eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Genetics and Metabolic Disease > Genetics

Niemann-Pick Disease: Follow-up

Author: Margaret M McGovern, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, Stony Brook University, New York
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 27, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Pulmonary infections occur frequently in patients with Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) types A and B.
  • Patients with type A disease may require inpatient care during severe episodes.

Complications

  • Splenic rupture: Patients with Niemann-Pick disease type B are at risk for splenic rupture and should avoid contact sports.
  • Liver failure: A small number of patients with Niemann-Pick disease type B develop liver failure and may be candidates for liver transplantation.
  • Pulmonary disease: Pulmonary disease is progressive in patients with type B disease and may result in oxygen dependance.

Prognosis

  • Type A disease is fatal in early childhood.
  • Prognosis in patients with type B disease varies widely and presumably is related to the underlying mutations in the gene coding for sphingomyelinase.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • The availability of prenatal diagnosis must be discussed with at-risk families.
 


More on Niemann-Pick Disease

Overview: Niemann-Pick Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Niemann-Pick Disease
Treatment & Medication: Niemann-Pick Disease
Follow-up: Niemann-Pick Disease
Multimedia: Niemann-Pick Disease
References
Further Reading

References

  1. Camoletto PG, Vara H, Morando L, et al. Synaptic vesicle docking: sphingosine regulates syntaxin1 interaction with Munc18. PLoS ONE. 2009;4(4):e5310. [Medline].

  2. Jenkins RW, Canals D, Hannun YA. Roles and regulation of secretory and lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase. Cell Signal. Jun 2009;21(6):836-46. [Medline].

  3. Ambrosio C, Serra S, Alexandre M, Malcata A. [Arthralgia, bone pain, positive antinuclear antibodies and thrombocytopenia...diagnosis: Niemann-Pick disease]. Acta Reumatol Port. Jan-Mar 2009;34(1):102-5. [Medline].

  4. Cho YU, Chae JD, Lee WM, et al. [A Case of a Korean Adult Affected by Type B Niemann-Pick Disease: Secondary Sea-blue Histiocytosis and Molecular Characterization.]. Korean J Lab Med. Apr 2009;29(2):97-103. [Medline].

  5. Rodriguez-Pascau L, Gort L, Schuchman EH, Vilageliu L, Grinberg D, Chabas A. Identification and characterization of SMPD1 mutations causing Niemann-Pick types A and B in Spanish patients. Hum Mutat. Mar 18 2009;[Medline].

  6. [Guideline] Langlois S, Wilson RD. Carrier screening for genetic disorders in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. Apr 2006;28(4):324-43. [Medline][Full Text].

  7. Bayever E, August CS, Kamani N, et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for Niemann-Pick disease (type IA). Bone Marrow Transplant. 1992;10 Suppl 1:85-6. [Medline].

  8. Takahashi T, Suchi M, Desnick RJ, et al. Identification and expression of five mutations in the human acid sphingomyelinase gene causing types A and B Niemann-Pick disease. Molecular evidence for genetic heterogeneity in the neuronopathic and non-neuronopathic forms. J Biol Chem. Jun 25 1992;267(18):12552-8. [Medline].

Keywords

Niemann-Pick disease, NPD, acid sphingomyelinase deficiency, sphingomyelinase, enzyme deficiencies, neurodegenerative disease, failure to thrive, hepatosplenomegaly, sphingomyelin accumulation, lipid storage disorder, defective cholesterol metabolism, Niemann-Pick cells, NPD type A, NPD type B, treatment, diagnosis

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Margaret M McGovern, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, Stony Brook University, New York
Margaret M McGovern, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Society of Human Genetics
Disclosure: Genzyme Grant/research funds PI

Medical Editor

James Bowman, MD, Senior Scholar of Maclean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathology, University of Chicago
James Bowman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Human Genetics, Central Society for Clinical Research, and College of American Pathologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

David Flannery, MD, FAAP, FACMG, Vice Chair of Education, Chief, Section of Medical Genetics, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia
David Flannery, MD, FAAP, FACMG is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Medical Genetics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP, Consulting Staff, Freeman Pediatric Care, Freeman Health System
Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Osteopathy, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Bruce Buehler, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Pathology and Microbiology, Executive Director, Hattie B Munroe Center for Human Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Bruce Buehler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association on Mental Retardation, American College of Medical Genetics, American College of Physician Executives, American Medical Association, and Nebraska Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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