Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Measurement of Leukocyte Arylsulfatase A Activity Using a Natural Substrate

No abstract available.

Identification of a Novel Splicing Mutation in the ARSA Gene in a Patient with Late-infantile Form of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy / 대한진단검사의학회지

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD; MIM 250100), a severe neurodegenerative disorder inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, is caused by mutations in the arylsulfatase A (ARSA) gene. Although several germ line ARSA mutations have been identified in patients with MLD of various ethnic backgrounds elsewhere in the world, no genetically confirmed cases of MLD have been reported in Korea. Recently, we identified a mutation in the ARSA gene of a Korean male with MLD. A male infant with late-infantile form of MLD had been admitted to our hospital for further examination. His neuromuscular symptoms, which included inability to walk at the age of 12 months, gradually worsened, even after allograft bone marrow transplantation; he died at the age of 9 yr. His elder brother had also been diagnosed with MLD. To confirm the presence of a genetic abnormality, all the coding exons of the ARSA gene and the flanking introns were amplified by PCR. A molecular analysis of the ARSA gene revealed both a novel heterozygous splicing mutation (c.1101+1G>T) in intron 6 and a heterozygous missense mutation in exon 2 (c.296G>A; Gly99Asp). The patient's elder brother who had MLD is believed to have had the same mutation, which may be correlated with a rapidly deteriorating clinical course. This study identified a novel mutation in the ARSA gene, related to a late-infantile form of MLD with a lethal clinical course and suggested that molecular diagnosis of patients may be useful in early diagnosis and for deciding intervention measures for their family members.

Leukodystrophies: Indian scenario.

The leukodystrophies are familial disorders with onset usually in infancy or childhood. The clinical features consist of motor dysfunction with varying degree of cognitive decline. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has helped to identify and characterize these disorders. In some leukodystrophies, biochemical enzymatic and genetic defects have been identified. The commonest leukodystrophy seen in India is Megalencephalic Leukodystrophy with subcortical cysts. The essential features consist of large head, mild pyramidal and cerebellar dysfunction, and occasional seizures. MRI studies show extensive white matter changes with temporal cysts. It is common in the Agarwal community in India. An identical mutation in exon 2 of the MLC 1 gene has been identified in this community suggesting a founder effect.

Imaging in epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common problem in the paediatric age group. Imaging plays a vital role in identifying the seizure focus. Cross-sectional imaging modalities like CT and MRI have had a major impact on the management of seizure disorders. MRI, because of its high contrast resolution and multiplanar capability is the ideal imaging modality but its use is restricted due to high cost. Computed tomography is cheaper and is the first, and often, the only modality used, especially in the underprivileged areas of the world. In the tropical countries inflammatory granuloma are a common cause of epilepsy and CT is adequate to detect these lesions. Other causes include congenital abnormalities, neoplastic and vascular causes.

Aspectos clinicos e terapêuticos da Leucodistrofia Metacromática / Clinical and therapeutic aspects of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

A leucodistrofia metacromática é uma doença genética autossômica recessiva causada pela deficiência de atividade de uma enzima...

Actividad de la enzima aril sulfatasa A en pacientes con desórdenes esquizofrénicos / Aryl sulfatase a levels in patients with schizophrenic disorders

La leucodistrofia metacromática (LDM) es una enfermedad degenerativa causada por la deficiencia de la enzima aril sulfatasa A (ASA), que puede cursar con síntomas psiquiátricos. El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar la prevalencia de la deficiencia de ASA en un grupo de 23 pacientes con esquizofrenia. El valor de la mediana del ASA sérica en ellos fue 53.2 nmol/mL/h (rango 3.3-152-5). Seis (26 por ciento) presentaban actividades baja del ASA sérica (< 27.5 nmol/mL/h que es el límite inferior observado en 29 controles normales). Cinco de ellos tenían historia clínica de delirio de grandez, alucinaciones auditivas, hospitalizaciones múltiples, respuesta pobre a los neurolépticos y potenciales evocados anormales. Es probable que los síntomas esquizofrénicos fueran secundarios a la deficiencia de la enzima. Los hallazgos de este estudio son de utilidad en la clínica ya que ASA puede ayudar a identificar casos de LDM en pacientes presumiblemente esquizofrénicos

Leucodistrofia metacromática infantil tardía / Late infantile metachromatic leukodeptrophy

Presentamos el caso clínico de un niño de 3 años con leucodistrofia metacromática (LDM) infantil tardía y revisamos los avances en el diagnóstico. La enfermedad se caracteriza por: falla motora y retardo mental, disminución de la actividad arilsulfatasa A (ASA), marcada disminición en la velocidad de conducción nerviosa, desmielinización segmentaria, remielinización y metacromasia en las biopsias de nervio sural, disminución difusa de la densidad de la substancia blanca en TAC cerebral y alteraciones de los potenciales evocados