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Genetic disorders affecting white matter in the pediatric age
Author(s) -
Di Rocco Maja,
Biancheri Roberta,
Rossi Andrea,
Filocamo Mirella,
TortoriDonati Paolo
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.30029
Subject(s) - white matter , medicine , myelin , demyelinating disorder , disease , neuroimaging , pathology , pediatrics , neuroscience , psychology , psychiatry , magnetic resonance imaging , central nervous system , radiology
Abstract Pediatric white matter disorders can be distinguished into well‐defined leukoencephalopathies, and undefined leukoencephalopathies. The first category may be subdivided into: (a) hypomyelinating disorders; (b) dysmyelinating disorders; (c) leukodystrophies; (d) disorders related to cystic degeneration of myelin; and (e) disorders secondary to axonal damage. The second category, representing up to 50% of leukoencephalopathies in childhood, requires a multidisciplinar approach in order to define novel homogeneous subgroups of patients, possibly representing “new genetic disorders” (such as megalencephalic leukoencepahlopathy with subcortical cysts and vanishing white matter disease that have recently been identified). In the majority of cases, pediatric white matter disorders are inherited diseases. An integrated description of the clinical, neuroimaging and pathophysiological features is crucial for categorizing myelin disorders and better understanding their genetic basis. A review of the genetic disorders affecting white matter in the pediatric age, including some novel entities, is provided. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.