Familial dysautonomia

Familial dysautonomia, or FD, is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system which affects the development and survival of sensory, sympathetic and some parasympathetic neurons in the autonomic and sensory nervous system resulting in variable symptoms including: insensitivity to pain, inability to produce tears, poor growth, and labile blood pressure (episodic hypertension and postural hypotension). People with FD have frequent vomiting crises, pneumonia, problems with speech and movement, difficulty swallowing, inappropriate perception of heat, pain, and taste, as well as unstable blood pressure and gastrointestinal dysmotility. FD does not affect intelligence. Originally reported by Riley, et al. in 1949, FD is one example of a group of disorders known as hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies HSAN. All HSAN are characterized by widespread sensory dysfunction and variable autonomic dysfunction caused by incomplete development of sensory and autonomic neurons. The disorders are believed to be genetically distinct from each other.

Incidence
FD is seen almost exclusively in Ashkenazi Jews and is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. Both parents must be carriers in order for a child to be affected. The carrier frequency in Jewish individuals of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) ancestry is about 1/30, while the carrier frequency in non-Jewish individuals is about 1/3000. If both parents are carriers, there is a one in four, or 25%, chance with each pregnancy for an affected child. Genetic counseling and genetic testing is recommended for families who may be carriers of familial dysautonomia.

There have been 590 cases in total. Currently there are 350 people living with this condition worldwide.

Etiology
Familial Dysautonomia, is the result of mutations in IKBKAP gene on chromosome 9, which encodes for the IKAP protein (IkB kinase complex associated protein). There have been three mutations in IKBKAP identified in individuals with FD. The most common FD-causing mutation occurs in intron 20 of the donor gene. Conversion of T-->C in intron 20 of the donor gene resulted in shift splicing that generates an IKAP transcript lacking exon 20. Translation of this mRNA results in a truncated protein lacking all of the amino acids encoded in exons 20-37. Another less common mutation is a G-->C conversion resulting in one amino acid mutation in 696, where Proline substitutes normal Arginine. The decreased amount of functional IKAP protein in cells causes Familial Dysautonomia.

Symptoms
Symptoms displayed by a baby with FD might include:


 * 1) The most distinctive clinical feature is absence of overflow tears with emotional crying after age 7 months.
 * 2) High prevalence of breech presentation
 * 3) Weak or absent suck and poor tone
 * 4) Poor suck and misdirected swallowing
 * 5) Red blotching of skin

Symptoms in an older child with FD might include:


 * 1) Delayed speech and walking
 * 2) Unsteady gait
 * 3) Spinal curvature
 * 4) Corneal abrasion
 * 5) Less perception in pain or temperature with nervous system.
 * 6) Poor growth
 * 7) Erratic or unstable blood pressure.
 * 8) Red puffy hands
 * 9) Dysautonomia crisis: constellation of symptoms response to physical and emotional stress; usually accompanied by vomiting, increased heart rate, increase in blood pressure, sweating, drooling, blotching of the skin and a negative change in personality.

Clinical Diagnosis
A clinical diagnosis of FD is supported by a constellation of criteria:
 * Parents of Ashkenazi Jewish Background
 * No fungiform papillae on the tongue
 * Decreased deep tendon reflexes
 * Lack of an axon flare following intradermal histamine
 * No overflow tears with emotional crying

Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is performed on a small sample of blood from the tested individual. The DNA is examined with a designed probe specific to the known mutations. The accuracy of the test is above 99%.

Prenatal Testing
Familial Dysautonomia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means 2 copies of the gene in each cell are altered. If both parents are shown to be carriers by generic testing, there is a 25% chance that the child will produce FD. Prenatal diagnosis for pregnancies at increased risk for FD by amniocentesis (for 14-17 weeks) or chorionic villus sampling (for 10-11 weeks) is possible.

Treatment and Treatment Locations
There currently is no cure for FD and death occurs in 50% of affected individuals by age 30. There are only two treatment centers One at New York University Hospital Dysautonomia Treatment and Evaluation Center and one at the Hadassah Hospital [http://www.hadassah.org.il/English/Eng_SubNavBar/Departments/Medical+departments/Pediatric+Mount+Scopus/FAMILIAL+DYSAUTONOMIA+CENTER.htm. Familial Dysautonomia Center]. One is being planned for the San Francisco area Forward Article

The survival rate and quality of life has increased since the mid 80's mostly due to greater understanding of the most dangerous symptoms. At present, FD patients can be expected to function independently if treatment is begun early and major disabilities avoided.

