White matter diseases are a group of conditions that predominantly or significantly affect the white matter of the brain. They comprise a vast heterogeneous group and have a variety of appearances and presentations. They cause disease by altering the process of normal myelination.
Useful groupings
White matter disease can be broadly grouped into:
-
demyelinating disorders
- damage and/or destruction of previously normally myelinated structures
- e.g. multiple sclerosis, ADEM
-
dysmyelinating disorders
- abnormal structure and function of myelin, usually secondary to a hereditary disorder
- e.g. leukodystrophies (note, however, that many leukodystrophies have a demyelinating component)
-
hypomyelinating disorders
- reduction in the amount of otherwise normal myelin
- e.g. hypomyelination of prematurity
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.