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Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Case report

The disappearance of white matter in an adult-onset disease: a case report

Authors: Cyrus SH Ho, Simone Mangelsdorf, Mark Walterfang

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Vanishing white matter disease (VWMD) is one of the most prevalent hereditary white matter diseases in childhood, but it is increasingly recognised in adulthood with high phenotypic variation and severity.

Case presentation

We report a case of an adult female presenting with emotional lability and cognitive impairment, in addition to progressive dystonia, ataxia, postural instability and recurrent falls. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of VWMD.

Conclusions

VWMD has a broad clinical presentation in adulthood, and the age at onset of symptoms is one of its most important prognostic factors. It is crucial to recognize the pathognomonic MRI patterns and consider VWMD as a differential diagnosis when assessing patients presenting with psychiatric, cognitive and non-specific neurological symptoms.
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Metadata
Title
The disappearance of white matter in an adult-onset disease: a case report
Authors
Cyrus SH Ho
Simone Mangelsdorf
Mark Walterfang
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02551-x

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