Progressive cavitating leukoencephalopathy: a novel childhood disease.
We report 19 patients with a previously undelineated neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by episodic acute onset of irritability or neurological deficits between 2 months and 3.5 years of age, followed by steady or intermittent clinical deterioration. Seven children died between 11 months and 14 years of age. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows patchy leukoencephalopathy with cavities, and vascular permeability, in actively affected regions. Early lesions affect corpus callosum and centrum semiovale, with or without cerebellar or cord involvement. After repeated episodes, areas of tissue loss coalesce with older lesions to become larger cystic regions in brain or spinal cord. Diffuse spasticity, dementia, vegetative state, or death ensues. Gray matter is spared until late in the course. In some, incomplete clinical or MRI recovery occurs after episodes. The clinical course varies from rapid deterioration to prolonged periods of stability that are unpredictable by clinical or MRI changes. Elevated levels of lactate in brain, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid, abnormal urine organic acids, and changes in muscle respiratory chain enzymes are present but inconsistent, without identifiable mitochondrial DNA mutations or deletions. Pathological studies show severe loss of myelin sparing U-fibers, axonal disruption, and cavitary lesions without inflammation. Familial occurrence and consanguinity suggest autosomal recessive inheritance of this distinct entity.
Naidu
SakkuBai
S
Neurogenetics Department, Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 707 N. Broadway, 5th Floor Tower, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. naidu@kennedykrieger.org
Bibat
Genila
G
Lin
Doris
D
Burger
Peter
P
Barker
Peter
P
Rosemberg
Sergio
S
Braverman
Nancy
N
Arroyo
Hugo
H
Dowling
Michael
M
Hamosh
Ada
A
Kimonis
Virginia
V
Blank
Carol
C
Fiumara
Agata
A
Facchini
Sergio
S
Singhal
Bhim
B
Moser
Hugo
H
Kelley
Richard
R
DiMauro
Salvatore
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D020271:Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male