Vanishing white matter disease …

Neurogenetic Disorders

Updated 10.30.2024
Released 10.27.1999
Expires For CME 10.30.2027

Vanishing white matter disease

Authors: A S Jyotsna MBBS DNB DM, Arushi Gahlot Saini MD DM MNAMS, K P Vinayan MD DM

See Contributor Disclosures

Editor: Solomon L Moshé MD

Vanishing white matter disease

In This Article

Quick Link

Introduction

Overview

Vanishing white matter disease is an autosomal recessive, chronic, and progressive leukodystrophy with prominent ataxia and spasticity, cavitary degeneration of the periventricular and subcortical white matter, and exacerbations by infection, head trauma, and other stressors. It is associated with biallelic pathogenic variations in any of the five genes (EIF2B1, EIF2B2, EIF2B3, EIF2B4, and EIF2B5) that encode five subunits of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B). Pathogenic variants in the EIF2B5 gene account for more than half of cases. Patients may develop a wide spectrum of neurologic abnormalities, from prenatal-onset white matter disease to juvenile- or adult-onset ataxia and dementia, sometimes with ovarian insufficiency. The pattern of diffuse white matter abnormalities on brain MRI and diffusion studies is often diagnostic. There is no specific treatment for vanishing white matter disease. Management includes supportive care and avoidance of triggers.

Key points

	• Vanishing white matter disease is a chronic progressive leukodystrophy with autosomal recessive inheritance that can present antenatally to later in adulthood.
	• Patients with vanishing white matter disease have an unusual susceptibility to mild head trauma, fever, and other stressors.
	• The pathognomonic pattern of MRI and diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities are often the earliest clue to diagnosis.
	• Pathogenic variants in any of the five genes (EIF2B1, EIF2B2, EIF2B3, EIF2B4, and EIF2B5) that encode subunits of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) are the cause of vanishing white matter disease and its phenotypic variants.
	• There is no cure or specific treatment, and supportive care along with avoidance of triggers is the mainstay of management for vanishing white matter disease.

Historical note and terminology

The earliest literature on vanishing white matter disease was in the 1960s in the form of case reports of patients with chronic progressive gait and motor disturbances whose autopsy showed cystic degeneration of the cerebral white matter surrounded by dense networks of oligodendrocytes (08). Subsequent similar but separate neuropathological case descriptions were reported until the 1980s (58; 17; 02; 16).

Three case series were published in the 1990s. All of them described a childhood-onset, progressive leukoencephalopathy with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Schiffmann and colleagues proposed the term “childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination” (36). Hanefeld and coworkers identified minor head trauma as a provoking factor (19). They also described the unique proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings of the disappearance of all white matter signals and replacement with resonances representing lactate and glucose. In late 1990s, Van der Knaap and colleagues described another series of patients and recognized both febrile infections and minor head trauma as provoking factors for the disease (43; 46). They observed that MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings were indicative of a progressive form of cystic degeneration of the white matter rather than hypomyelination. This interpretation was substantiated by autopsy findings, and the same group proposed the name “vanishing white matter.”

Clinical manifestations

Presentation and course

The most common presentation of the classical variant of this disease is of an insidious onset and chronic progressive neurologic syndrome; onset is between 2 and 6 years of age in a previously normal child. Predominant features are ataxia, spasticity, and a relatively mild cognitive decline. Though less common, other features that may be noted during the course of the disease are optic atrophy, dysarthria, tremors, and epilepsy (35). Seizures are often well controlled with medication. Minor head trauma, febrile illnesses, and acute fright are characteristically described as bringing about episodes of major and rapid neurologic deterioration (46; 57). Such episodes may lead to rapid loss of motor abilities, altered sensorium with seizures, and vomiting, which may result in coma and death. If the child recovers from this acute phase, they may not return to their baseline neurologic status. Most children succumb following one such episode over a few years. At any stage of the illness, a child may remain stable for years. Death usually occurs in the first or second decade of life.

Phenotypic variability. Some patients develop symptoms after 5 years of age with a more slowly progressive spastic diplegia, relative sparing of cognitive ability, and a likely long-term survival (36; 46). A rapidly fatal infantile form of this syndrome has been described and has been found to be allelic to the more common form of the disease with the 3q27 locus (15). A subacute variant of childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination has been reported in the Cree indigenous population of Northern Canada (04; 14). These patients have an onset of neurologic deterioration in the first 6 months of life and die by 2 years of age. Congenital forms of the disease have also been reported, with multisystemic manifestations (51). Adult-onset disease has been reported, particularly with the p.R113H EI2B5 mutation (13; 48). A case series of 16 adult patients demonstrated the common presence of behavioral and psychiatric manifestations, as well as progressive cerebral atrophy, in addition to the more typical white matter findings on MRI (23). Presentation as adult-onset, isolated, bilateral optic neuropathy has also been reported (03).

