Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter

Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter

Definition

A new leukoencephalopathy, the CACH syndrome (Childhood Ataxia with Central nervous system Hypomyelination) or VWM (Vanishing White Matter) was identified on clinical and MRI criteria. Classically, this disease is characterized by (1) an onset between 2 and 5 years of age, with a cerebello-spastic syndrome exacerbated by episodes of fever or head trauma leading to death after 5 to 10 years of disease evolution, (2) a diffuse involvement of the white matter on cerebral MRI with a CSF-like signal intensity (cavitation), (3) a recessive autosomal mode of inheritance, (4) neuropathologic findings consistent with a cavitating orthochromatic leukodystrophy with increased number of oligodendrocytes with sometimes "foamy'' aspect.

Also known as childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination, leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter, myelinosis centralis diffusa — per MONDO

Also identified as

Affected Organs

Organ Involvement Source
Brain Disease Has Primary Anatomic Site NCIT · CC BY 4.0
Central nervous system Disease Has Associated Anatomic Site NCIT · CC BY 4.0
Central nervous system Disease Has Primary Anatomic Site NCIT · CC BY 4.0
Nervous system Disease Has Associated Anatomic Site NCIT · CC BY 4.0
Nervous system Disease Has Primary Anatomic Site NCIT · CC BY 4.0