eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Genetics and Metabolic Disease > Metabolic Diseases
Galactokinase Deficiency: Follow-up
Updated: Sep 2, 2009
Follow-up
Further Outpatient Care
- Evaluate patients with galactokinase deficiency on a regular and frequent schedule to assess dietary intake and to perform eye examinations.
Inpatient & Outpatient Medications
- Medication is unnecessary.
Complications
- Dietary indiscretions resulting in small, frequent doses of galactose encourage initial or recurrent cataract formation.
Prognosis
- The prognosis is excellent. The disorder has no implications for any organ other than the lens. Problems can be eliminated with proper care.
Patient Education
- Affected individuals must learn to master the dietary restrictions required to eliminate galactose ingestion.
- Patients should undergo an annual slit-lamp examination to detect cataract formation.
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Eye and Vision Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Cataracts.
Miscellaneous
Medicolegal Pitfalls
- Failure to recognize the disorder as a treatable cause of congenital cataracts
- Failure to observe patients regularly and frequently to prevent cataract formation
- Failure to monitor calcium intake to prevent osteomalacia and osteoporosis while the patient is on a soy formula
More on Galactokinase Deficiency |
| Overview: Galactokinase Deficiency |
| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Galactokinase Deficiency |
| Treatment & Medication: Galactokinase Deficiency |
Follow-up: Galactokinase Deficiency |
| Multimedia: Galactokinase Deficiency |
| References |
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References
Cuthbert C, Klapper H, Elsas L. Diagnosis of inherited disorders of galactose metabolism. Curr Protoc Hum Genet. Jan 2008;Chapter 17:Unit 17.5. [Medline].
Park HD, Kim YK, Park KU, Kim JQ, Song YH, Song J. A novel c.-22T>C mutation in GALK1 promoter is associated with elevated galactokinase phenotype. BMC Med Genet. Mar 24 2009;10:29. [Medline].
Berry GT. The role of polyols in the pathophysiology of hypergalactosemia. Eur J Pediatr. 1995;154(7 Suppl 2):S53-64. [Medline].
Beutler E, Matsumoto F, Kuhl W, Krill A, Levy N, Sparkes R, et al. Galactokinase deficiency as a cause of cataracts. N Engl J Med. Jun 7 1973;288(23):1203-6. [Medline].
Bosch AM, Bakker HD, van Gennip AH, van Kempen JV, Wanders RJ, Wijburg FA. Clinical features of galactokinase deficiency: a review of the literature. J Inherit Metab Dis. Dec 2002;25(8):629-34. [Medline].
Gitzelmann R. Hereditary galactokinase deficiency, a newly recognized cause of juvenile cataracts. Pediatr Res. 1967;1:14-23.
Hunter M, Heyer E, Austerlitz F. The P28T mutation in the GALK1 gene accounts for galactokinase deficiency in Roma(Gypsy) patients across Europe. Pediatr Res. 2002;51:602-606.
Kerr MM, Logan RW, Cant JS, Hutchison JH. Galactokinase deficiency in a newborn infant. Arch Dis Child. Dec 1971;46(250):864-6. [Medline].
Levy NS, Krill AE, Beutler E. Galactokinase deficiency and cataracts. Am J Ophthalmol. Jul 1972;74(1):41-8. [Medline].
Pickering WR, Howell RR. Galactokinase deficiency: clinical and biochemical findings in a new kindred. J Pediatr. Jul 1972;81(1):50-5. [Medline].
Reich S, Hennerman J, Vetter B. An unexpectedly high frequency of hypergalactosemia in an immigrant Bosnian population revealed by newborn screening. Pediatr Res. 2002;51:598-601.
Sangiuolo F, Magnani M, Stambolian D. Biochemical characterization of two GALK1 mutations in patients with galactokinase deficiency. Hum Mutat. 2004;23:396.
Thalhammer O, Gitzelmann R, Pantlitschko M. Hypergalactosemia and galactosuria due to galactokinase deficiency in a newborn. Pediatrics. Sep 1968;42(3):441-5. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
galactosemia II, GALK deficiency, cataracts, galactosuria, hexose sugar, galactose, glucose, hexokinase, galactosemia, galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase galactosemias, hexokinase, galactokinase deficiency, transferase-deficient galactosemia, galactose-related cataracts
Follow-up: Galactokinase Deficiency