Synonyms

• MPS disorder III
• MPS III
• mucopolysaccharide storage disease type III
• oligophrenic polydystrophy
• polydystrophia oligophrenia

Disorder Subdivisions

• Sanfilippo disease (types A, B, C, and D)
• Sanfilippo syndrome (types A, B, C, and D)

General Discussion

The Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS Disorders) are a group of rare genetic disorders caused by the deficiency of one of the lysosomal enzymes, resulting in an inability to metabolize complex carbohydrates (mucopolysaccharides) into simpler molecules. High concentrations of mucopolysaccharides in the cells of the central nervous system, including the brain, cause the neurological and developmental deficits that accompany these disorders.



Mucopolysaccharides are rather thick jelly-like ("muco") compounds made of long chains ("poly") of sugar-like (saccharides) molecules used to make connective tissues in the body.



Lysosomal enzymes are found in the lysosome, a very small membrane-contained body (organelle) found in the cytoplasm of most cells. The lysosome is often called the "waste disposal plant" of the cell. The accumulation of these large, undegraded mucopolysaccharides in the cells of the body is the cause of a number of physical symptoms and abnormalities.



MPS-III (Sanfilippo Syndrome) is one of seven MPS Disorders. It is an inborn error of metabolism that is transmitted as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. MPS-lll has been subdivided into four types: MPS-III Type A, MPS-III Type B, MPS-III Type C, and MPS-III Type D. All types are associated with some degree of mental deterioration, but the severity depends on the particular type of MPS-lll. Several physical defects may be present, and the severity of these defects varies with the type of MPS-III. In the case of each type of MPS-III, abnormal amounts of a specific, chemically complex molecule is excreted in the urine. The excreted chemical is the same for each of the four types of MPS-III, since the defective gene involves a different step, and thus a different enzyme, in the deconstruction of the same mucopolysaccharide. By testing for one or another of these enzymes, the variant type may be readily identified.

Resources

Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases (CLIMB)

Climb Building

176 Nantwich Road

Crewe, Intl CW2 6BG

United Kingdom

Tel: 0845 241 2174

Tel: 800 652 3181

Email: info.svcs@climb.org.uk

Internet: http://www.CLIMB.org.uk



Vaincre Les Maladies Lysosomales

2 Ter Avenue

Massy, 91300

France

Tel: 01 69 75 40 30

Fax: 01 60 11 15 83

Email: accueil@vml-asso.org

Internet: http://www.vml-asso.org



The Arc

1660 L Street, NW, Suite 301

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202)534-3700

Fax: (202)534-3731

Tel: (800)433-5255

TDD: (817)277-0553

Email: info@thearc.org

Internet: http://www.thearc.org



National MPS Society, Inc.

PO Box 14686

Durham, NC 27709

Tel: (919)806-0101

Fax: (919)806-2055

Tel: (877)677-1001

Email: info@mpssociety.org

Internet: http://www.mpssociety.org



NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Office of Communications & Public Liaison

Bldg 31, Rm 9A06

31 Center Drive, MSC 2560

Bethesda, MD 20892-2560

Tel: (301)496-3583

Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov

Internet: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/



Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases

MPS House

Repton Place

White Lion Road

Amersham

Buckinghamshire, HP7 9LP.

United Kingdom

Tel: 004401494 434156

Fax: 004401494 434252

Email: mps@mpssociety.co.uk

Internet: http://www.mpssociety.co.uk



Canadian Society for Mucopolysaccharide and Related Diseases, Inc.

PO Box 30034

RPO Parkgate

North Vancouver

British Columbia, Intl V7H 2Y8

Canada

Tel: (604) 924-5130

Fax: (604) 924-5131

Tel: 1-800-667-1846

Email: info@mpssociety.ca

Internet: http://www.mpssociety.ca



MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: (920)336-5333

Fax: (920)339-0995

Tel: (877)336-5333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/



Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PO Box 8126

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126

Tel: (301)251-4925

Fax: (301)251-4911

Tel: (888)205-2311

TDD: (888)205-3223

Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/



Madisons Foundation

PO Box 241956

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Tel: (310)264-0826

Fax: (310)264-4766

Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org



Hide & Seek Foundation for Lysosomal Disease Research

6475 East Pacific Coast Highway Suite 466

Long Beach, CA 90803

Tel: (877)621-1122

Fax: (866)215-8850

Email: info@hideandseek.org

Internet: http://www.hideandseek.org



Sanfilippo Foundation Switzerland

C/o NAT Services SA

Rue de Jargonnant 2

1207 Genève

Switzerland

Tel: +41 78 720 73 17

Email: info@fondation-sanfilippo.ch

Internet: http://www.sanfilippo-foundation.org



Jonahs Just Begun - Foundation to Cure Sanfilippo, Inc.

P. O. Box 150057

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tel: (347)689-2186

Fax: (347)710-3136

Email: jw.mps3c@yahoo.com

Internet: http://jonahsjustbegun.org/



Hong Kong Mucopolysaccharidoses & Rare Genetic Diseases Mutual Aid Group

G/F Wang Lai House

Wang Tau Hom Estate

Kowloon,

Hong Kong

Tel: 852-2794-3010

Fax: 852 2338 4820

Email: mps@hk-mps.com

Internet: http://www.hk-mps.com/en/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  8/17/2007

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