raremaprare-disease reference indexOrphadata 2026-06-23 · HPO 2026-09-01
ORPHA:2478

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts

Synonyms: MLC · Megalencephalic leukodystrophy · Megalencephaly-cystic leukodystrophy syndrome · Vacuolating megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts · Van der Knaap syndrome

Type
Disease
Group
Disorder
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant, Autosomal recessive
Age of onset
Infancy, Neonatal
Status
active

A form of leukodystrophy that is characterized by infantile-onset macrocephaly, often with mild neurologic signs at presentation (such as mild motor delay), which worsen with time, leading to poor ambulation, falls, ataxia, spasticity, increasing seizures and cognitive decline. Brain magnetic resonance imaging reveals diffusely abnormal and mildly swollen white matter as well as subcortical cysts in the anterior temporal and frontoparietal regions.

1

Names in Orphadata languages

12 of 12 languages
LangNameSynonyms
enMegalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cystsMLC · Megalencephalic leukodystrophy · Megalencephaly-cystic leukodystrophy syndrome · Vacuolating megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts · Van der Knaap syndrome
frLeucoencéphalopathie mégalencéphalique avec kystes sous-corticauxLeucodystrophie mégalencéphalique · MLC · Syndrome de Van der Knaap · Syndrome de leucoencéphalopathie mégalencéphalique-kystes subcorticaux · Syndrome de mégalencéphalie-leucodystrophie kystique
deMegalenzephale Leukoenzephalopathie mit subkortikalen ZystenLeukodystrophie, megalenzephale · MLC · Megalenzephalie - zystische Leukodystrophie · Vakuolisierende Myelinonopathie mit subkortikalen Zysten · Van der Knaap-Syndrom
esLeucoencefalopatía megalencefálica con quistes subcorticalesLeucodistrofia megalencefálica · Leucoencefalopatía megalencefálica vacuolizante con quistes subcorticales · MLC · Megalencefalia-leucodistrofia quística · Síndrome de Van der Knapp
itLeucoencefalopatia megalencefalica con cisti sottocorticaliLeucodistrofia megalencefalica · Leucoencefalopatia megalencefalica vacuolizzante con cisti sottocorticali · MLC · Megalencefalia - leucodistrofia cistica · Sindrome di Van der Knapp
nlMegalencefalische leuko-encefalopathie met subcorticale cystenMLC · Megalencefalie - cystische leukodystrofie-syndroom · Megalencefalische leukodystrofie · Syndroom van Van der Knaap · Vacuoliserende megalencefalische leuko-encefalopathie met subcorticale cysten
ptLeucoencefalopatia megalencefálica com quistos subcorticaisLeucoencefalopatia megalencefálica · MLC · Síndrome Van der Knaap · Síndrome de megalencefalia-leucodistrofia quística
plLeukoencefalopatia z wielkogłowiem o powolnym przebieguLeukodystrofia z wielkogłowiem · MLC · Wielkogłowie - leukodystrofia torbielowata · Wielkogłowie z leukodystrofią wakuolizującą i torbielami podkorowymi · Zespół Van der Knaapa
csMegaloencefalická leukoencefalopatie se subkortikálními cystamiMLC · Megaloencefalická leukodystrofie · Syndrom zahrnující megaloencefalii a cystickou leukodystrofii · Vakuolující megaloencefalická leukoencefalopatie se subkortikálními cystami · Van der Knaapové syndrom
ukМегаленцефалічна лейкоенцефалопатія з підкірковими кістамиМегаленцефалічна лейкодистрофія · Синдром мегаленцефалічно-кістозної лейкодистрофії · MLC · Вакуолізуюча мегаленцефалічна лейкоенцефалопатія з підкірковими кістами · Синдром Ван дер Кнаапа
zh巨脑白质病变伴皮下囊肿空泡性巨脑白质脑病伴皮质下囊肿
trSubkortikal kistler ile seyreden megalensefalik lökoensefalopatiMLC · Van der Knaap sendromu · Megalensefalik lökodistrofi · Megalensefali-kistik lökodistrofi sendromu · Subkortikal kistler ile seyreden vakuolize megalensefalik lökoensefalopati

Definition in:

2

Cross-references

qualifier = Orphanet mapping relation
SourceCodeQualifierICD relationValidation
OMIM604004Evalidated
OMIM613925BTNTvalidated
OMIM613926BTNTvalidated
OMIM620447BTNTvalidated
OMIM620448BTNTvalidated
ICD-10E75.2NTBTattributedvalidated
ICD-118A44.3NTBTindexvalidated
MONDO0011391Evalidated
MeSHC536141Evalidated
UMLSC1858854Evalidated
GARD3445Evalidated

E exact · NTBT this ORPHAcode is narrower than the target · BTNT broader than the target · ND not decided.

3

Classification

Preferential parent (Orphanet linearisation):

Parents in the classifications (1):

No children.

4

Genes

4 direct
GeneAssociationStatusHGNCEnsemblOMIMLocusNameSource of validation
AQP4Disease-causing germline mutation(s) inAssessedHGNC:637ENSG0000017188560030818q11.2aquaporin 437143309[PMID]
GPRC5BDisease-causing germline mutation(s) inAssessedHGNC:13308ENSG0000016719160594816p12.3G protein-coupled receptor class C group 5 member B37143309[PMID]
HEPACAMDisease-causing germline mutation(s) inAssessedHGNC:26361ENSG0000016547861164211q24.2hepatic and glial cell adhesion molecule20301707[PMID]
MLC1Disease-causing germline mutation(s) inAssessedHGNC:17082ENSG0000010042760590822q13.33modulator of VRAC current 120301707[PMID]
5

Prevalence and incidence

2 records
TypeClassValueAreaQualificationValidationSource
Cases/families100 casesWorldwideCase(s)Validated21977097[PMID]_12189496[PMID]
Point prevalence<1 / 1 000 000—WorldwideClass onlyValidatedORPHANET

Value is Orphadata's ValMoy: the mean estimate per 100 000 for prevalence and incidence, the number of cases or families for case reports.

6

HPO phenotypes

18 annotations · validated 2025-06-11
HPOTerm (as annotated by Orphanet)Diagnostic
Frequent (79-30%)
HP:0001251Ataxia
HP:0000708Atypical behavior
HP:6000461Cerebral subcortical cyst
HP:0007341Diffuse swelling of cerebral white matter
HP:0001268Mental deterioration
HP:0002333Motor deterioration
HP:0005490Postnatal macrocephaly
HP:0001250Seizure
HP:0001257Spasticity
HP:0002317Unsteady gait
Occasional (29-5%)
HP:0002071Abnormality of extrapyramidal motor function
HP:0002305Athetosis
HP:0000717Autism
HP:0012762Cerebral white matter atrophy
HP:0002312Clumsiness
HP:0001332Dystonia
HP:0001249Intellectual disability
HP:0002133Status epilepticus

Annotation source: 20301707[PMID]_29079544[PMID]_38487253[PMID]_23079554[PMID]

7

Sources for this card