The parents of a male infant report that male children over three generations in the mother’s family have been affected by a progressive disorder involving multiple organ systems. These children have had coarse facial features, corneal clouding, joint stiffness, hepatosplenomegaly, and mental retardation, and many died in childhood. At autopsy, some of the children had subendothelial coronary arterial deposits that caused myocardial infarction. Laboratory testing of the infant now shows increased urinary excretion of mucopolysaccharides. Bone marrow biopsy is performed, and the accumulated mucopolysaccharides are found in macrophages (“balloon cells” filled with minute vacuoles). Which of the following enzyme deficiencies is most likely to be seen in this infant?
Correct Answer: a-l-Iduronidase
Description: Hunter syndrome, one of the mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), results from deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme a-l- iduronidase. The glycosaminoglycans that accumulate in MPS include dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate. All of the MPS variants are autosomal recessive except for Hunter syndrome, which is X-linked recessive. Adenosine deaminase deficiency is a cause of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), an immunodeficiency state in which multiple recurrent infections occur after birth. Glucocerebrosidase deficiency is seen in Gaucher disease; in the most common form of the disease, there is no neurologic impairment, and patients have splenomegaly and skeletal disease as a consequence of increased lysosomal glucocerebrosides in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency leads to von Gierke disease, characterized by hepatomegaly, renomegaly, and impaired gluconeogenesis leading to hypoglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Hexosaminidase A deficiency occurs in Tay-Sachs disease; affected individuals manifest severe neurologic impairment, poor motor development, and blindness beginning in infancy. Lysosomal glucosidase deficiency, seen in Pompe disease, is associated with marked cardiomegaly and heart failure beginning in infancy. Sphingomyelinase deficiency occurs in Niemann-Pick disease type A, characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, lymph-adenopathy, and severe motor and mental impairment.
Category:
Pathology
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