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- $Unique_ID{BRK03938}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic}
- $Subject{Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic MLD Arylsulfatase A Deficiency ARSA
- Metachromatic Form of Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis
- Cerebroside Sulfatase Deficiency Greenfield Disease Leukoencephalopathy
- Metachromatic Leukoencephalopathy Sulfatide Lipidosis Sulfatidosis Late
- Infantile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Juvenile MLD Juvenile Onset
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Metachromatic
- Leukodystrophy Cerebroside Sulfatase Activator}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1986, 1987, 1988 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 212:
- Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Metachromatic
- Leukodystrophy) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS
- listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this
- article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- MLD
- Arylsulfatase A Deficiency
- ARSA
- Metachromatic Form of Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis
- Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis
- Cerebroside Sulfatase Deficiency
- Greenfield Disease
- Leukoencephalopathy
- Metachromatic Leukoencephalopathy
- Sulfatide Lipidosis
- Sulfatidosis
-
- DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS
-
- Late Infantile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Juvenile MLD, also known as Juvenile Onset Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Due to Lack of Cerebroside Sulfatase
- Activator
-
- 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.
-
-
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive inherited
- disease which affects the brain and spinal cord. The disease is
- characterized by progressive paralysis and dementia. It appears in the
- following forms:
-
- (Late) Infantile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Onset of this form of the disorder is usually in the second year of life.
- Clinical features are motor impairment, rigidity, mental deterioration and
- sometimes convulsions.
-
- Juvenile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Onset of Juvenile MLD occurs between the ages of 4 and 10 years.
-
- Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Onset of this form of MLD occurs after 16 years of age. Dystonia
- (abnormal muscle tone) and impaired articulation or stuttering (dysarthria)
- is a symptom of Adult MLD.
-
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Due to Deficiency of Cerebroside Sulfatase
- Activator
-
- The clinical picture for this type of Leukodystrophy is the same as
- Juvenile MLD.
-
- Symptoms
-
- The manifestations of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) usually begin
- gradually in a child or adult who previously has appeared healthy. Most
- commonly, some subtle change in the patient's thought processes, memory,
- behavior, or gait will be noticeable. Sometimes a disturbance in vision, or
- less commonly in hearing, or numbness in parts of the body may be the first
- symptom.
-
- Often in the early stages of the disorder, the signs and symptoms of
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy are vague and difficult to recognize or diagnose.
-
- Causes
-
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive inherited
- disorder caused by a deficiency in the enzyme arylsulfatase A. Arylsulfatase
- A is an enzyme which acts on the sulfatide of the fatty white sheath (myelin)
- of the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. (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
-
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy affects persons of both sexes and all
- nationalities.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Amaurotic Familial Idiocy (Tay-Sachs disease) is a genetic Disorder
- occurring in children which causes progressive deterioration of the central
- nervous system. It is generally found among children with Jewish heritage
- and becomes clinically evident at about 6 months of age. Sandhoff Disease, a
- variant of Tay-Sachs Disease, is clinically indistinguishable from the more
- common form of Tay-Sachs Disease, but occurs in the general population.
- (For more information on the above disorders, choose "Tay-Sachs" and
- "Sandhoff" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy is symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Current research is directed toward the identification and cloning of genes,
- and defining the specific gene abnormality responsible for the
- leukodystrophy. Bone marrow transplantation is being researched as a
- possible treatment for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy patients. This involves
- extracting cross-matched bone marrow from a healthy donor and injecting it
- into the patient. The healthy bone marrow cells enter the general
- circulation and migrate through the blood to marrow cavities in the patient's
- bones. The new marrow cells begin to grow and produce new white blood cells
- and platelets. This procedure involves risks which must be balanced against
- possible benefits. It is used experimentally in the most severe cases of
- this disorder.
-
- Bone marrow transplantation is being tested as a treatment for late
- infantile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. Bone marrow transplantation is not
- recommended for patients with relatively advanced neurological symptoms.
- More research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this
- procedure.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- April 1989. 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 Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- United Leukodystrophy Foundation, Inc.
- 2304 Highland Drive
- Sycamore, IL 60178
- (815) 895-3211
- (800) 728-5483
-
- National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
- 2001 Beacon St, Rm. 304
- Brookline, MA 02164
- (617) 277-4463 or 277-3965
-
- NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5751
- (800) 352-9424
-
- Association Europeenne contre les Leucodystrophies
- 7 Rue Pasteur
- 54000 NANCY
- France
-
- For information on genetics and genetic counseling referrals, please
- contact:
-
- 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 MERCK MANUAL 15th ed: R. Berkow, et al: eds; Merck, Sharp & Dohme
- Research Laboratories, 1987. P. 1013.
-
- CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
- Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. P. 2215-6.
-
-