GREY MATTER HETEROTOPIA
GENETICS
PATTERN OF INHERITANCE
KNOWN GENES
- FLNA - associated with bilateral periventricular nodular
heterotopia, this gene abnormality is found in 80% of familial
periventricular nodular heterotopia, and in 20% of those with
sporadic/de novo periventricular nodular heterotopia. FLNA gene
abnormalities may be associated with connective tissue disease
and vascular abnormalities, such as aortic root dilatation.
- ARFGEF2 - microcephaly is seen in these cases.
CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES
A number of chromosomal deletions have been associated with
periventricular nodular heterotopia, including deletions of 6q27,
7q11.23, 5p15.1 and 4p15.
FAMILY HISTORY
May be present (see above).