• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.306-311
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• 2005

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare disorder of purine metabolism, first described in 1964. The incidence is estimated to be 1:100,000 birth. It is an X-linked recessive disorder in which affected males have a virtually complete deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphorybosyl transferase(HGPT). This enzyme deficiency gives rise to excessive uric acid production and consequent hyperuricemia. Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is clinically characterized by mental retardation, choreoathetosis, spastic cerebral palsy, and severe self-mutilation behavior. Patient with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome mostly bite their lip, tongue and finger. In severe cases, partial or total amputation of the lip and tongue is common. Self-inflicted bites are often further complicated by secondary infection to injuried site as well as pain. And tissue loss by biting results in esthetic problems. This report presents a Lesch-Nyhan syndrome patient with self-mutilation, who have a destruction of perioral tissue, especially the lower lip. He was treated successfully with soft mouthguard, psychological and pharmacological method.