What is adrenomyeloneuropathy?
Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is a form of rare metabolic disorders called adrenoleukodystrophy. This condition worsens the adrenal gland and degenerates myelin cloak, oily coverage that covers the nerve fibers of the brain. This can lead to brain damage, physical disability and possible death. This disorder usually occurs around 28 years, but can occur anywhere aged 20 to 50 years. In some patients it affects the brain and spinal cord, but other patients suffer from damage to the spinal cord. As a result, long chains of fatty acids are formed in the bark and brain. Patients who develop adrenomyeloneuropathy can experience changes in their walking or have problems with maintaining balance while walking. Have trouble moving legs or coordinating leg muscles. The muscles in the lower body are gradually becoming harder and more difficult to control how diseases progress.
Other symptoms include impotence, bladder control problems, decent stomach and weight loss. Patients can develop disordersy seizures or experience changes in behavior and attitude. As the adrenal gland degenerates, the patient also suffers from the loss of the adrenal glands, which are hormones that control body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure.
Health experts diagnose the disease by performing blood tests to look for long -chain fatty acids in the brain. They perform magnetic resonance imaging tests to seek abnormalities. Blood tests can also be performed to explore the patient's DNA.
Since the beginning of 2011, there was no cure for adrenomyeloneuropathy. Some patients benefit from a mixture of glyceryl trioleate and glyceryl trierucate; These oils can help normalize fatty acid levels. This method has been considered experimental and insancing may not cover it. In addition, the oil does not slow down the progression of the disease if the brain and spinal cord are affected. Other patients are treated with SteRoids that stabilize the adrenal hormone levels.
The prognosis varies depending on the patient. Young people who suffer from adrenomyeloneuropathy of brain and spinal cord usually do not do as long as patients whose brains are not affected. Patients who have brain participation can be completely deactivated and may eventually die of this disease. Those who do not have brain engagement can often manage their symptoms of physical therapy and counseling.