A major issue has been Aspiration Pneumonias, where food or regurgitated stomach content would be aspirated into the lungs causing infections. Fundoplacations (by preventing regurgitation) and gastrostomy tubes (to provide non oral nutrition) have reduced the frequency of hospitalization.

Other issues which can be treated include FD Crises, Scoliosis, and various eye conditions due to limited or no tears.

An FD crisis is the body's loss of control of various [Autonomic nervous system] functions including blood pressure, heartrate, and body temperature. Both short term and chronic periodic high or low blood pressure have consequences and medication is used to stabilize blood pressure.

Treatment of Manifestations
Although the FD-causing gene has been identifies and it seems to have tissue specific expression, there is no definitive treatment at present. Treatment of FD remains preventative, symptomatic and supportive. FD does not express itself in a consistent manner. The type and severity of symptoms displayed vary among patients and even at different ages on the same patients. So patients should have specialized individual treatment plans. Medications are used to control vomiting, eye dryness, and blood pressure. There are some commonly needed treatments including:


 * 1) Artificial tears: using eye drop containing artificial tear solutions (methylcellulose)
 * 2) Feeding: Maintenance of adequate nutrition, avoidance of aspiration; thickened formula and different shaped nipples are used for baby.
 * 3) Daily chest physiotherapy (nebulization, bronchodilators, and posural drainage): for Chronic lung disease from recurrent aspiration pneumonia
 * 4) Special drug management of autonomic manifestations such as vomiting: intravenous or rectal diazepam (0.2 mg/kg q3h) and rectal chloral hydrate (30 mg/kg q6h)
 * 5) Protecting the child from injury (coping with decreased taste, temperature and pain perception)
 * 6) Combating orthostatic hypotension: hydration, leg exercise, frequent small meals, a high-salt diet, and drugs such as fludrocortisone.
 * 7) Treatment of orthopedic problems (tibial torsion and spinal curvature)
 * 8) Compensating for labile blood pressures

Therapies under investigation
It is noted that in cell lines derived from heterozygous carriers of FD who display a normal phenotype, there are decreased levels of the wild-type IKAP transcript and also functional IKAP protein respectively. This would suggest that increasing the amount of the wild-type IKAP transcript may improve the manifestation in patients with FD. Application of tocotrienols in the treatment of FD was initiated in the FD research lab at Fordham University in Bronx. In vitro supplementation of tocotrienols elevated the expression of IKAP transcripts as well as the amount of induced functional IKAP protein in homozygous cell lines derived from FD patients. This observed result further suggests the value of therapeutic approaches to lessen suffered symptoms of FD patients by elevating cellular level of functional IKAP which can be induced by tocotrienols.

One form of therapy under investigation is electrolyte therapy for refractory seizures common among FD carriers. See Ceralyte

Prognosis
The outlook for patients with FD depends on the particular diagnostic category. Patients with chronic, progressive, generalized dysautonomia in the setting of central nervous system degeneration have a generally poor long-term prognosis. Death can occur from pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, or sudden cardiopulmonary arrest in such patients. Educate parents and patients regarding daily eye care and early warning signs of corneal problems as well as use of punctual cautery. This education has resulted in decreased corneal scarring and need for more aggressive surgical measures such as tarsorrhaphy, conjunctival flaps, and corneal transplants.

The Future
In January of 2001, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital isolated the FD gene, a discovery that opens the door to many diagnostic and treatment possibilities.

Although it probably won't happen for five or 10 years, some expect that stem-cell therapy will result. Eventually, treatment could be given in utero.

While that may be years ahead, genetic screening became available around April 2001, enabling Ashkenazi Jews to find out if they are carriers.

In the mean time more research into treatments are being funded by the foundations that exist. These foundation are organized and run by parents of those with FD. There is very limited governmental support beyond recognizing those diagnosed with FD as eligible for certain programs.