Atypical vanishing white matter disease with microcephaly and hepatosplenomegaly provoked after diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccination

Abstract

Vanishing white matter (VWM) disease is a rare leukoencephalopathy. Normal development in early childhood with regression of milestones after trauma or infection is typical clinical presentation. We are reporting a child with atypical VWM disease. A 1.5-year-old female child presented with fever followed by altered sensorium and convulsions following first booster dose of diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccination. Her development was normal till 1 yr of age. Her weight and head size were below 3 standard deviations. She had hepatosplenomegaly. Her routine investigations including cerebrospinal fluid examination were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain shows diffuse white matter signals changes (hyperintensity on T2-weighted and hypointensity on T1-weighted images) involving the subcortical “U” fibers sparing basal ganglia. MRI shows diffuse white matter hyperintensity on T2-weighted images with areas of low signal on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, close to the signal of cerebrospinal fluid. Based on MRI findings we diagnosed as VWM disease.

Keywords

Vanishing white matter disease - whole cell DPT vaccine - hepatosplenomegaly - microcephaly