Objective: To report a patient with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) manifesting as lumbago, hunchback and Parkinson's syndrome.
Methods: A 49-years-old male CADASIL patient was reported. Results of clinical examination, neuroimaging and genetic testing were analyzed. His family members were also subjected to genetic testing. Related literature was reviewed.
Results: The patient had no typical symptoms of CADASIL such as headache, repeated stroke, dementia and emotional disorders, but progressive Parkinson's syndrome, late onset lumbago, hunchback, dysphagia, and diplopia. Brain MRI showed left basal ganglia and external capsule lacunar infarction. Genetic testing revealed a point mutation c.1630C>T (p.R544C) in exon 11 of the NOTCH3 gene. A heterozygous mutation was detected in the same gene in his mother, elder sister and younger brother, all of whom showed different clinical phenotypes.
Conclusion: The clinical features of CADASIL are heterogeneous. Lumbago, humpback, and Parkinson's syndrome may be a rare clinical phenotype of CADASIL.