Genetic, clinical and pathological studies of CADASIL in Japan: a partial contribution of Notch3 mutations and implications of smooth muscle cell degeneration for the pathogenesis.

We have examined Notch3 mutations in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) whose samples were submitted to us in Japan. The subjects were composed of 21 Japanese, 1 Iranian, 1 Korean and 1 Canadian families. Mutations in the Notch3 gene were found in 7 of 24 families examined.