Hunter Syndrome

CARBOYHYDRATE

Desease related to carbohydrate:

HUNTER SYNDROME

(mucopolysaccharidosis type II)

All about Hunter Syndrome

CAUSES: Hunter syndrome is caused by a defective chromosome, and a child must inherit the defective chromosome to develop the disease. Hunter syndrome is what's known as an X-linked recessive disease, which means that women carry the defective disease-causing X chromosome and can pass it on.

Belongs to the group of 11 mucopolysaccharidoses. In these lysosomal storage disorders, enzymes that are necessary for the degradation of complex carbohydrates, called glycosaminoglycans (or mucopolysaccharides) are deficient.

TREATMENT: 1. Enzyme therapy. This Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment uses man-made or genetically engineered enzymes to replace your child's missing or defective enzymes and ease the disease symptoms. 2. Stem cell transplant. 3. Gene therapy.

PREVENTION: You cannot prevent Hunter syndrome. People who have a child with Hunter syndrome should talk to a genetic counselor before having another baby. This specialist can help parents understand the chances of passing the disease on to another child.

People with Hunter Syndrome