Prognosis and complications

Vanishing white matter disease is usually progressive. In a longitudinal multicenter study among 296 genetically conﬁrmed patients with vanishing white matter disease, earlier disease onset (less than 4 years) was observed to be associated with higher sensitivity to febrile infections, and fever-provoked deterioration was seen in 86% of patients, which led to exacerbations in the disease course (18). Fever-provoked exacerbations were seen in 50% when onset was at 18 years old or older. Earlier onset was also associated with more severe disability and higher mortality. Absence of stress-provoked episodes and absence of seizures were observed to predict a more favorable outcome. In patients with onset after 4 years of age, the disease course was noted to be generally milder, with a wide variation in severity (18).

In the more severe variants, like Cree leukoencephalopathy, brainstem dysfunction leading to breathing difficulties and death was most often the terminal event (36; 46). Some mutations in the homozygous state were observed to be associated with either a mild or a severe form of the disease (13).

Vanishing white matter disease is also known to have multisystemic manifestations. Primary or secondary ovarian failure has been commonly reported across all different disease severities (12). Other features, such as growth failure, cataracts, hepatosplenomegaly, pancreatitis, and kidney hypoplasia, have been reported in the early-onset severe variants of the disease (51).

No statistically significant differences in age of onset and survival have been observed for individuals with pathogenic variants in any of the five genes (18). The only feature noted was better preserved ambulation in five individuals with EIF1B1 pathogenic variants.

Clinical vignette

A 7.5-year-old boy was admitted for evaluation of a leukodystrophy and an ataxic gait. He was well until 4 years of age, when he developed subacute onset of gait instability and "foot drop." The difficulties became worse, but a few weeks later he progressively improved, recovering an almost normal gait. At the age of 5, he fell and had a mild head trauma and could not stand independently. He had a slow recovery in the subsequent months and required a walker to assist in ambulation. A right ankle foot orthosis was used to facilitate ambulation. Fine motor movements were also affected; he had difficulties opening a door using a key. In the subsequent years, the patient remained mostly stable, showing only mild motor deterioration. His cognitive abilities were normal, and he attended a regular school and performed at grade level.

Family history was unrevealing; the patient was an only child. His examination revealed a head circumference in the 50th percentile, weight at the 80th percentile, and height above the 95th percentile. General examination was unremarkable. His speech was slow. Extraocular movements were normal, as was funduscopic examination. Mild tongue weakness was the only cranial nerve abnormality. He had moderate spastic weakness of the lower extremities in an upper motor neuron pattern. Fine motor movements of the upper extremities were markedly dysmetric. He could not stand unaided but could make a few steps when supported by another person. Tendon reflexes were increased with ankle clonus and Babinski signs bilaterally. Sensory examination was normal to light touch, vibration, and temperature.

A nerve conduction study and electromyography were normal. MRI of the head showed diffuse increase in signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging and correspondingly decreased signal intensity in T1-weighted images.

Childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination (MRI) (1)

(A) Diffuse and symmetric white matter hypodensity on a transaxial T1-weighted image. (B) Diffuse white matter hyperintensity on a T2-weighted image. (C) Cystic changes in the white matter in a fast spin echo inversion recovery se...

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging showed reduced choline-containing compounds, N-acetyl aspartate, and creatine in white matter only. An extensive laboratory evaluation consisting of routine hematologic, liver, and renal functions were normal as were tests for known leukodystrophies, lysosomal storage diseases, aminoacidopathies, and organic aciduria. Spinal fluid had normal glucose, lactate, and protein levels. Muscle biopsy was morphologically normal. Mitochondrial enzymes in muscle were normal; nerve biopsy was normal.

At this point, the clinical and neuroradiologic picture coupled with the unremarkable laboratory evaluation was considered consistent with vanishing white matter disease.

