Clinical and neuroimaging findings in a family with CADASIL associated to C475T mutation
Sempere, A.P.; Pérez-Tur, J.; García-Barragán, N.; Sellés, J.; Medrano, V.; Mola, S.
Revista de Neurologia 38(1): 37-41
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0210-0010 PMID: 14730489 Document Number: 573438
The term CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) refers to an autosomal dominant hereditary arteriopathy of the brain that is characterised by headache, recurring strokes and progressive cognitive deterioration. We report the case of another family with CADASIL and emphasise the importance of a genetic study in its diagnosis. A 62-year-old female patient with repeating lacunar strokes, subcortical dementia and a family history of dementia and strokes. Neuroimaging studies conducted on the patient and her siblings showed signs of leukoencephalopathy and lacunar infarctions. The ultrastructural study of the biopsy performed on a sample of the patient's skin, which included five dermal vessels, did not show any electron-dense deposits. The genetic study revealed the presence of mutation C475T in exon 4 of NOTCH3. The possible presence of CADASIL must be suspected in patients with symptoms of cerebrovascular disease or dementia who present characteristic alterations in the magnetic resonance brain scan, especially when there is a compatible family history. The first choice diagnostic procedure must be a genetic study.