Affiliation:
1. Child Neurology Fellow, Neurology Department Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
2. Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
3. Genetic Counselor, Neurogenetics Department Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
4. Neuroradiologist, Radiology Department Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
5. Neurogenetics Clinic Co‐Director, Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine Washington DC USA
Abstract
AbstractPseudo‐TORCH Syndrome (PTS) encompasses a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that may clinically and radiologically resemble congenital TORCH infections. These mimickers present with overlapping features manifested as intracranial and systemic abnormalities. Collagen type IV alpha 1 chain (COL4A1)‐related diseases, characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance, exhibit a diverse phenotypic spectrum involving cerebrovascular, renal, ophthalmological, cardiac, and muscular abnormalities. Cerebrovascular manifestations range from small‐vessel brain disease to large vessel abnormalities, resulting in intracerebral hemorrhage, periventricular leukoencephalopathy, and ventriculomegaly. Additional features include cortical malformations, eye defects, arrhythmias, renal disease, muscular abnormalities, and hematological manifestations. Age of onset varies widely, and phenotypic variability exists even among individuals with the same variant. In this study, we present two cases of COL4A1‐related disorder mimicking congenital TORCH infections, highlighting the importance of recognizing genetic mimics in clinical practice.