National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

White matter hypoplasia-corpus callosum agenesis-intellectual disability syndrome


Other Names:
Curatolo Cilio Pessagno syndrome; Familial white matter hypoplasia, agenesis of the corpus callosum, intellectual disability and growth deficiency; Curatolo-Cilio-Pessagno syndrome
Categories:
White matter hypoplasia-corpus callosum agenesis-intellectual disability syndrome is a very rare neurological condition. The few patients described in the medical literature were characterized by brain anomalies; an unusual face with broad nasal root, widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism), and a very small chin (micrognathia); failure to thrive; severe intellectual disability; and lack of muscle tone (hypotonia). Exams of the brain showed poor development (hypoplasia) of the pale part of the brain known as white matter, and an absent or abnormal corpus callosum (nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain). Only a few cases have been described. The cause is unknown but may be related to a disorder of axonal development.  The described cases seem to be inherited in an autosomal recessive or X-linked way. Corpus callosum agenesis is one of the more frequent congenital malformations. It can be either asymptomatic or associated with intellectual disability, epilepsy, or psychiatric syndromes. It can be part of several genetic syndromes, such as Aicardi syndrome, Andermann syndrome and Apert syndrome, trisomies 13, 18; or result from metabolic causes; drugs (cocaine); or viral infection (influenza). Many patients with corpus callosum anomalies have other brain anomalies, including white matter hypoplasia. There is no information on specific treatment for this condition.[1][2]
Last updated: 4/26/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum 0007370
Cerebral cortical atrophy
Decrease in size of the outer layer of the brain due to loss of brain cells
0002120
Cerebral white matter hypoplasia 0012430
Frontal bossing 0002007
Hyperreflexia
Increased reflexes
0001347
Hypertelorism
Wide-set eyes
Widely spaced eyes
[ more ] 		0000316
Intellectual disability
Mental deficiency
Mental retardation
Mental retardation, nonspecific
Mental-retardation
[ more ] 		0001249
Microcephaly
Abnormally small skull
Decreased circumference of cranium
Decreased size of skull
Reduced head circumference
Small head circumference
[ more ] 		0000252
Micrognathia
Little lower jaw
Small jaw
Small lower jaw
[ more ] 		0000347
Muscular hypotonia
Low or weak muscle tone
0001252
Short stature
Decreased body height
Small stature
[ more ] 		0004322
Wide nasal bridge
Broad nasal bridge
Broad nasal root
Broadened nasal bridge
Increased breadth of bridge of nose
Increased breadth of nasal bridge
Increased width of bridge of nose
Increased width of nasal bridge
Nasal bridge broad
Wide bridge of nose
Widened nasal bridge
[ more ] 		0000431
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the cerebellum
Absent/small cerebellum
Absent/underdeveloped cerebellum
[ more ] 		0007360
Downslanted palpebral fissures
Downward slanting of the opening between the eyelids
0000494
Synophrys
Monobrow
Unibrow
[ more ] 		0000664
Ventriculomegaly 0002119
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Adducted thumb
Inward turned thumb
0001181
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss White matter hypoplasia-corpus callosum agenesis-intellectual disability syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Curatolo P, Cilio MR, Del Giudice E, Romano A, Gaggero R & Pessagno A. . Familial white matter hypoplasia, agenesis of the corpus callosum, mental retardation and growth deficiency: a new distinctive syndrome. Neuropediatrics. April, 1993; 24(2):77-82. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8327066.
  2. Jonas RE, Kimonis VE & Morales A. Possible new autosomal recessive syndrome of partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, pontine hypoplasia, focal white matter changes, hypotonia, mental retardation, and minor anomalies. Am J Med Genet. December 12, 1997; 73(2):184-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9409870.