Canavan Disease
By: Daijah Fuller
define canavan disease
canavan disease is an inherited condition that effects the breakdown and use(metabalism) of aspartic acid. death occures at 18 months of age. some people live until teen or rarely young adult.
causes of canavan disease
this disease is inherited.Most common in Jews than is general population. The lack of enzyme, Aspartoacylase,leads to build up of material called N-acetyaspartic acid in the brain. This causes the white matter in the brain to breakdown.
symptoms of canavan disease
1.) abnormal structures
2.) increasing head size
3.) poor muscle tone
4.) poor visual
5.) vomiting
6.) seizures
7.) swallowing difficulty
8.) blackflow of food material into the nose
9.) lack of head control
signs and tests of canavan disease
Signs
1.) exaggerated reflexes
2.) joint stiffness
3.) loss of tissue of optic nerve of the eye
1.) blood chemistry
2.) CSF chemisrty
3.) genetcin test for asoartoacylase gene mutation
4.) head MRI scan
4.) urine chemistry
prevention
genetic conclusion is recommended who wants to have children and have family history of Canavan Disease. counseling should be considered if both parents are Ashkenazi Jew descent. Fir this group DNA testing can almost always tell weather one or both parents are a carrier.
a diagnosis may be made before the baby is born(prenatal diagnosis) by the testing amniotic fluid.