Punctate white matter lesions in a late preterm-born infant with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: chronological change in magnetic resonance imaging

Punctate white-matter lesions in the full-term newborn: Underlying aetiology and outcome

BACKGROUND

Punctate white matter lesions (PWMLs) are small focal patches of increased signal intensity (SI) on T1- and decreased SI on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To date, there have been few reports of PWMLs in term born infants.

OBJECTIVE

To identify associated diagnoses and factors predictive of clinical outcome in (near) term infants with PWMLs.

METHODS

MRI studies and clinical records of (near) term infants, with PWMLs on MRI scans performed in two institutions in the first 28 postnatal days were reviewed. The PWMLs were classified according to their number, pattern and distribution. The medical records were examined to assess the associated diagnoses and determine the neurodevelopmental outcome at >12 months of age. Infants with congenital heart defect(s), those who had neonatal surgery, or those with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke were not eligible for the study.

RESULTS

Forty-two (near) term infants with PWMLs were included. The major clinical association was perinatal asphyxia, present in 19/42 (45%). Ten (24%) had a history of seizures unrelated to asphyxia or a genetic diagnosis. Eleven (26%) had pathological genetic mutations. Other diagnoses, without seizures were identified in 2 (5%). The lesion load of PWMLs was high (>6) in 30/42 (71%). Evidence of irreversible white matter injury was present in 5 infants who had follow-up MRI performed between 18 and 24 months of age, because of clinical concerns. Five infants died and 37 had follow-up at a median age of 24 months. Neurodevelopmental outcome was poorest amongst 6 infants (16%) whose PWMLs occurred in the setting of a genetic disorder.

CONCLUSION

PWMLs in (near) term infants represent white matter injury that may evolve into gliosis and/or white matter loss. Infants with PWMLs in the setting of a genetic disorder appeared at most risk of a poor outcome.

A novel mutation in COL4A1 gene: a possible cause of early postnatal cerebrovascular events

COL4A1 is located in humans on chromosome13q34 and it encodes the alpha 1 chain of type IV collagen, a component of basal membrane. It is expressed mainly in the brain, muscles, kidneys and eyes. Different COL4A1 mutations have been reported in many patients who present a very wide spectrum of clinical symptoms. They typically show a multisystemic phenotype. Here we report on the case of a patient carrying a novel de novo splicing mutation of COL4A1 associated with a distinctive clinical picture characterized by onset in infancy and an unusual evolution of the neuroradiological features. At three months of age, the child was diagnosed with a congenital cataract, while his brain MRI was normal. Over the following years, the patient developed focal epilepsy, mild diplegia, asymptomatic microhematuria, raised creatine kinase levels, MRI white matter abnormalities and brain calcification on CT. During the neuroradiological follow-up the extension and intensity of the brain lesions progressively decreased. The significance of a second variant in COL4A1 carried by the child and inherited from his father remains to be clarified. In conclusion, our patient shows new aspects of this collagenopathy and possibly a COL4A1 compound heterozygosity.