Biological basis

Etiology and pathogenesis

Genetic linkage to a region at chromosome 3q27 was found in a Dutch subgroup of children who were then diagnosed with childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination (24). The gene in this region was subsequently identified as EIF2B5, which codes for the epsilon subunit of the protein translation initiation factor eIF2B (25). It soon became clear, however, that this disorder is genetically heterogeneous and that it can be caused by mutations in any of the five subunits of eIF2B (47; 13; 35). Most patients are compound heterozygotes with a missense mutation in at least one allele (35). A rare submicroscopic deletion of 14q24.3 contributed to the disease in one patient (38). EIF2B-related disorder is panethnic and has been described in a number of Chinese patients (61). Currently more than 120 mutations have been described in patients, with mutations affecting any of the five subunits of eIF2B (27). There are at least two mutations with known founder effect. These are the histidine substitution at arginine 195 of epsilon-eIF2B, R195H, and the A87V mutation in exon 3 of EIF2B3 in Quebec (14; 33).

Eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) are involved in the initiation of translation of mRNAs into polypeptides (31). eIF2B is the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor for eIF2 and plays a key role in protein synthesis. Vanishing white matter disease mutations have functional consequences on eIF2B activity, preferentially in the glial cells. Impaired activity of eIF2B leads to an impairment of the cellular stress response, potentially leading to deposition of denatured and misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum of the glial cells under conditions of stress, especially fever (25). The exact reason for the preferential involvement of glial cells is unknown. Earlier studies hypothesized that overall eIF2B activity might be relatively low in glia, and further reduction in eIF2B activity caused by vanishing white matter disease mutations could make these cells more vulnerable (32). Additional studies on eIF2B mutations have described a more complex phenomenon and have hypothesized that the unbalanced stoichiometry of subunits within large protein complexes were found to be dysfunctional in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, hence, causing their preferential affection (09; 20)/

In autopsies of patients with vanishing white matter disease, white matter is noted to be gelatinous or cystic or, frankly, cavitary. A predilection for frontoparietal white matter, particularly deep and periventricular, is commonly observed, with relative sparing of the temporal lobe, optic system, corpus callosum, anterior commissure, and internal capsule. There is also a relative sparing of the subcortical U fibers, though this is not a consistent finding (36; 43). Microscopic changes in the affected white matter are noted as pallor of myelin, thin myelin sheaths, vacuolation, myelin loss, cystic change, and, rarely, active demyelination. Myelin sheaths are abnormal and vary from pale to thin to vacuolated. Inflammatory response is not significantly noted. There is also a relative preservation of grey matter. Axons are usually spared, but sometimes axonal loss may be as severe as myelin loss, which is specially noted in areas of cavitation (34; 59). The presence of “foamy” oligodendrocytes is typical of this disease and distinguishes it from the other leukodystrophies. Marked loss of oligodendrocytes is noted around the cavitary areas. In the relatively preserved areas, there is an increase in apparently mature oligodendrocytes (34). The astrocytes are observed to be reduced in number, coarse, and dysmorphic with blunt broad processes rather than their typical delicate arborizations (59; 15).

Table 1. Pathologic Features of Vanishing White Matter Disease

Major pathologic features
	• Foamy oligodendroglial cell and possibly increase in the number of oligodendrocytes
	• Rarefaction of the white matter (hematoxylin and eosin, Luxol fast blue)
	• Relative axonal preservation compared to white matter loss
	• Relative sparing of the white matter U-fibers
	• Atypical perivascular astrogliosis with blunted processes and, in some cases, decrease in the number of astrocytes that are immature
Minor pathologic features
	• Microgliosis, focal, absent to moderate in severity
	• Macrophages, focal, absent to moderate in severity

Diagnostic workup

The diagnosis of vanishing white matter disease is considered based on the typical clinical features and MRI pattern recognition and then confirmed by genetic testing. The presence of family history of disease and association of various stressors with clinical deterioration provide additional clues.

Neuroimaging features. Cranial CT scan is of limited use and usually shows diffuse and symmetric hypodensity of the cerebral hemispheric white matter with no calcifications. Strict diagnostic MRI criteria for vanishing white matter disease have not been established. The typical MRI features described for vanishing white matter disease are shown in Table 2 (37). These are more relevant to the classic early-childhood type but may variably be found in atypical presentations, such as the antenatal or adult-onset forms of vanishing white matter disease, and in presymptomatic patients in whom secondary cavitation may be absent (49).

