CONTENTS

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Background

What is MLD?

          Patterns of Inheritance          

Diagnosis

Clinical Presentation
and Course

Treatment

Research

How to Treat MLD

Is there relief?

        Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. There are also very few treatment options to assist those that suffer from the disorder. Certain medications may be prescribed to alleviate specific symptoms associated with MLD, however these drugs do not attenuate the disease's progress.

    Bone marrow transplants have been attempted in many MLD patients. This procedure has proven to be successful at significantly slowing the disease's progression. Due to the dependence on adequately matched marrow donors, this method of treatment is not widely available. It should also be noted that most individuals who find themselves suffering from MLD have been diagnosed during stages that present too late for bone-marrow transplants to be effective.

    Because there is such a lack of treatment options, and a cure has yet to be found, individuals who are diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy have a very grim prognosis. Those who suffer from Type I (late infantile) MLD usually die within 2-4 years after being diagnosed. Type II (juvenile) MLD patients often face death within 4-6 years after diagnosis. Those that find themselves with Type III (adult-onset) MLD, while they usually have a much better prognosis, may die as soon as 5-10 years after being diagnosed.

[ Background ] [ What is MLD? ] [ Patterns of Inheritance ] [ Diagnosis ] [ Presentation and Course ] [ Treatment ] [ Research Models ] [ References ]

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