Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and high brain lactate: report of three Brazilian patients.

Abstract

A novel leukoencephalopathy was recently identified based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) findings. Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and high lactate (LBSL) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by early onset of symptoms and slowly progressive cerebellar, pyramidal and spinal cord dorsal column dysfunction. MRI and (1)H-MRS typically show abnormalities within cerebral and cerebellar white matter, a characteristic involvement of brainstem and spinal cord tracts and elevated lactate in the abnormal white matter. We present three cases with characteristic clinical and neuroimaging findings of this disorder. Some additional unique findings of our patients are discussed, like distal motor neuropathy and elevated creatine kinase in the serum.

• Authors: Daniel Gurgel Fernandes Távora, Mauro Nakayama, Rômulo Lopes Gama, Thereza Cristina de Lara Alvim, Dalton Portugal, Enio Alberto Comerlato
• Journal: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria (Arq Neuropsiquiatr) Vol. 65 Issue 2B Pg. 506-11 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 0004-282X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17665025 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Lactic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Brain Stem (chemistry, pathology)
• Humans
• Lactic Acid (analysis)
• Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal (metabolism, pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Male
• Spinal Cord (chemistry, pathology)