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Living with Infantile bilateral striatal necrosis

A group of brain conditions in babies and children with loss of skills and movement problems.

Understanding Infantile bilateral striatal necrosis

Infantile bilateral striatal necrosis (IBSN) is a group of syndromes with spongy damage on both sides of deep brain areas (the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus).

It is marked by loss of skills (developmental regression) and movement problems that progress to stiffness in all four limbs. It can be familial or sporadic (no family history). It is listed as beginning at any time in life.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. Its summary describes:

  • Loss of developmental skills
  • Writhing, jerky movements (choreoathetosis)
  • Muscle tightness and abnormal postures (dystonia)
  • Stiffness in all four limbs (spastic quadriparesis)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which gene change or cause did testing find for my child?
What does the pattern of inheritance mean for our family?
What therapies can help with movement problems?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startany time in life
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive

GARD lists both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance, and says it can also occur with no family history. It doesn't name a gene.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: ibsn; infantile striatonigral degeneration; infantile striatonigral necrosis

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Infantile bilateral striatal necrosisGARD ID 5040 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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