Table 2. Typical MRI Features for Vanishing White Matter Disease

	• There is extensive abnormal signal from the periventricular and deep cerebral white matter; the subcortical white matter is relatively spared. The cerebral white matter is symmetrically and diffusely abnormal (49).
	• Progressive white matter degeneration leads to diffuse cystic changes in place of the “vanishing” white matter, which becomes isointense to the CSF, surrounded by a rim of hyperintensity demonstrating the cavitated breakdown of the white matter.
	• Cerebellar white matter and cerebral temporal lobes are spared from the cystic changes. Over time, mild to severe cerebellar atrophy is seen, primarily in the vermis.
	• There is no contrast enhancement of the lesions and abnormal areas.
	• There is involvement of the inner rim of the corpus callosum, with sparing of the outer rim.
	• A dot-like pattern in the centrum semiovale and fine meshwork of radiating stripes within the abnormal white matter may be seen on T1 or FLAIR images.
	• Symmetric signal change may be seen in the central tegmental tracts in the pons.
	• Spinal cord atrophy and post-contrast enhancement with enlargement of cranial nerves has been described (10).
	• Severe cerebral atrophy can be observed in adult-onset forms with slow progression.
	• MR spectroscopic imaging shows a marked decrease in all metabolites over the white matter only (36). However, other leukodystrophies may show a similar pattern.

MRI abnormalities are present in all affected individuals, regardless of age of onset, and are even present in asymptomatic affected siblings of a proband; however, the cerebral white matter may be abnormal on MRI, but not yet CSF-like, in presymptomatic and early symptomatic individuals. Over time, increasing amounts of white matter vanish and are replaced with CSF; cystic breakdown of the white matter is seen on proton density or FLAIR images (49). Patients with classic variants of the disease usually have relatively preserved white matter volume despite severe cystic degeneration. However, juvenile and adult forms of the disease may show ex vacuo dilatation of the ventricles (35; 12). Early in life, there may be a component of delayed myelination in the subcortical areas (52). These areas are more cellular and were found to have relatively restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging studies (06; 53). Similar MRI images may be seen in mitochondrial diseases, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency as well as in merosin-deficient muscular dystrophy. However, extensive cavitation of the white matter as observed in vanishing white matter disease is not seen in those conditions (05; 21; 41; 50).

Genetic testing. Once suspected, the diagnosis can be confirmed by the identification of pathogenic variants affecting any of the five genes, EIF2B1 to EIF2B5, encoding the five subunits of eIF2B. Exome sequencing is most commonly used; genome sequencing is also possible. Of the five genes, EIF2B5 contributes to almost 66% of the cases identifiable on sequence analysis, followed by EIF2B2 (16% of the cases). To date, all individuals with eIF2B-related disease have a leukodystrophy; no other phenotypes have been observed. A contiguous gene deletion that included EIF2B2 and an additional heterozygous EIF2B2 pathogenic variant were reported in a child with features of vanishing white matter disease plus dysmorphic facial features (38).

Genotype-phenotype correlation. There are no specific genotype-phenotype correlations, but some observations have been made based on limited natural history studies (13; 54; 18).

Table 3. Genotype-Phenotype Observations

	• There may be intra-familial variability with the same pathogenic variation.
	• The EIF2B5 homozygous p.Thr91Ala pathogenic variant has been associated with variable phenotypes from childhood onset to adults with no symptoms.
	• Another EIF2B5 homozygous pathogenic variant, p.Arg113His, has often been associated with a mild disease form that has never given rise to the infantile type.
	• EIF2B5 pathogenic variants p.Arg339 (p.Arg339Trp, p.Arg339Gln, or p.Arg339Pro) and p.Val309Leu have been predictably associated with severe disease.

Brain biopsy. Although characteristic pathologic findings have been seen in virtually all vanishing white matter disease brains examined thus far, a brain biopsy is not required to diagnose this leukodystrophy. An important development is the discovery of a significant decrease in the percent asialotransferrin of total transferrin in the CSF of EIF2B-mutated patients (56; 55). This finding may be particularly important in identifying patients with rather typical clinical and MRI abnormalities; however, the advent of genetic testing has circumvented the need for other corroborative tests. Blood or CSF-based biomarkers may have a role in newborn screening for this rare disorder.

Laboratory testing. Routine laboratory tests are generally normal in patients with vanishing white matter disease. Lumbar puncture is not routinely needed for the diagnosis. CSF analysis is typically normal, although CSF glycine may be elevated. The sensitivity and specificity of the latter test is not known.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials remain normal, even in severely affected patients (40).

