Spielmeyer-Vogt Disease
Spielmeyer-Vogt Disease Causes
Spielmeyer-Vogt disease can be inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Six genes have now been defined to cause Spielmeyer-Vogt disease both in children and adults.
Spielmeyer-Vogt Disease Definition
Spielmeyer-Vogt disease is a progressive genetic disorder where defective lipid metabolism that causes blindness, neurological deterioration, dementia leading to total incapacitation within years and death within 10-15 years. It is the most common type of a group of disorders called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCLs). The disease is also known as Batten disease.
Spielmeyer-Vogt Disease Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on the amount of deposits present in the skin samples in combination with other symptoms and criteria.
Spielmeyer-Vogt Disease Symptoms and Signs
Early symptoms of Spielmeyer-Vogt disease normally begins to show between the ages of four to ten including the following: ? Vision problems ? Seizures ? Learning delays ? Echolalia or repeating the words spoken ? Stumbling or clumsiness ? Poor circulation in hands and feet ? Shrinkage of body fat and muscle mass ? Breath holding periods ? Spine curvature ? Constipation ? Teeth grinding As time pass, children with Spielmeyer-Vogt disease will experience worsening symptoms including progressive loss of sight, mental impairment, and seizures get worse. Additionally, speech and motor skills may be loss gradually.
Spielmeyer-Vogt Disease Treatment
Clinical trials were made to study a gene therapy method and neural stem cell injections in the brain of a suffering individual. Though the two have gained quite favorable results, there is still no established evidence that it can accurately cure Spielmeyer-Vogt disease.