• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.430-437
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• 2012

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA; Morquio A syndrome) is rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) deficiency. Only a few MPS IVA cases have been reported in the Korean literature; there is a paucity of research about clinical or radiologic findings for this disorder. Therefore, we studied clinical findings, radiological features, and genetic data of Korean MPS IVA patients for determining factors that may allow early diagnosis and that may thus improve the patients' quality of life. Method: MPS IVA was confirmed via assay for enzymatic activity of leukocytes in 10 patients. The GALNS gene was analyzed. Patients' charts were retrospectively reviewed for obtaining clinical features and evaluated for radiological skeletal surveys, echocardiography, pulmonary function test, and ophthalmologic test results. Result: Nine patients had severe clinical phenotype, and 1 had an intermediate phenotype, on the basis of clinical phenotype criteria. Radiologic findings indicated skeletal abnormalities in all patients, especially in the hips and extremities. Eight patients had an odontoid hypoplasia, and 1 showed mild atlantoaxial subluxation and cord myelopathy. Genetic analysis indicated 10 different GALNS mutations. Two mutations, c.451C>A and c.1000C>T, account for 37.5% (6/16) and 25% (4/16) of all mutations in this samples, respectively. Conclusion: An understanding of the clinical and radiological features involved in MPS IVA may allow early diagnosis of MPS IVA. Adequate evaluations and therapy in the early stages may improve the quality of life of patients suffering from skeletal abnormalities and may reduce life-threatening effects of atlantoaxial subluxation.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2017

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis IV (MPS IV) is a disease characterized by deficient activity of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) causing excessive lysosomal storage of keratan sulfate (KS). The identification of the relevant disaccharide units of KS after keratanase II digestion followed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) is validated and applicable for the preliminary diagnosis of MPS IV. Methods: A total of 67 urine samples were collected and analyzed from 11 MPS IV patients comprising 10 MPS IVA and one MPS IVB patients, and 56 normal controls. Urinary glycosaminoglycan was first precipitated by the Alcian blue method followed by a digestion of keratanase II. The protonated species of the digested disaccharide products were detected by using multiple reaction monitoring experiment. Results: One particular disaccharide of KS was selected. The transition mass-to-charge (m/z) of the parent ion and its daughter ion after collision was $462.0{\rightarrow}97.0$, whereas the chondrosine used as an internal standard in this assay was m/z $353.9{\rightarrow}73.0$. The results corresponded well with the two-dimensional electrophoresis method. The quantities of urinary KS were significantly raised in confirmed MPS IV patients when comparing with those of normal controls ($170.2{\pm}81.1$ vs. $4.06{\pm}1.92{\mu}g/mL$). Conclusion: The LC-MS/MS method for MPS IVA determination is specific, sensitive, validated, and applicable for urinary KS quantification. This method can be used not only as a first-line biochemistry examination of MPS IVA, but also as an outcome survey after enzyme replacement therapy.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2017

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders caused by the deficiency of specific lysosomal enzymes and subsequent accumulation of substrates. Enzyme deficiency leads to progressive intra-lysosomal accumulation of the incompletely degraded substances, which cause dysfunction and destruction of the cell and eventually multiple organ damage. Patients have a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes which are generally not specific for some LSDs, leading to missed or delayed diagnosis. Due to the availability of treatment including enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for some LSDs, early diagnosis is important. ERT products have been approved with optimal outcomes for some LSDs in the recent decades, including Gaucher, Fabry, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I, Pompe, MPS VI, MPS II, and MPS IVA diseases. ERT can stabilize the clinical condition, prevent disease progression, and improve the long-term outcome of these diseases, especially if started prior to irreversible organ damage. Based on the availability of therapy and suitable screening methods in the recent years, some LSDs, including Pompe, Fabry, Gaucher, MPS I, MPS II, and MPS VI diseases have been incorporated into nationwide newborn screening panels in Taiwan.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.143-143
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• 2013

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-13
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• 2018

In Malaysia, diagnosis and treatment of patients with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) is mainly localized at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, which is the national referral center for rare diseases. To date there are 83 patients diagnosed with MPS in our center, with MPS II being the commonest. The Malaysian National Medicines Policy second edition has a specific section on the orphan drugs which includes recombinant human enzyme for enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in MPS. So far, National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency Malaysia has approved recombinant human enzyme for MPS types I (Loranidase), II (idursulfase), IVA (elosulfase alfa), and VI (Galsufase). Access to Idursulfase beta (another recombinant human enzyme for MPS II) and vestronidase alfa-vjbk (MPS VII) required special authorization on named patient basic. Currently there are 25 patients receiving ERT, 70% of the funding are from Ministry of Health (MOH), the remaining 30% are from various charitable funds and humanitarian programs. Thirteen newly diagnosed patients have to queue for an additional fund. Four patients have been treated with Hematopoietic stem cell transplant. MOH has also published guidelines regarding the patient selection criteria for ERT and treatment monitoring schedule.