Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic
Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic
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It is possible that the main title of the report Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy, the most common form of leukodystrophy, is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder affecting the white matter of the brain (leukoencephalopathy). It is characterized by the accumulation of a fatty substance known as sulfatide (a sphingolipid) in the brain and other areas of the body (i.e., liver, gall bladder, kidneys, and/or spleen). The fatty protective covering on the nerve fibers (myelin) is lost from areas of the central nervous system (CNS) due to the buildup of sulfatide. Symptoms of metachromatic leukodystrophy may include convulsions, seizures, personality changes, spasticity, progressive dementia, motor disturbances progressing to paralysis, and/or visual impairment leading to blindness.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. There are three forms of the disease that have similar symptoms. However, they are distinguished by the age of onset: infantile, juvenile, and adult forms of metachromatic leukodystrophy.
Kennedy Krieger Institute
707 North Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205
Tel: (443)923-9200
Fax: (443)923-9405
Tel: (800)873-3377
TDD: (443)923-9400
Email: info@kennedykrieger.org
Internet: http://www.kennedykrieger.org
National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
2001 Beacon Street
204
Brookline, MA 02146-4227
USA
Tel: (617)277-4463
Fax: (617)277-0134
Tel: (800)906-8723
Email: info@ntsad.org
Internet: http://www.NTSAD.org
United Leukodystrophy Foundation
224 N. 2nd St.
Suite 2
DeKalb, IL 60115
Tel: (815)748-3211
Tel: (800)728-5483
Email: office@ulf.org
Internet: http://www.ulf.org/
ELA - European Association Against Leukodystrophies
2, rue Mi-les-Vignes
54521
Laxou Cedex, 61024
France
Tel: 33383309334
Fax: 33383300068
Email: ela@ela-asso.com
Internet: http://www.ela-asso.com
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Hunter's Hope Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 643
6368 West Quaker Street
Orchard Park, NY 14127
Tel: (716)667-1200
Fax: (716)667-1212
Tel: (877)984-4673
Email: info@huntershope.org
Internet: http://www.huntershope.org
Australian Leukodystrophy Support Group, Inc.
Nerve Centre
54 Railway Road
Blackburn, VIC 3130
Australia
Tel: 61395847070
Tel: 1800141400
Email: mail@alds.org.au
Internet: http://www.alds.org.au
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo
Carrera 7 No 40 - 62
Bogota,
Colombia
Tel: 5713208320
Email: abarrera@javeriana.edu.co
Internet: http://www.javeriana.edu.co/ieim/programas_ieim.htm
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
Hide & Seek Foundation for Lysosomal Disease Research
6475 East Pacific Coast Highway Suite 466
Long Beach, CA 90803
Tel: (877)621-1122
Fax: (866)215-8850
Email: info@hideandseek.org
Internet: http://www.hideandseek.org
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. 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.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 5/14/2008
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
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Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- Late-Onset Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- ARSA
- Arylsulfatase A Deficiency
- Cerebroside Sulfatase Deficiency
- Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis
- Greenfield Disease
- Metachromatic Form of Diffuse Cerebral
- Metachromatic Leukoencephalopathy
- MLD
- Sulfatide Lipidosis
- Sulfatidosis
Disorder Subdivisions
- Late Infantile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Juvenile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Adult Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
General Discussion
Metachromatic leukodystrophy, the most common form of leukodystrophy, is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder affecting the white matter of the brain (leukoencephalopathy). It is characterized by the accumulation of a fatty substance known as sulfatide (a sphingolipid) in the brain and other areas of the body (i.e., liver, gall bladder, kidneys, and/or spleen). The fatty protective covering on the nerve fibers (myelin) is lost from areas of the central nervous system (CNS) due to the buildup of sulfatide. Symptoms of metachromatic leukodystrophy may include convulsions, seizures, personality changes, spasticity, progressive dementia, motor disturbances progressing to paralysis, and/or visual impairment leading to blindness.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. There are three forms of the disease that have similar symptoms. However, they are distinguished by the age of onset: infantile, juvenile, and adult forms of metachromatic leukodystrophy.
Resources
Kennedy Krieger Institute
707 North Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205
Tel: (443)923-9200
Fax: (443)923-9405
Tel: (800)873-3377
TDD: (443)923-9400
Email: info@kennedykrieger.org
Internet: http://www.kennedykrieger.org
National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
2001 Beacon Street
204
Brookline, MA 02146-4227
USA
Tel: (617)277-4463
Fax: (617)277-0134
Tel: (800)906-8723
Email: info@ntsad.org
Internet: http://www.NTSAD.org
United Leukodystrophy Foundation
224 N. 2nd St.
Suite 2
DeKalb, IL 60115
Tel: (815)748-3211
Tel: (800)728-5483
Email: office@ulf.org
Internet: http://www.ulf.org/
ELA - European Association Against Leukodystrophies
2, rue Mi-les-Vignes
54521
Laxou Cedex, 61024
France
Tel: 33383309334
Fax: 33383300068
Email: ela@ela-asso.com
Internet: http://www.ela-asso.com
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Hunter's Hope Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 643
6368 West Quaker Street
Orchard Park, NY 14127
Tel: (716)667-1200
Fax: (716)667-1212
Tel: (877)984-4673
Email: info@huntershope.org
Internet: http://www.huntershope.org
Australian Leukodystrophy Support Group, Inc.
Nerve Centre
54 Railway Road
Blackburn, VIC 3130
Australia
Tel: 61395847070
Tel: 1800141400
Email: mail@alds.org.au
Internet: http://www.alds.org.au
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo
Carrera 7 No 40 - 62
Bogota,
Colombia
Tel: 5713208320
Email: abarrera@javeriana.edu.co
Internet: http://www.javeriana.edu.co/ieim/programas_ieim.htm
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
Hide & Seek Foundation for Lysosomal Disease Research
6475 East Pacific Coast Highway Suite 466
Long Beach, CA 90803
Tel: (877)621-1122
Fax: (866)215-8850
Email: info@hideandseek.org
Internet: http://www.hideandseek.org
For a Complete Report:
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. 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.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 5/14/2008
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.