The Natural History and Pathogenesis of Mucolipidosis Type IV

The purpose of this protocol is to study patients with various neurometabolic disorders. Mucolipidosis type IV (ML-IV), is a developmental and degenerative disease caused by mutations in the MCOLN1 gene leading to an absent or dysfunctional protein called mucolipin. The goal of this protocol is to assess the neurological and medical status of these patients and characterize the clinical and laboratory abnormalities in order to determine the natural history of the disease. Patients will be followed at least yearly with comprehensive clinical, neurological and ophthalmological examinations combined with neuropsychological, blood, urine and radiological tests.

- INCLUSION CRITERIA: Mucolipidosis type IV All patients with a definitive diagnosis of mucolipidosis type-IV will be considered as potential candidates for this study. Patients with compatible clinical history who need clinical or laboratory confirmation of ML-IV will be considered as well. The general health and well being of each candidate must be sufficient to allow travel to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), modest amount of blood drawing, collection of appropriate urine samples, performance of necessary roentgenographic and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies and ophthalmological examinations under monitored sedation. The patient must be able to return to the NIH at least once a year on a regular basis.

Study Location
Maryland