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Encyclopedia > Galactosemia
Galactosemia
Classifications and external resources
ICD-10 E74.2
ICD-9 271.1

Galactosemia is a rare genetic metabolic disorder which affects an individual's ability to properly digest the sugar galactose. Lactose in food (such as dairy products) is broken down by the body into glucose and galactose. Normally, galactose is then converted into glucose by the enzyme GALT (galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase). In individuals with galactosemia, GALT activity is severely diminished, leading to toxic levels of galactose to build up in the blood, resulting in hepatomegaly (an enlarged liver), renal failure, cataracts, and brain damage. Without treatment, mortality in infants with galactosemia is about 75%. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The following codes are used with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... // E00-E35 - Endocrine diseases (E00-E07) Disorders of thyroid gland (E00) Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome (E01) Iodine-deficiency-related thyroid disorders and allied conditions (E02) Subclinical iodine-deficiency hypothyroidism (E03) Other hypothyroidism (E030) Congenital hypothyroidism with diffuse goitre (E031) Congenital hypothyroidism without goitre (E032) Hypothyroidism due to medicaments and other... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ... Overview of the citric acid cycle The citric acid cycle, one of the central metabolic pathways in aerobic organisms. ... A disease or medical condition is an abnormality of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, distress, or death to the person afflicted or those in contact with the person. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Galactose (also called brain sugar) is a type of sugar found in dairy products, in sugar beets and other gums and mucilages. ... Lactose is a disaccharide that consists of β-D-galactose and β-D-glucose molecules bonded through a β1-4 glycosidic linkage. ... Dairy farm near Oxford, New York A dairy is a facility for the extraction and processing of animal milk (mostly from cows, sometimes from buffalo, sheep or goats) and other farm animals, for human consumption. ... Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is the most important carbohydrate in biology. ... Hepatomegaly is the condition of having an enlarged liver. ... The liver is an organ in some animals, including mammals (and therefore humans), birds, and reptiles. ... Renal failure is the condition in which the kidneys fail to function properly. ... A cataract is an opacity that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope. ... Brain damage or brain injury is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. ...


Goppert first described the disease in 1917. Its incidence is about 1 per 47,000 births (classic type). It is much rarer in Japan.


Different Types


There are two variants of the gene responsible for galactosemia.

  • One variant causes so-called classic galactosemia, in which there is an extreme deficiency in galactose-1 phosphate uridyltransferase. It is an autosomal recessive condition. The gene for GALT was mapped at 9p13. Most serious conditions are prominent.
  • The variant gene, responsible for Duarte galactosemia, leads to about half the normal levels of GALT. Individuals with Duarte galactosemia may experience few or none of the serious symptoms of classic galactosemia.

The severity of the symptoms is dependent on a number of factors, most importantly the amount of lactose in the individual's diet. It is also possible to have one each of the classic and Duarte genes, in which case GALT activity is intermediate. In nutrition, the diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. ...

Contents

Diagnosis

Infants are now routinely screened for galactosemia in the United States, and the diagnosis is made while the person is still an infant.


Treatment

The only treatment for classic galactosemia is eliminating lactose and galactose from the diet. Even with an early diagnosis and a restricted diet, however, some individuals with galactosemia experience long-term complications such as learning disability, and in girls, ovarian failure. Such complications have not been associated with Duarte galactosemia, and many individuals with Duarte galactosemia do not need to restrict their diet at all. Infants with classic galactosemia cannot be breast-feed due to lactose in human breast milk and are usually fed soy-based formula. {http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/disease/contraindicators.htm} In the United States and Canada, the term learning disability is used to refer to psychological and neurological conditions that affect a persons communicative capacities and potential to be taught effectively. ...


Galactosemia is sometimes confused with lactose intolerance, but galactosemia is a more serious condition. Lactose intolerant individuals have an acquired or inherited shortage of the enzyme lactase, and experience abdominal pains after ingesting dairy products, but no long-term effects. In contrast, a galactosemic individual who consumes galactose can cause permanent damage to their bodies. Lactase is a member of the β-galactosidase family of enzyme: enzymes that hydrolysis β 1,4 bonded attachments off of galactose. ...


Reference

  • Goppert F. Galaktosurie nach Milchzuckergabe bei angeborenem, familiaerem chronischem Leberleiden. Klin Wschr 1917;54:473-477.

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External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Galactosemia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (393 words)
Galactosemia is a rare genetic metabolic disorder which affects an individual's ability to properly digest the sugar galactose.
In individuals with galactosemia, GALT activity is severely diminished, leading to toxic levels of galactose to build up in the blood, resulting in hepatomegaly (an enlarged liver), renal failure, cataracts, and brain damage.
Galactosemia is sometimes confused with lactose intolerance, but the galactosemia is a more serious condition.
Galactosemia (5123 words)
The diagnosis of galactosemia is established in all individuals by measurement of erythrocyte GALT enzyme activity and by isoelectric focusing of GALT.
The diagnosis of galactosemia is established by quantitative measurement of erythrocyte galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) enzyme activity and its isoforms by isoelectric focusing of GALT.
Elsas LJ (2001) Prenatal diagnosis of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT)- deficient galactosemia.
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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