MRI NERVE ROOT ENHANCEMENT IN KRABBE-DISEASE

Krabbe disease is characterized by abnormal breakdown and turnover of myelin, leading to extensive demyelination in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. A 7-month-old infant with early-onset Krabbe disease had deceptively normal head images, but spinal MRI demonstrate d abnormal gadolinium enhancement of the lumbosacral sacral nerve root s and cauda equina such as that seen in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Abnor mal enhancement in spinal MRI has not been previously described in pat ients with leukodystrophies, (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rig hts reserved.