Última actualización:
March 02, 2008
Años publicados: 1992, 2004
Aspartylglycosaminuria is a very rare genetic disorder that is concentrated among persons of Finnish decent, but is also found, even more rarely, in other populations around the world. It is an inborn error of metabolism, and one of the lysosomal storage diseases. It becomes apparent after the infant is a few months old. Major symptoms may include coarse facial features, spine and eye deformities, behavior problems and mental retardation. Aspartylglycosaminuria occurs as a result of deficient activity of a particular enzyme, leading to the accumulation of metabolic products in the body.
Aspartylglycosaminuria is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by normal development during the first months of life after which abnormal development begins to occur. Diarrhea and infections that keep reoccurring are noticed. After the first few years facial features begin to get coarse which continues during the following years. The skeleton may become deformed and the ocular lens may develop crystalline deposits. Mental deterioration may begin to occur after age five and behavior problems are common. Lung, heart and blood problems tend to occur in later years. The patient may show mental retardation uneven development of the head and face with sagging cheeks, a wide nose and broad face. The spine may be twisted (scoliosis) and the neck may be unusually short. Adult stature is usually below normal.
Aspartylglycosaminuria is a lysosomal storage disease. Lysosomes are cell particles containing enzymes that break down large molecules. A deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, aspartylglycosamidase, causes the accumulation of a substance known as aspartylglucosamine in the body, resulting in disorders in the various body systems.
This disorder is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The gene responsible for this disorder is located on the long arm of the fourth chromosome at 4q32-q33. Those affected by this disorder are most often of Finnish ancestry. However, aspartylglycosaminuria can occur in people of all heritages.
Chromosomes, which are present in the nucleus of human cells, carry the genetic information for each individual. Human body cells normally have 46 chromosomes. Pairs of human chromosomes are numbered from 1 through 22, and the sex chromosomes are designated X and Y. Males have one X and one Y chromosome and females have two X chromosomes. Each chromosome has a short arm designated «p» and a long arm designated «q». Chromosomes are further subdivided into many bands that are numbered. For example, «chromosome 4q32-q33» refers to a region between bands 32 and 33 on the long arm of chromosome 4. The numbered bands specify the location of the thousands of genes that are present on each chromosome.
Genetic diseases are determined by the combination of genes for a particular trait that are on the chromosomes received from the father and the mother.
Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the defective gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents and be genetically normal for that particular trait is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.
All individuals carry 4-5 abnormal genes. Parents who are close relatives (consanguineous) have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.
Aspartylglycosaminuria is a rare disorder that affects males and females in equal numbers. However, in Finland where the majority of cases are reported, there are an estimated 130 cases in 4.5 million persons. In the rest of the world, the condition is extremely rare and affects persons of various heritages.
Treatment of Aspartylglycosaminuria is symptomatic and supportive. Genetic counseling may be of benefit for families.
Research on inborn errors of metabolism is ongoing. Scientists are studying the causes of these disorders and trying to design enzyme replacement therapies that will return a missing enzyme to the body.
This disorder is being studied at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. For further information contact:
Dr. Ulla Dunder, or Dr. I. Mononen
Kuopio University Hospital
Department of Clinical Chemistry
P.O Box 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
Tel. +358 17 173 206,
Fax +358 17 173 200
e-mail: ulla.dunder@kuh.fi
Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.
For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:
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TEXTBOOKS
Buist NRM, Winter SC. Aspartylglucosaminuria. NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:432.
Aula P, Jalanko A, Peltonen L. Aspartylglucosaminuria. In: Scriver CR, Beaudet AL, Sly WS, et al., eds. The Metabolic Molecular Basis of Inherited Disease. 8th ed. McGraw-Hill Companies. New York, NY; 2001:3535-46.
Rowland LP, ed. Merritt’s Neurology. 10th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2000:528-29.
Lyon G, Adams RD, Kolodny EH, eds. Neurology of Hereditary Metabolic Diseases in Childhood. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Companies. New York, NY; 1996:169-70.
Mononen I. Aspartylglycosaminuria: Clinical, Metabolic, and Molecular Aspects. R.G. Landes Co. 1997.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Dunder U, Mononen I. Human leukocyte glycosylasparaginase: cell-to-cell transfer and properties in the correction of aspartylglycosaminuria. FEBS Lett. 2001;499:77-81.
Kallinen J, Marin K, Heinonen S, et al. Wide scope prenatal diagnosis at Kuopio University Hospital 1997-1998:integration of gene tests and fetal karyotyping. BJOG. 2001;108:505-09.
Aronson NN Jr. Aspartylglycosaminuria: biochemistry and molecular biology. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999;1455:13954.
Arvio P, Arvio M, Marttinen E, et al. Excessive infantile growth and early pubertal growth spurt: typical features in patients with aspartylglycosaminuria. J Pediatr. 1999;134:761-63.
FROM THE INTERNET
McKusick VA, dd. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Aspartylglucosaminuria. Entry Number; 208400: Last Edit Date; 4/11/2003.
Aspartylglycosaminuria. The Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases. nd. 3pp.
www.mpssociety.co.uk/agu.htm
Aspartylglycosaminuria. Multiple Congenital Anomaly/Mental Retardation (MCA/MR) Syndromes. Last Updated: 27 October 1999. 3pp.
www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/jablonski/syndrome_cgi?index=41
Aspartylglycosaminuria. Orphanet. nd. 1p.
www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=GB&Expert=93
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