Question 1

what is the life expectancy  for patients with leukodystrophy?

Accepted Answer

Leukodystroph course: Mld is a severe disease that gets worse over time. Eventually people lose all muscle and mental function. Life span varies depending on what age the condition started, but the disease course usually runs 3 - 20 or more years. See: http://www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/pubmedhealth/pmh0002185/.

Question 2

my wife has periventricular leukodystrophy. she got it at 59 and is now 60. life expectancy?

Accepted Answer

Are you sure of dx?: This is not my area of expertise in neurology, but are you sure it is periventricular leukodystrophy and not periventricular leukomalacia.  The former is a condition usually seen in children.  The latter is extremely common and is sometimes called small vessel white matter disease.  Most patients with a western diet have some degree of this, particularly by age 60, and Aspirin is the treatment.

Question 3

what is the life expectancy of a 17 year old with leukodystraphy?

Accepted Answer

Depends on type: The leukodystrophies are a family of progressive neurologic diseases that are generally fatal and particularly cruel. I wish you comfort in dealing with this difficult problem, and hope that junior's comfort nad dignity can be preserved.

Question 4

how much is duration of life for patients newly diagnosed with leukodystrophy?

Accepted Answer

Depends on type/form: For example, infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy onset is by age 2, with 50-60% morbidity by 5. Juvenile onset between age 4-10 (20-30% of cases) has slower progression. There are 2 adult-onset forms, one starts with neurologic/motor problems, the other with behavioral challenges. Please ask the attending specialist.

Question 5

what happens in  the end stages of metachromatic leukodystrophy?

Accepted Answer

Leukodystroph course: Mld is a severe disease that gets worse over time. Eventually people lose all muscle and mental function. Life span varies depending on what age the condition started, but the disease course usually runs 3 - 20 or more years. See: http://www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/pubmedhealth/pmh0002185/.

Question 6

are leukodystrophies like metachromatic leukodystrophy (mld) treatable?

Accepted Answer

Leukodystrophy: There is no cure for mld.  Bone marrow transplantation may delay progression of the disease in some cases. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Considerable progress has been made with regard to gene therapy in an animal model of mld. 
(http://www.Ninds.Nih.Gov/disorders/metachromatic_leukodystrophy/metachromatic_leukodystrophy.Htm).

Question 7

what is metachromatic leukodystrophy?

Accepted Answer

MLD: Is a lysosomal storage disease affecting myelin growth, the insulator of nerve fibers, affecting lipid metabolism. It leads to progressive dementia in adults.

Question 8

what is metachromatic-leukodystrophy? what causes it?

Accepted Answer

A genetic disorder: Metachromatic leukodystrophy is an inherited disorder characterized by the accumulation of fats called sulfatides in cells. This accumulation especially affects cells in the nervous system that produce myelin, the substance that insulates and protects nerves
This is a link to the genetic website with more information
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/metachromatic-leukodystrophy

Question 9

what happens at the end of metachromatic leukodystrophy?

Accepted Answer

Loss of function: This is a very rare disease, inherited when both parents are usually carriers. Because of the deficient enzyme, arylsulfatase a, patients suffer from a gradual destruction of  myelin sheath, the protective covering of nerves. At the end, loss of muscle function, seizures, possibly coma, and mental illness (in older people) prevail. Unfortunately, no cure, though therapies may improve life quality.

Question 10

can leukodystrophy be sex-linked?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A few are known include the well-known adrenoleukodystrophy.

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Metachromatic leukodystrophy life expectancy

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy for patients with leukodystrophy?

A member asked:

My wife has periventricular leukodystrophy. she got it at 59 and is now 60. life expectancy?

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy of a 17 year old with leukodystraphy?

A member asked:

How much is duration of life for patients newly diagnosed with leukodystrophy?

A member asked:

What happens in the end stages of metachromatic leukodystrophy?

A member asked:

Are leukodystrophies like metachromatic leukodystrophy (mld) treatable?

A member asked:

What is metachromatic leukodystrophy?

A member asked:

What is metachromatic-leukodystrophy? what causes it?

A member asked:

What happens at the end of metachromatic leukodystrophy?

A member asked:

Can leukodystrophy be sex-linked?

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