Alternative titles and symbols : N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease; NSD; Sialuria, infantile form; Nana storage disease;
Description : Sialic acid storage diseases are autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorders that
may present as a severe infantile form (ISSD) or as a slowly progressive adult form
that is prevalent in Finland (Salla disease). The main symptoms are hypotonia, cerebellar
ataxia, and mental retardation; visceromegaly and coarse features are also present
in the infantile cases. Progressive cerebellar atrophy and dysmyelination have been
documented by MRI. Enlarged lysosomes are seen on electron microscopic studies, and
patients excrete large amounts of free sialic acid in the urine (Verheijen et al.,
1999).;
Inheritance : Autosomal recessive;
Molecular basis : Caused by mutations in the solute carrier family 17 (sodium phosphate), member 5 gene
(SLC17A5, 604322.0002);