Determination of the CSF asialotransferrin/total transferrin ratio has been utilized as a research tool but is not routinely done clinically (55). This ratio has been found to be low in people with genetically confirmed vanishing white matter disease.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) guanine exchange factor (GEF) activity was found to be low in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with vanishing white matter disease (13). The assay showed 100% specificity and 89% sensitivity when the activity threshold was set at 77.5% of normal (22). However, a similar pattern was not found in late-onset cases, and no correlation between eIF2B GEF activity and disease severity was found (26). It was concluded that if decreased activity is found, vanishing white matter disease is the most likely diagnosis; however, if normal or increased activity is found, vanishing white matter disease cannot be ruled out.

Management

No specific treatment is available for vanishing white matter disease. Improving quality of life with physical assistive devices for motor disabilities, along with avoidance of trigger deteriorations, is the mainstay of management and may prolong the lifespan. Aggressive management of infections, fever management following vaccinations, and avoidance of contact sports risking impact trauma are essential. One case of deep brain stimulation successfully reducing cerebellar tremor in a child with vanishing white matter disease was reported in 2012 (42). Integrated stress response inhibitor (ISRIB), a molecule that stabilizes the eIF2B complex and normalizes its activity, is being studied but has not yet found its place in human studies (60; 01). An in-vitro study suggests that edaravone and mitochondrial transfer are potential therapeutic strategies for consideration in vanishing white matter disease that can impact pathogenic pathways in astrocytes (28). In 2022, an expert consortium came together to formulate therapeutic trial designs for patients with vanishing white matter disease, recognizing the urgent need to offer therapies in this fatal disease (44). Recommendations were drafted based on evaluation of the current clinical, laboratory, and molecular data in each age group. However, low disease burden, heterogenous phenotypes, and unpredictability in the disease course were recognized as major limitations for formulating robust therapeutic trial designs. From a clinical perspective, neurologic decline is inevitable in children with vanishing white matter disease. Prenatal diagnosis can be offered to families with affected children, which emphasizes the need for a confirmatory genetic diagnosis in all index cases.

