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IEMbase 0557: GRN-related progranulin deficiency / CLN11

Scope

Field Value
IEMbase ID 557
Nosology 20.4.09.01
Gene GRN
External IDs OMIM:614706; ORPHA:100070
Generated mapping UNMAPPED
Candidate DisMech targets Neuronal_Ceroid_Lipofuscinosis.yaml for the recessive NCL aspect; frontotemporal dementia entries as separate context
Review date 2026-07-07

IEMbase phenotype signal

IEMbase represents GRN-related progranulin deficiency under the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis subgroup. Alternate labels distinguish dominant frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions from recessive CLN11 disease. The record lists both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance, an adult form subtype, unknown treatability, and no treatment rows.

The clinical signal includes adult ataxia, abnormal EEG, electron-microscopy storage material, abnormal ERG, movement disorder, and seizures. Characteristic rows include cerebellar atrophy on MRI, language difficulties, muscular atrophy, retinal dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and vision loss or optic atrophy.

DisMech phenotype coverage

Neuronal_Ceroid_Lipofuscinosis.yaml is the best existing local target for the recessive CLN11/NCL aspect. The entry models NCL as a heterogeneous lysosomal neurodegenerative disease group with toxic endo-lysosomal storage, autofluorescent lipopigment accumulation, progressive visual and cognitive decline, seizures, myoclonus, and worsening motor dysfunction. Its genetic section includes GRN as a definitive autosomal recessive NCL gene relationship.

DisMech also has frontotemporal dementia context mentioning GRN, but that is a separate dominant GRN-FTLD/TDP-43 disease axis rather than the recessive CLN11 storage disease represented by the NCL entry.

Concordance and completeness

Judgement: generated false negative for the recessive CLN11/NCL aspect; resolve that portion to Neuronal_Ceroid_Lipofuscinosis.yaml#GRN, while preserving the dominant GRN-FTLD label as separate or only partially covered context.

IEMbase and DisMech agree at the broad NCL level on GRN, recessive NCL classification, storage material, neurodegeneration, seizures, movement disorder, visual involvement, and cerebral/cerebellar degeneration. DisMech is stronger for shared NCL lysosomal-storage mechanisms, while IEMbase is more explicit about adult CLN11 presentation and the dual dominant versus recessive GRN nosology.

IEMbase adds useful prompts for language difficulty, retinal dystrophy, abnormal ERG, optic atrophy or vision loss, spinal muscular atrophy, and distinguishing dominant GRN-FTLD from recessive CLN11.

Curation actions

  • Treat the recessive CLN11/NCL portion as covered by Neuronal_Ceroid_Lipofuscinosis.yaml, not as a complete absence of local coverage.
  • Do not collapse dominant GRN-FTLD/TDP-43 disease into the NCL entry without a deliberate spectrum or subtype decision.
  • Consider adding a GRN/CLN11 subtype note under the NCL entry, including adult-onset retinal, language, cerebellar, EEG, and EM storage prompts.