Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- Family history
- onset in childhood (MPS, Pompe, Gaucher, Fabry, Niemann-Pick type A)
- onset in adolescence (Fabry, Pompe, Gaucher types 1, 3, MPS, Niemann-Pick types B, C)
- onset in adulthood (Fabry, Gaucher type 1, Pompe)
- hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly
- hyperacusis
- history of renal failure
- skin rash/cutaneous lesions
- large head circumference
- macular "cherry red spot" on ophthalmoscopy
- optic atrophy or retinitis pigmentosa on ophthalmoscopy
- corneal clouding on ophthalmoscopy
- fatigue
Other diagnostic factors
- neurodevelopmental delay
- hearing impairment/sudden deafness
- cataract on ophthalmoscopy
- eye movement disorder
- progressive dementia and ataxia or gait disturbance
- failure to thrive
- joint contracture
- depression
- skeletal abnormalities including spinal gibbus
- hydrocephalus
- history of recurrent respiratory tract infections
- psychosis
- movement disorders
- premature stroke/transient ischemic attack
- cardiomegaly
- valvular cardiac disease
Risk factors
- male sex (mucopolysaccharidosis [MPS] II, Fabry disease)
- Ashkenazi ethnicity
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- enzyme assay
- substrate assay
- DNA analysis
- CBC
Investigations to consider
- ECG
- echocardiogram
- pulmonary function tests
- bone marrow biopsy
- muscle biopsy
- CT/MRI of enlarged organ (Gaucher)
- echocardiogram/ultrasound/MRI (Fabry)
- CT/x-ray (mucopolysaccharidosis)
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Consultant Haematologist
Royal Free Hospital
Professor in Haematology
University College London
London
UK
Disclosures
ABM has received research funding, travel grants for educational meetings, and consultancy fees from Sanofi Genzyme, Shire HGT, Actelion, Biomarin, Protalix, and Amicus. He is also an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Associate Professor
Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics
NYU School of Medicine
New York
NY
Disclosures
GMP declares that he has no competing interests.
Consultant Paediatrician
Paediatric Metabolic Unit
Cambridge University Hospitals
Cambridge
UK
Disclosures
UR has received travel grants, honoraria for lectures, and funding for clinical trials from Shire HGT, Genzyme, and Actelion.
Head of Department
Children's Hospital
University of Mainz
Mainz
Germany
Disclosures
MB has been reimbursed by Shire, the manufacturer of Elaprase and Replagal, for attending several conferences, for running educational programs and for consulting. MB has received honoraria for speaking from Genzyme (the manufacturer of Myozyme, Fabrazyme, Aldurazyme, and Cerezyme) and Actelion (the manufacturer of Zavesca). MB is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Associate Professor of Public Health
Director of Research
Gippsland Medical School
Monash University
Churchill
Australia
Disclosures
EVV declares that he has no competing interests.
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