References

01: Abbink TEM, Wisse LE, Jaku E, et al. Vanishing white matter: deregulated integrated stress response as therapy target. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2019;6(8):1407-22. PMID 31402619
02: Anzil AP, Gessaga E. Late-life cavitating dystrophy of the cerebral and cerebellar white matter. Eur Neurol 1972;7(1):79-94. PMID 4111903
03: Barros SR, Parreira SCR, Miranda AFB, Pereira AMB, Campos NMP. New insights in vanishing white matter disease-isolated bilateral optic neuropathy in adult onset disease. J Neuroophthalmol 2018;38(1):42-6. PMID 28902089
04: Black DN, Booth F, Watters GV, et al. Leukoencephalopathy among native Indian infants in northern Quebec and Manitoba. Ann Neurol 1988;24:490-6. PMID 3239951
05: Cross JH, Connelly A, Gadian DG, et al. Clinical diversity of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. Pediatr Neurol 1994;10(4):276-83. PMID 8068153
06: Ding XQ, Bley A, Ohlenbusch A, et al. Imaging evidence of early brain tissue degeneration in patients with vanishing white matter disease: a multimodal MR study. J Magn Reson Imaging 2012;35(4):926-32. PMID 22128017
07: Distelmaier F, Klopstock T. Neuroimaging in mitochondrial disease. Handb Clin Neurol 2023;194:173-85. PMID 36813312
08: Eicke WJ. Polycystische umwandlung des marklagers mit progredientem verlauf. Atypische diff use sklerose? Arch Psychiat Nervenkr 1962;203:599-602.
09: Elroy-Stein O. Mitochondrial malfunction in vanishing white matter disease: a disease of the cytosolic translation machinery. Neural Regen Res 2017;12(10):1610-2. PMID 29171421
10: Eluvathingal Muttikkal TJ, Montealegre DR, Matsumoto JA. Enhancement of multiple cranial and spinal nerves in vanishing white matter: expanding the differential diagnosis. Pediatr Radiol 2018;48(3):437-42. PMID 29022088
11: Finsterer J, Zarrouk-Mahjoub S. Cerebral imaging in paediatric mitochondrial disorders. Neuroradiol J 2018;31(6):596-608. PMID 29978728
12: Fogli A, Rodriguez D, Eymard-Pierre E, et al. Ovarian failure related to eukaryotic initiation factor 2B mutations. Am J Hum Genet 2003;72(6):1544-50. PMID 12707859
13: Fogli A, Schiffmann R, Bertini E, et al. The effect of genotype on the natural history of eIF2B-related leukodystrophies. Neurology 2004;62(9):1509-17. PMID 15136673
14: Fogli A, Wong K, Eymard-Pierre E, et al. Cree leukoencephalopathy and CACH/VWM disease are allelic at the EIF2B5 locus. Ann Neurol 2002;52(4):506-10. PMID 12325082
15: Francalanci P, Eymard-Pierre E, Dionisi-Vici C, et al. Fatal infantile leukodystrophy: a severe variant of CACH/VWM syndrome, allelic to chromosome 3q27. Neurology 2001;57(2):265-70. PMID 11468311
16: Gautier JC, Gray F, Awada A, Escourolle R. Leucodystrophie orthochromatique cavitaire de l’adulte. Prolifération et inclusion oligodendrogliales. Rev Neurol 1984;140:493-501.
17: Girard PF, Tommassi M, Rochet M, Boucher M. Leukoencephalopathy with large bilateral symmetrical cavitation. Post-traumatic decortication syndrome. [Article in French] Presse Med (1893) 1968;76(4):163-66. PMID 5640435
18: Hamilton EMC, van der Lei HDW, Vermeulen G, et al. Natural history of vanishing white matter. Ann Neurol 2018;84(2):274-88. PMID 30014503
19: Hanefeld F, Holzbach U, Kruse B, Wilichowski E, Christen HJ, Frahm J. Diffuse white matter disease in three children: an encephalopathy with unique features on magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neuropediatrics 1993;24(5):244-8. PMID 8309512
20: Herrero M, Mandelboum S, Elroy-Stein O. eIF2B mutations cause mitochondrial malfunction in oligodendrocytes. Neuromolecular Med 2019;21(3):303-13. PMID 31134486
21: Higgins JJ, Glasgow AM, Lusk M, Kerr DS. MRI, clinical, and biochemical features of partial pyruvate carboxylase deficiency. J Child Neurol 1994;9(4):436-9. PMID 7822739
22: Horzinski L, Huyghe A, Cardoso MC, et al. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) GEF activity as a diagnostic tool for EIF2B-related disorders. PLoS One 2009;4(12):e8318. PMID 20016818
23: Labauge P, Horzinski L, Ayrignac X, et al. Natural history of adult-onset eIF2B-related disorders: a multi-centric survey of 16 cases. Brain 2009;132(Pt 8):2161-9. PMID 19625339
24: Leegwater PA, Konst AA, Kuyt B, et al. The gene for leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter is located on chromosome 3q27. Am J Hum Genet 1999;65(3):728-34. PMID 10441579
25: Leegwater PA, Vermeulen G, Konst AA, et al. Subunits of the translation initiation factor eIF2B are mutant in leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter. Nat Genet 2001;29(4):383-8. PMID 11704758
26: Liu AR, van der Lei HD, Wang X, et al. Severity of vanishing white matter disease does not correlate with deficits in eIF2B activity or the integrity of eIF2B complexes. Hum Mutat 2011;32(9):1036-45. PMID 21560189
27: Maletkovic J, Schiffmann R, Gorospe JR, et al. Genetic and clinical heterogeneity in eIF2B-related disorder. J Child Neurol 2008;23(2):205-15. PMID 18263758
28: Ng NS, Newberry M, Touffu A, et al. Edaravone and mitochondrial transfer as potential therapeutics for vanishing white matter disease astrocyte dysfunction. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023;29(9):2481-97. PMID 36971196
29: Parra SP, Heckers SH, Wilcox WR, Mcknight CD, Jinnah HA. The emerging neurological spectrum of AARS2-associated disorders. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2021;93:50-4. PMID 34784527
30: Peter L, Niel F, Catenoix H, et al. Acute neurological deterioration in ovarioleukodystrophy related to EIF2B mutations: pregnancy with oocyte donation is a potentially precipitating factor. Eur J Neurol 2008;15(1):94-7. PMID 18005052
31: Proud CG. Regulation of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2B. Prog Mol Subcell Biol 2001;26:95-114. PMID 11575168
