CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy): Diagnostic skin biopsy changes determined by electron microscopy

Abstract

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a familial vascular disorder associated with migraines, recurrent ischemic strokes, and early-onset multiinfarct dementia. The diagnosis of CADASIL is made ultrastructurally by finding characteristic granular, electron-dense, osmiophilic material attached to vascular smooth muscle cells. These changes have been found in brain, skeletal muscle, nerve, and skin. We describe a woman with CADASIL diagnosed on the basis of brain and skin electronmicroscopic findings. Dermatologists and dermatopathologists need to be aware of this disorder because characteristic electronmicroscopic changes on a skin biopsy specimen are diagnostic. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:1125-7.)