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Treatment
New Treatments Are Available
Treatment of infantile patients who are diagnosed when significant symptoms are evident
has been limited to supportive care and drug therapy to control irritability and
spasticity. This treatment, however, will not prevent loss of nervous system function.
And since Krabbe Disease hits early, and is quickly fatal, it is critically important
that a diagnosis be made as early as possible. Recently, presymptomatic infantile and
later-onset patients have been treated with bone marrow or cord blood transplantation.
These transplants have altered or halted the disease process and saved the lives of
children fortunate enough to have early diagnosis.
Early Diagnosis is Imperative
Newborn Screening for Krabbe Disease, other Leukodystrophies and Lysosomal Storage
Disorders is necessary for detection at birth and the opportunity for effective
treatment. Babies transplanted as early as 2 - 4 weeks of age have had a high success
rate with cord blood or bone marrow transplant treatment. Research studies indicate
that the use of transplantation therapy early in life provides healthy donor cells
which produce enzyme in the blood and brain enabling children to live normal, to near
normal, healthy lives. Prenatal testing for Krabbe Disease is available.
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