Clinical variability in mucolipidosis III (pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy)

Am J Med Genet. 2002 Mar 15;108(3):214-8. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.10224.

Abstract

Mucolipidosis III (MLIII) is caused by a deficiency of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase (phosphotransferase) activity, an enzyme responsible for the formation of the recognition marker on most lysosomal enzymes. The consequences of this defect are impairment of many lysosomal catabolic processes. A deficiency of phosphotransferase activity causes two phenotypically different diseases: mucolipidosis II and a rare form, mucolipidosis III (pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy). The purpose of this article is to report three patients with ML III, presenting quite different clinical courses: Patient 1 is a 13-year-old girl in whom the only symptoms of ML III were joint stiffness of the hands. Patients 2 and 3 are sibs: a 5-year-old boy with a severe form of ML III and his 2-year-old sister, who is less affected than her brother at the same age. A comparison of biochemical results and the clinical picture of our patients with cases in the literature is presented.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arylsulfatases / metabolism
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukocytes / enzymology
  • Mannosidases / metabolism
  • Mucolipidoses / enzymology
  • Mucolipidoses / pathology*
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • alpha-Mannosidase
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Phosphotransferases
  • Arylsulfatases
  • Mannosidases
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • alpha-Mannosidase
  • Glucuronidase
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases