeding, and muscle weakness usually appear in infancy.
📉 Growth failure: Poor weight gain and stunted linear growth despite adequate nutrition.
🧠 Cerebral and vascular abnormalities: Tortuous arteries and fragile vessels → cerebral aneurysms or intracranial haemorrhage.
🥶 Hypothermia: Impaired thermoregulation due to autonomic and metabolic dysfunction.
🦴 Connective tissue weakness: Skin laxity, skeletal fractures, and joint hypermobility may occur.

🧪 Diagnosis

🧫 Clinical recognition: Characteristic hair, facial features (sagging cheeks, large ears), and neurological decline in a male infant.
🩸 Biochemical tests: ↓ serum copper (<50 µg/dL) and ↓ ceruloplasmin (<20 mg/dL).
🧬 Genetic testing: Mutation in ATP7A confirms the diagnosis.
🔬 Hair microscopy: Shows “pili torti” — twisted hair shafts.
🧍 Skin biopsy: Abnormal collagen fibrils with decreased cross-linking.

💊 Management

💉 Parenteral copper supplementation: Early administration (preferably within first 2 months) of copper histidine or copper chloride can improve survival if started before neurological damage.
🧘‍♀️ Supportive therapy: Physiotherapy and occupational therapy for hypotonia and motor delay.
🧠 Neurological monitoring: Seizure control (e.g. with valproate or levetiracetam) and surveillance for vascular complications.
📆 Multidisciplinary care: Genetic counselling, nutritional support, and regular follow-up in a metabolic clinic.
⛔ Prognosis is poor if untreated — most affected infants die by age 3 due to neurological and vascular complications.

⚖️ Comparison: Menkes vs Wilson Disease

Feature	🧬 Menkes Disease	🧫 Wilson Disease
Inheritance	X-linked recessive (ATP7A)	Autosomal recessive (ATP7B)
Primary Defect	↓ Copper absorption & transport → copper deficiency	↓ Copper excretion → copper accumulation
Serum Copper / Ceruloplasmin	⬇️ Low	⬇️ Low (due to impaired incorporation into ceruloplasmin)
Tissue Copper	⬇️ Low (poor uptake)	⬆️ High (liver, brain, cornea)
Key Organs Affected	Brain, connective tissue, hair, vasculature	Liver, basal ganglia, cornea
Characteristic Findings	“Kinky” hair, hypotonia, aneurysms, developmental delay	Kayser–Fleischer rings, hepatic failure, tremor, psychiatric symptoms
Treatment	Copper histidine injections (early), supportive therapy	Penicillamine or trientine (chelators), zinc to reduce absorption
Prognosis	⛔ Poor if untreated (death in early childhood)	🙂 Good with early diagnosis and treatment

💡 Teaching Tip: Menkes = “Missing copper” 🧬 → connective tissue weakness and neurodegeneration. Wilson = “Too much copper” ⚗️ → liver and brain toxicity. Remember: ATP7A = Absorption, ATP7B = Biliary excretion. Early genetic testing in siblings is crucial for prevention and counselling. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

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Menkes Disease

🧠 Pathophysiology

🧩 Clinical Features

🧪 Diagnosis

💊 Management

⚖️ Comparison: Menkes vs Wilson Disease

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