Re: Adrenomyeloneuropathy

Posted By CCF neuro MD MM on November 24, 1998 at 13:00:01:

In Reply to: Adrenomyeloneuropathy posted by Salih on November 24, 1998 at 08:09:13:






A Cousin of mine was recently admitted to hospital. The complaints
included giddiness and difficulty in getting up from bed (pain in
knee joint).
Several tests were conducted. Eosinophil count was 40, now brought
down. Sodium content was low, Potassium high. MRI tests are due.
Spinal fluid (lumbar) have been sent for tests.
Doctors are confused. They suggest it could be Multi Sclerosis
or Adrenomyeloneuropathy.
Multi Sclerois is common, but we have no clue what is Adrenomyeloneuropathy.
He is 22, tall (5'11") and well built (80kgs).
I surfed the internet trying to find out what is adrenomyeloneuropathy,
but to no avail.




Adrenomyeloneuropathy is a disease which is due to a defect in the way
the body breaks down fats , this leads to  the buklid up of a certain
component of the fats called the long chain fatty acid molecule, this can
cause problems with the adrenal gland, leading to low sodium levels and
depending on the extent of deposition in the brain or spinal cord , a
wide range of neurological abnormalities.
There are seven different subtypes ranging fron an isolated low sodium
level to a devastating neurological disease in newborn babies which is
fatal.
You friend obviously has a very mild variant if he has this at all.
The test of choivce to diagnose this is the "Very long chain fatty acid
assay "