32: Richardson JP, Mohammad SS, Pavitt GD. Mutations causing childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination reduce eukaryotic initiation factor 2B complex formation and activity. Mol Cell Biol 2004;24(6):2352-63. PMID 14993275
33: Robinson ME, Rossignol E, Brais B, Rouleau G, Arbour JF, Bernard G. Vanishing white matter disease in French-Canadian patients from Quebec. Pediatr Neurol 2014;51(2):225-32. PMID 25079571
34: Rodriguez D, Gelot A, della Gaspera B, et al. Increased density of oligodendrocytes in childhood ataxia with diffuse central hypomyelination (CACH) syndrome: neuropathological and biochemical study of two cases. Acta Neuropathol 1999;97(5):469-80. PMID 10334484
35: Schiffmann R, Fogli A, van der Knaap MS, Boespflug-Tanguy O. Childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination/vanishing white matter. In: GeneReviews at GeneTests: Medical Genetics Information Resource. Accessed July 2007. University of Washington, Seattle, 1997-2007. 1997.
36: Schiffmann R, Moller JR, Trapp BD, et al. Childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination [see comments]. Ann Neurol 1994;35(3):331-40. PMID 8122885
37: Schiffmann R, van der Knaap MS. Invited article: an MRI-based approach to the diagnosis of white matter disorders. Neurology 2009;72(8):750-9. PMID 19237705
38: Shimada S, Miya K, Oda N, et al. An unmasked mutation of EIF2B2 due to submicroscopic deletion of 14q24.3 in a patient with vanishing white matter disease. Am J Med Genet A 2012;158A (7):1771-7. PMID 22678813
39: Stellitano LA, Winstone AM, van der Knaap MS, Verity CM. Leukodystrophies and genetic leukoencephalopathies in childhood: a national epidemiological study. Dev Med Child Neurol 2016;58(7):680-9. PMID 26866636
40: Tedeschi G, Schiffmann R, Barton NW, et al. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination. Neurology 1995;45(8):1526-32. PMID 7644053
41: Uncini A, Servidei S, Silvestri G, et al. Ophthalmoplegia, demyelinating neuropathy, leukoencephalopathy, myopathy, and gastrointestinal dysfunction with multiple deletions of mitochondrial DNA: a mitochondrial multisystem disorder in search of a name. Muscle Nerve 1994;17(6):667-74. PMID 8196710
42: Valalik I, van der Knaap MS, Scheper GC, Jobbagy A, Liptai Z, Csokay A. Long-term tremor control with bilateral Vim-DBS in vanishing white matter disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2012;18(9):1048-50. PMID 22632853
43: van der Knaap MS, Barth PG, Gabreels FJ, et al. A new leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter. Neurology 1997;48(4):845-55. PMID 9109866
44: van der Knaap MS, Bonkowsky JL, Vanderver A, et al. Therapy trial design in vanishing white matter: an expert consortium opinion. Neurol Genet 2022;8(2):e657. PMID 35128050
45: van der Knaap MS, Boor I, Estévez R. Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts: chronic white matter oedema due to a defect in brain ion and water homoeostasis. Lancet Neurol 2012;11:973. PMID 23079554
46: van der Knaap MS, Kamphorst W, Barth PG, Kraaijeveld CL, Gut E, Valk J. Phenotypic variation in leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter. Neurology 1998;51(2):540-7. PMID 9710032
47: van der Knaap MS, Leegwater PA, Konst AA, et al. Mutations in each of the five subunits of translation initiation factor eIF2B can cause leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter. Ann Neurol 2002;51(2):264-70. PMID 11835386
48: van der Knaap MS, Leegwater PA, van Berkel CG, et al. Arg113His mutation in eIF2B epsilon as cause of leukoencephalopathy in adults. Neurology 2004;62:1598-600. PMID 15136689
49: van der Knaap MS, Pronk JC, Scheper GC. Vanishing white matter disease. Lancet Neurol 2006;5:413-23. PMID 16632312
50: van der Knaap MS, Valk J, editors. Magnetic Resonance of Myelination and Myelin Disorders. 3rd ed. New York: Springer, 2005.
51: van der Knaap MS, Van Berkel CG, Herms J, et al. eIF2B-Related Disorders: antenatal Onset and Involvement of Multiple Organs. Am J Hum Genet 2003;73(5):1199-207. PMID 14566705
52: van der Lei HD, Steenweg ME, Barkhof F, et al. Characteristics of early MRI in children and adolescents with vanishing white matter. Neuropediatrics 2012a;43(1):22-6. PMID 22430157
53: van der Lei HD, Steenweg ME, Bugiani M, et al. Restricted diffusion in vanishing white matter. Arch Neurol 2012b;69(6):723-7. PMID 22312162
54: van der Lei HD, van Berkel CG, van Wieringen WN, et al. Genotype-phenotype correlation in vanishing white matter disease. Neurology 2010;75:1555-9. PMID 20975056
55: Vanderver A, Hathout Y, Maletkovic J, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of decreased CSF asialotransferrin for eIF2B-related disorder. Neurology 2008;70(23):2226-32. PMID 18519871
56: Vanderver A, Schiffmann R, Timmons M, et al. Decreased asialotransferrin in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with childhood-onset ataxia and central nervous system hypomyelination/vanishing white matter disease. Clin Chem 2005;51(11):2031-42. PMID 16155092
57: Vermeulen G, Seidl R, Mercimek-Mahmutoglu S, Rotteveel JJ, Scheper GC, van der Knaap MS. Fright is a provoking factor in vanishing white matter disease. Ann Neurol 2005;57(4):560-3. PMID 15786451
58: Watanabe I, Muller J. Cavitating “diffuse sclerosis.” J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1967;26(3):437-55. PMID 5298090
59: Wong K, Armstrong RC, Gyure KA, et al. Foamy cell with oligodendroglial phenotype in childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination syndrome. Acta Neuropathol 2000;100:635-46. PMID 11078215
60: Wong YL, LeBon L, Edalji R, Lim HB, Sun C, Sidrauski C. The small molecule ISRIB rescues the stability and activity of vanishing white matter disease eIF2B mutant complexes. Elife 2018;7. PMID 29489452
61: Wu Y, Pan Y, Du L, et al. Identification of novel EIF2B mutations in Chinese patients with vanishing white matter disease. J Hum Genet 2009;54(2):74-7. PMID 19158808

