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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK03733}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Farber's Disease}
$Subject{Farber's Disease Farber's Lipogranulomatosis Acid Ceramidase
Deficiency Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
535:
Farber's Disease
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Farber's Disease) is
not the name you expected. Please check the synonym list to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Farber's Lipogranulomatosis
Acid Ceramidase Deficiency
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Farber's Disease is a rare metabolic genetic disorder. Major symptoms
may include hoarseness, painful and swollen joints, nodules under the skin
and growths in the lungs and other parts of the body. The heart and lymph
nodes may also be involved. Difficulty in breathing may necessitate the
implantation of a breathing tube (tracheostomy) in the throat.
Symptoms
Farber's Disease may be easily diagnosed. Symptoms usually appear between
the ages of two weeks to four months. The first signs of Farber's Disease
are swollen joints and a hoarse cry, skin that is sensitive to touch and
fingers that are flexed. Difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, breathing
problems and fever may also occur. Other signs of the disease may be heart
problems due to the growth of nodules around heart valves. Nodules are often
found in the spleen, intestines, lymph nodes, kidney, tongue, thymus,
gallbladder and liver. The central nervous system is usually involved.
Intelligence may or may not be normal.
Causes
Farber's Disease is characterized by the body's inability to produce
lysosomal acid ceramidase which can cause painful and progressive deformity
of joints. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. (Human traits
including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of
two genes for that condition, one received from the father and one from the
mother. In recessive disorders, the condition does not appear unless a
person inherits the same defective gene from each parent. If one receives
one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier
for the disease, but usually will show no symptoms. The risk of transmitting
the disease to the children of a couple, both of whom are carriers for a
recessive disorder, is twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of their children
will be carriers, but healthy as described above. Twenty-five percent of
their children will receive both normal genes, one from each parent and will
be genetically normal.)
Affected Population
Farber's Disease affects males and females in equal numbers.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Farber's
Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, also known as Still's disease, is an
autoimmune disorder causing painful swelling of the joints and bone
deformities. Polyarticular (affecting many joints) joint disease associated
with enlargement of lymph nodes and the spleen. This disorder occurs in
infants and young children, usually before puberty. It is characterized by
acute pain affecting many joints, high fever, skin rash, subcutaneous
nodules, enlargement of the liver, fluid in the lungs and stunted growth.
Therapies: Standard
Treatment for Farber's Disease is symptomatic and supportive. Corticosteroid
drugs may provide some relief for joint pain. Tracheostomy may be necessary
if breathing passages become blocked due to nodular growths. Cosmetic
surgery may be useful for removal of growths in the facial area. Genetic
counseling will be of benefit for patients and their families. Prenatal
diagnosis of Farber's Disease is possible during the fifteenth to sixteenth
weeks of pregnancy through the use of amniocentesis (testing of cells taken
from the fluid in the water sac surrounding the fetus).
Therapies: Investigational
Research is ongoing into the metabolic defect which may cause symptoms of
Farber's Disease. When this becomes better understood, scientists may be
able to develop effective treatments.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
November 1988. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for
the most current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Farber's Disease, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
Arthritis Foundation
1314 Spring St. N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 872-7100
The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information
Clearinghouse
Box AMS
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 495-4484
Research Trust for Metabolic Diseases in Children
Golden Gates Lodge, Weston Rd.
Crewe CW1 1XN, England
Telephone: (0270) 250244
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
THE METABOLIC BASIS OF INHERITED DISEASE, 5th Ed.: John B. Stanbury, et al.,
eds.; McGraw Hill, 1983. Pp. 820-829.
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown
and Co., 1987. Pp. 2073.
FARBER'S DISEASE (LYSOSOMAL ACID CERAMIDASE DEFICIENCY): R.A. Jameson,
et al.
Ann Rheum Dis (July 1987, issue: 46 (7). Pp., 559-561.
DIAGNOSIS OF LIPOGRANULOMATOSIS (FARBER'S DISEASE) BY USE OF CULTURED
FIBROBLASTS: J.T. Dulaney, et al.; J Pediatr (July, 1976 issue: 89 (1)).
Pp. 59-61.