About chanarin dorfman disease

What is chanarin dorfman disease?

Chanarin Dorfman syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder of fat (lipid) metabolism. It is characterized by scaly skin (ichthyosis), degeneration of the muscles (myopathy), and abnormal white blood cells with small spaces (vacuoles) filled with fat (lipids).

What are the symptoms for chanarin dorfman disease?

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome can affect many systems. All patients have skin findings that are usually present at birth: redness, fine scaling, dark pigmentation and severe Itching which leads to scratching and skin-picking (excoriation). The skin appearance is referred to “ichthyosiform nonbullous erythroderma”. Patients also have liver disease with lipid storage which can lead to liver failure. About 60% of patients also have muscle problems. They have slowly progressive Weakness of the proximal arms and legs. When the muscles are affected they release their enzymes in the blood, which can be detected by the presence of a CK elevation. Exercise intolerance has never been reported, but many patients reported early fatigability.

Less commonly, other systems can be involved. Around 40% of patients have eye problems consisting mainly in cataracts or eyelids pointing outwards (ectropion). Approximately 25% of patients have progressive hearing loss. Around 25% have cognitive impairment. Short stature and growth retardation have also been reported. Some patients have intestinal problems such as fatty Diarrhea (steatorrhea) and enlarged spleen. Some have orthopedic problems and kidney dysfunction.

What are the causes for chanarin dorfman disease?

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is caused by changes (mutations) in the ABHD5 gene located on chromosome 3. This gene produces a protein involved in fat metabolism called CGI-58. This protein is called a co-factor because it helps the activity of the main enzyme, which is adipose triacylglycerol lipase (ATGL). The function of this enzyme is to break down a type of fat called triacylglycerol (TAG). This process is disturbed when either the enzyme or the helper protein doesn’t work properly. When the fat (triacylglycerol) cannot be broken down, it accumulates in various parts of the body as lipid droplets and causes different symptoms. This is what happens in a group of disorders called ‘neutral lipid storage disease’. It comprises two entities:

When the mutation occurs in the gene for the main enzyme (ATGL), the disease is called ‘neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy’.

When the mutation occurs in the gene for the helper protein (CGI-58), the disease is called ‘neutral lipid storage disease with itchthyosis’, or Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome.

It is important to distinguish between the two because the clinical presentations are very different. In the first one, patients usually present in early adulthood with muscle abnormalities caused by the accumulation of fat. In Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome, patients primarily have skin abnormalities that are apparent at birth. For this reason, Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is also part of a group of diseases called ‘itchthyoses’, which are characterized by skin abnormalities. Another difference is the absence of heart problems (cardiomyopathy) in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome, whereas they are present in first one.

The genetic mutation in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome leads to abnormal accumulation of fat (lipid droplets) in many cells, especially in the skin, liver and white blood cells. The effect on the skin is an abnormal permeability, which leads to a characteristic rash and intense itching. In the liver, the lipid droplet accumulation leads to fatty change called “steatosis” that can eventually progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means the individual inherits an abnormal gene from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one abnormal gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the abnormal gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier, like the parents, is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.

What are the treatments for chanarin dorfman disease?

There is no effective treatment for Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. However, it is recommended to have a low fat diet (specifically low long-chain fatty acid and minimal saturated fat), enriched with medium-chain triglycerides, ursodiol (a bile acid) and vitamin E. This would decrease the liver size and normalize the liver enzymes. This diet has no effect on skin symptoms.

To alleviate itching and other skin symptoms, it is recommended to apply moisturizers on the skin. Vitamin A derivatives like acitretin are useful for skin and muscle manifestations, but are often considered contraindicated if the liver enzymes are impaired, which is commonly the case. However, improvement in skin symptoms without deleterious effect on liver function has been reported with the use of acitretin. There is no consensus about the use of retinoid in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome with abnormal liver function.

One case of liver transplant followed by the usual dietary modifications has been reported with stabilisation of the skin and intellectual disability deterioration after 1 year, but there are insufficient studies to conclude the effectiveness and the long-term effects of liver transplantation.

Is there a cure/medications for chanarin dorfman disease?

Chanarin - Dorfman disease doesn't have any effective cure still, it can be managed in the following ways:

  • A low-fat diet for the minimum accumulation of fat in the body. Moreover, it is recommended to get a dietician for the feeding process of your child.
  • Having a low-fat diet, enriched with medium-chain triglycerides, ursodiol (a bile acid), and vitamin E, would decrease the liver size and normalize the liver enzymes.
  • Avoid food with high saturated fats.
  • Include medium chain triglycerides food in the diet such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, butter, milk, yogurt, and cheese.
  • Vitamin E-rich food is not only beneficial for our body but also does wonders to the skin.
  • Pumpkin, red bell pepper, almonds, peanuts, and spinach are rich in Vitamin E and do wonders for the body and skin.
  • Applying moisturizers can help in stopping or reducing skin itching and other skin symptoms.
  • Liver disease with lipid storage leading to liver failure may need a liver transplant. The effectiveness and the long-term effects of liver transplantation are still studied.


Symptoms
Skin conditions that usually present at birth: redness, fine scaling, dark pigmentation and severe itching which leads to scratching and skin-picking (excoriation),Liver disease with lipid storage,Slowly progressive weakness of the proximal arms and legs,Fatigability,Eye problems (cataracts or eyelids pointing outwards),Intestinal problems (fatty diarrhea and enlarged spleen),Orthopedic problems,Kidney dysfunction
Conditions
Accumulation of fats in various organs of the body,Vision problems, hearing loss, short stature and mild intellectual disability are also associated with this condition,Liver disease with lipid storage leading to liver failure
Drugs
Low-fat diet,Moisturizers for skin symptoms,Liver transplant

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