diarrhea

Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS IIIA, B, C, D)

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

This form of mucopolysaccharidosis causes little or no corneal clouding.  Abnormal retinal pigmentation can be seen.

Systemic Features: 

Sanfilippo syndrome differs from other forms of mucopolysaccharidoses in the severity of the neurologic degeneration compared to the amount of somatic disease.  Infants usually appear healthy but developmental delay becomes evident by 2 or 3 years of age and physical growth slows.  Deterioration in mental development is progressive and seizures occur in some.  Gait and speech are impaired and by age 10 years patients have severe disabilities.  Behavioral problems including hyperactivity and aggression are often severe.

There is some hepatosplenomegaly, mild coarseness of the facial features, claw hands and mild bony changes such as biconvexity of the vertebral bodies and thick calvaria.  Hirsutism and synophrys are common.  The hair is unusually coarse.  Joints are frequently stiff and more severely affected individuals may have hearing loss.  Diarrhea is frequently a problem and most patients have some airway obstruction and are susceptible to recurrent respiratory infections.  Some patients have cardiovascular problems.

Genetics

MPS III is a lysosomal storage disease and may be caused by mutations in 1 of 4 genes that result in defective enzymes unable to break down mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans).  MPS IIIA (252900)results from a defect in the heparan sulfate sulfatase gene SGSH (17q25.3), type IIIB (252920)from a defect in the N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminidase gene NAGLU (17q21), type IIIC (252930) from a defect in the acetyl-CoA:alpha-glucosaminide acetyltransferase gene HGSNAT (8p11.1), and type IIID (252940) from a defect in the N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfatase gene GNS (12q14).  Heparan sulfate is excreted in all types.  Because of their clinical similarities these are discussed as a group in this database.  All are inherited in autosomal recessive patterns.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment for the underlying disease.  Therapy is primarily supportive.  A multidisciplinary approach with neurologists, ophthalmologists, audiologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, and orthopedists is most likely to result in treatments that can improve quality of life.

References
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Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Juvenile cataracts are the primary ocular feature of this disorder and are found in virtually all patients.  These often cause the first symptoms and become evident in the first decade and almost always by the third decade of life.  Lens opacification may require extraction at that time and aspirated lens material may contain lipid-containing vacuoles.  However, some cataracts may not be diagnosed until the 5th or 6th decades after the onset of neurological symptoms, usually because the opacities are located in the peripheral cortex and do not cause visual symptoms. 

Optic atrophy occurs in nearly half of affected individuals.  Yellowish flakes resembling cholesterol crystals can sometimes be seen in the vitreous. The fundus may have scattered hard exudates and cholesterol-like deposits along the vascular arcades and arterioles show evidence of atherosclerosis.  RPE window defects are common.

Systemic Features: 

CTX has serious systemic neurologic signs and symptoms resulting from a deficiency of a mitochondrial enzyme, sterol 27-hydroxylase.  The result is reduced bile acid synthesis and increased levels of cholestanol in plasma, tissues, and CSF.  This results in a characteristic phenotype of tendon xanthomas, and neurological dysfunction including mental regression or illness, cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, seizures, and pyramidal signs to various degrees.  Neonatal jaundice and diarrhea are common.

Genetics

This autosomal recessive disorder results from a mutation in the CYP27A1 gene (2q33-qter) encoding sterol 27-hydroxylase.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

This is a treatable disorder in which administration of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) is beneficial.  This compound is virtually absent from bile in people with CTX.  Exogenous administration reduces high levels of cholesterol and cholestanol in the CSF, tissues, and plasma with improvement in mental function and signs of peripheral neuropathy and cerebellar dysfunction.  It is frequently given in combination with other HMG-CoA inhibitors such as pravastatin.  Early diagnosis and treatment are important.

References
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