Neurophysiological study in an Italian family with autosomal dominant late-onset leukodystrophy

Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1998 Apr-May;38(3):131-5.

Abstract

Evoked potentials (EPs) and nerve conduction velocities (NCV) were evaluated in 8 affected and 10 asymptomatic members of a new Italian family with an adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy of uncertain nosography. NCV studies did not show anomalies. Various EPs abnormalities were found in all the symptomatic patients (increase of interpeak latency and/or loss of cortical responses), according with a myelin disorder. Among the asymptomatic subjects 3/10 (30%) showed similar anomalies at auditory brainstem EPs (increase of I-III/I-V/III-V interval). Two of these patients had normal brain MRI. This datum require further confirms (very low penetrance of the disease?), but it remarks the importance of a functional study of SNC in order to obtain elements not usually given from clinical and neuroradiological study.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain Stem / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Chromosome Aberrations / genetics*
  • Chromosome Disorders
  • Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder / genetics*
  • Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder / physiopathology
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / physiology
  • Female
  • Genes, Dominant / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Conduction / physiology
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
  • Reaction Time / genetics
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reference Values