Schilder's diffuse sclerosis

Abstract

The natural history and the evolution of the concept of Schilder's diffuse sclerosis have been described by Poser and van Bogaert in 1956 and there is really not much to add to their analysis. The major progress made in the clinical, genetic, enzymatic and biochemical workup of many of the conditions previously grouped under the denomination of Schilder's disease confirms its heterogeneity. We will discuss (1) the myelinoclastic disorders; (2) the leukodystrophies with disorders such as adrenoleukodystrophy and the still very ill-defined sudanophilic leukodystrophies; (3) the subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis, better known today as the subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In conclusion, the name of Schilder is to be remembered as are all the names of the great neurologists and neuropathologists of the past but it would be better to avoid nowadays the eponym of Schilder's disease in order to prevent confusion between different disorders.