Wolfram-like syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder which shares some of the features shown by those affected with the autosomal recessive Wolfram syndrome. It is a type of WFS1-related disorder. Signs and symptoms
Individuals with this condition usually exhibit early-onset progressive hearing loss which starts around the age of 10 years old, early-onset optic atrophy which usually manifests in a persons mid teenage–late adulthood years of life, and adult-onset diabetes mellitus.Although rarely, psychiatric symptoms can also manifest in people with the condition, this group of symptoms consists of hallucinations, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.Psychosis and autism are sometimes seen as features of the disorder.Other symptoms include nephrocalcinosis, psychomotor delay, glaucoma, and megalocornea. Complications
The psychiatric features that may appear in patients with this condition, particularly depression, can cause a patient to be live in a constantly miserable state of mind, which can lead some patients to develop suicidal tendencies and, which can ultimately lead to making the decision of commiting suicide.
During the formative phase, X-ray images typically reveal calcium deposits with uniform density and a clear margin. In the more painful resorptive phase, deposits instead appear cloudy and with unclear margins. By arthroscopy, formative stage deposits appear crystalline and chalk-like, while resorptive stage deposits appear smooth resembling toothpaste. Ultrasound is also used to locate and assess calcium deposits. In the formative stage, deposits are hyperechoic and arc-shaped; in the resorptive stage deposits are less echogenic and appear fragmented. Treatment
The first line of treatment for calcific tendinitis is typically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain, rest for the affected joint, and sometimes physical therapy to avoid joint stiffness. For those with severe pain direct injections of steroids to the affected site are often effective for pain relief, but may interfere with reabsorption of the calcium deposit. For those whose pain doesnt improve with medication and rest, the deposit can be dissolved and removed with techniques called "ultrasound-guided needling", "barbotage", and "US-PICT" (for "ultrasound percutaneous injection in calcific tenditis"). In each, ultrasound is used to locate the deposit and guide a needle to the affected site. There saline and lidocaine are injected to dissolve the deposit, then removed to wash it away. Another common treatment is extracorporeal shockwave therapy, where pulses of sound are used to break up the deposit and promote healing. There is little standardization of energy levels, duration, and time interval of treatment; though most studies report positive outcomes with low- to medium-energy waves (below 0.28 mJ/mm2).