Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy with spinal cord lesion: A case report and literature review

ABSTRACT

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy(CADASIL)is a common hereditary disease caused by NOTCH3 gene. The major clinical manifestations includerecurrent small-vessel ischaemic events, migraine, dementia and mood disturbance. Herein, wereport a 32-years-old male presented with right leg weakness and persistent migraine. We carried outneurological exams, genetic testing, blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis (CSF) as well as magneticresonance imaging (MRI) for the brain and spinal cord. There were no anti-aquaporin-4 antibodiesand oligoclonal bands in the CSF and blood investigations were within the normal range. MRI scansrevealed multiple hyperintense regions in the brain and longitudinally hyperintense signal in spinal cord.Further, we identified a c.383G>A(p.Cys128Tyr) mutation in NOTCH3 gene. Therefore, the patientwas diagnosed with CADASIL concurrent with spinal cord lesion. The patient’s condition slightlyimproved after two weeks treatment with daily dosage of 0.5 g citicoline and 75 mg clopidogrel.