Exp Neurobiol.  2019 Feb;28(1):119-129. 10.5607/en.2019.28.1.119.

An Autopsy Proven Case of CSF1R-mutant Adult-onset Leukoencephalopathy with Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia (ALSP) with Premature Ovarian Failure

• Kim SI
• Jeon B
• Bae J
• Won JK
• Kim HJ
• Yim J
• Kim YJ
• Park SH

• KMID: 2439011
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2019.28.1.119

Abstract

Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is a progressive degenerative white matter disorder caused by mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the CSF1R gene. ALSP is often misdiagnosed as other diseases due to its rarity and various clinical presentations such as Parkinsonism, pyramidal signs, cognitive impairment and/or psychiatric symptoms. We describe an autopsy case of ALSP with a CSF1R mutation. A 61-year-old woman presented insidious-onset gait difficulty for 12 years since her age of 49, and premature ovarian failure since her age of 35. At initial hospital visit, brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus. Initially, Parkinson's syndrome was diagnosed, and she was prescribed L-dopa/carbidopa because of spasticity and rigidity of extremities, which had worsened. Subsequently, severe neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment developed and radiologically, features of leukoencephalopathy or leukodystrophy were detected. She showed a down-hill course and died, 12 years after initial diagnosis. At autopsy, the brain showed severe symmetric atrophy of bilateral white matter, paper-thin corpus callosum, thin internal capsule, and marked hydrocephalus. Microscopically, diffuse loss of white matter, relatively preserved subcortical U-fibers, and many eosinophilic bulbous neuroaxonal spheroids were noted, but there was no calcification. Pigmented glia with brown cytoplasmic pigmentation were readily found in the white matter, which were positive for Periodic acid-Schiff, p62, and CD163 stains, but almost negative for CD68. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing revealed a CSF1R mutation (c.2539G>A, p.Glu847Lys) which was reported in prior one ALSP case. This example demonstrates that ALSP could be associated with premature ovarian failure.

Keyword

Autopsy; CSF1R; Leukoencephalopathy; Neuroglia; Whole exome sequencing

MeSH Terms

Atrophy
Autopsy*
Axons*
Brain
Cognition Disorders
Coloring Agents
Corpus Callosum
Cytoplasm
Diagnosis
Eosinophils
Extremities
Female
Gait
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Internal Capsule
Leukoencephalopathies*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Muscle Spasticity
Neuroglia*
Parkinsonian Disorders
Pigmentation
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
White Matter
Coloring Agents
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases