Krabbe disease | Medtick

Krabbe disease

What is it?

An inherited neurological (nerve) disorder where there is a lack of  an enzyme called Galactocerebrosidase, which is responsible for breaking down certain substances in a cell’s recycling centre (lysosome).

  • This results in the accumulation of certain types of fats called galactolipids, this interrupts and destroys the protective coating (myelin) of nerve cells in the brain and throughout the nervous system.
  • Signs and symptoms of Krabbe disease develop in babies before 6 months of age.
  • When it develops in older children and adults, the course of the disease can vary greatly.
  • This condition maybe referred as Globoid cell leukodystrophy.

Cause

  • Two mutated copies of a particular gene result in little or no production of an enzyme called galactocerebrosidase .
  • Family history-autosomal recessive disorder (Both parents who are carriers of  the recessive genes responsible and can cause a 25% chance of their sibling getting this condition)
  • If both parents are carriers, a child has a 25 percent chance of inheriting two recessive genes (and getting FMF), a 50 percent chance of getting one dominant and one recessive gene (and becoming a carrier), and a 25 percent chance of getting two dominant genes (and remaining unaffected).

Symptoms

Babies:

  • Feeding difficulties?
  • Unexplained crying?
  • Extreme irritability?
  • Fever with no sign of infection?
  • Declines in alertness?
  • Slow motor development — taking longer than average to sit up, crawl and walk?
  • Delay in speaking?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Loss of head control?
  • Frequent vomiting?
  • Liver Swelling?
  • Kidney disease?
  • Cataracts?

Older Babies and younger children:

  • Seizures?
  • Loss of developmental abilities?
  • Progressive loss of hearing and sight?
  • Rigid, constricted muscles?
  • Stiff, fixed posture?
  • Progressive loss of ability to swallow and breathe?

Older children and adults:

  • Progressive loss of vision?
  • Difficulty walking (ataxia)?
  • Decline in thinking skills?
  • Loss of manual dexterity?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Muscle weakness?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical emergency Condition

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance


This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Detailed Information

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