Genetic heterogeneity of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy and subcortical cysts

Reported are the clinical, neuroradiologic, and molecular findings in 18 patients with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy and subcortical cysts (MLC) syndrome. Marked clinical intrafamilial and interfamilial variability in mutation-proven cases was found. A broad spectrum of pathogenetic mutations ( missense, splice site, insertion, and deletions) were identified in the MLC1 gene, enlarging the spectrum of allelic variants without a straightforward genotype-phenotype correlation. Five patients did not harbor mutations in MLC1, supporting the existence of at least one other MLC locus.