Clinical analysis of 13 cases of unrecognized infantile leukoencephalopathy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the phenotypic features of an unrecognized leukoencephalopathy in infants sharing same clinical features,and to better understand the disease and provide new evidence for identification of new leukoencephalopathy. Methods Clinical and follow-up data of 13 patients with unrecognized infantile leukoen-cephalopathy were collected from Peking University First Hospital from January, 2006 to December, 2014. Results (1) There were 7 male and 6 female. The average age of onset was 11 months (4-25 months). Thirty-eight percent (5/13 cases) of patients had incentives before the onset;all of the cases had acute onset and rapid motor function regression. Fifteen percent (2/13 cases) of the patients suffered from seizures in the course of the disease. Patients′condition became stable,and cognition and motor function improved gradually 1 month after onset. No patient died till the last follow-up. (2) Imaging featuresmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patients was characterized by im-plicating deep white matter,presenting T1 hypointense,T2 and fluid attenuated inversion recovery ( FLAIR) hyperin-tense in the periventricular area. All of MRI showed massive and symmetric lesions with heterogeneous signal and cystic degeneration. DWI showed patch or massive hyperintense in some of the lesions. The follow-up MRI showed the original lesions decreased in 88% ( 8/9 cases ) of patients, and white matters atrophied in 55% ( 5/9 cases ) of patients;the cystic degeneration still existed and even expanded;DWI showed regional linear or spot hyperintense in 88% (8/9 cases) of patients,which was smaller than before,and distributed around the original lesions. Conclusions The patients with leukoencephalopathy caused by unknown pathogenic gene were much likely to be mitochondrial leukoencephalopathy. This study provided evidence for further exploration of new pathogenic genes causing leu-koence-phalopathy.