Contributors

All contributors' financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated to ensure that this and every other article is free from commercial bias.

Authors

A S Jyotsna MBBS DNB DM

Dr. Jyotsna of Apollo BGS Hospital has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
See Profile
Arushi Gahlot Saini MD DM MNAMS

Dr. Saini of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
See Profile
K P Vinayan MD DM

Dr. Vinayan of the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
See Profile

Editor

Solomon L Moshé MD

Dr. Moshé of Albert Einstein College of Medicine has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
See Profile

Former Authors

Kondi Wong MD
Raphael Schiffmann MD

Patient Profile

Age range of presentation: 1 month to 44 years
Sex preponderance: male=female
Heredity: autosomal recessive
Occupation groups selectively affected: none selectively affected

ICD & OMIM codes

ICD-10: Leukodystrophy with vanishing white matter disease: G11.6
ICD-11: Certain specified leukodystrophies: 8A44.3
OMIM: Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter: #603896

This is an article preview.
Start a Free Account
to access the full version.

Nearly 3,000 illustrations, including video clips of neurologic disorders.
Every article is reviewed by our esteemed Editorial Board for accuracy and currency.
Full spectrum of neurology in 1,200 comprehensive articles.
Listen to MedLink on the go with Audio versions of each article.

Questions or Comment?

MedLink®, LLC

3525 Del Mar Heights Rd, Ste 304
San Diego, CA 92130-2122

Toll Free (U.S. + Canada): 800-452-2400

US Number: +1-619-640-4660

Support: service@medlink.com

Editor: editor@medlink.com

ISSN: 2831-9125

Vanishing white matter disease

Associated Disorders

Leukodystrophy with vanishing white matter

Differential Diagnosis

multiple sclerosis and related neuro-autoimmune conditions
acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
encephalitis
mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders
Alexander disease
- megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts
- AARS2-associated disorders with leukoencephalopathy and premature ovarian failure

Vanishing white matter disease

Introduction

Overview

Key points

Historical note and terminology

Clinical manifestations

Presentation and course

Prognosis and complications

Clinical vignette

Biological basis

Etiology and pathogenesis

Table 1. Pathologic Features of Vanishing White Matter Disease

Epidemiology

Prevention

Differential diagnosis

Confusing conditions

Diagnostic workup

Table 2. Typical MRI Features for Vanishing White Matter Disease

Table 3. Genotype-Phenotype Observations

Management

Special considerations

Pregnancy

Anesthesia

Media

References

Contributors

Authors

Editor

Former Authors

Patient Profile

ICD & OMIM codes

This is an article preview. Start a Free Account to access the full version.

Questions or Comment?

Also in This Category

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency

Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease

Wilson disease

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency

White matter abnormalities in the brain

Hypermethioninemia

POLG-related mitochondrial disorders

This is an article preview.
Start a Free Account
to access the full version.