Diagnostic and Screening Study of Genetic Disorders

Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell, Metabolism, Inborn Errors, Porphyria, Erythropoietic, Tay-Sachs Disease

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the phenotypic heterogeneity of patients with genetic disorders including their clinical spectrum and natural history. II. Develop and evaluate novel methods for the treatment of genetic disorders including metabolic manipulation, enzyme manipulation, enzyme replacement, enzyme transplantation, and gene transfer techniques in these patients. III. Develop and evaluate methods for the prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders using improved cytogenetic, biochemical, and nucleic acid techniques and amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villi in these patients.

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: Patients are evaluated annually or biannually, depending on disease status and progression. Patients undergo a complete medical history, an extensive family pedigree, and a physical examination. Patients undergo general laboratory, imaging, physiologic, and clinical laboratory studies according to their disease type. Patients undergo specialized laboratory studies including plasma and leukocyte enzyme assays, quantitative urinary mucopolysaccharides and oligosaccharides, urine and plasma glycolipids, plasma and urine amino acids, urine organic acids, lymphoblastoid culture, DNA isolation from peripheral leukocytes, skin biopsy for fibroblast culture (if indicated), and medical photography. Patients also receive consultations with various specialties including ophthalmology, ENT, cardiology, pulmonary, gastroenterology/nutrition, hematology, neurology, orthopedics, rehabilitation medicine/physical therapy, and dermatology.

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United States