Alexander Disease

Diagnosis:

A type of leukodystrophy a.k.a. dysmyelination. A type of intermediate filament disease.

Genetics:

Sporadic. GFAP gene mutation. Encoding Glial fibrillary acidic protein.

Findings on investigations:

Imaging:

  • Cerebral white matter lesions frontal >occipital. Brain stem atrophy
  • CT: hypodense white matter diffusely. Hyperdense caudate.
  • T1: hypodense white matter.
  • T2: hyperintense white matter
  • Enhancement early in disease with cranial nerve enhancement.

Pathology:

Subependymal, subpial and perivascular diffuse Rosenthal fibres
GFAP positive

Related articles: