Treatments for Adult Onset Leukodystrophy Guide

Treatments for Adult Onset Leukodystrophy Guide
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Leukodystrophy refers to a group of disorders known as leukodystrophies. This group of disorders is rare and they affect the brain cells. There are 34 different leukodystrophies known to medicine. These disorders affect a variety of body systems and the treatments are diverse. These conditions can affect both children and adults, but beginning in adulthood is less common. The treatments for adult onset leukodystrophy differ slightly from those used for children.

Symptoms and Causes of Leukodystrophy

Most leukodystrophies have a genetic cause and typically appear during infancy or childhood. The symptoms of leukodystrophy tend to be progressive. Symptoms can include problems with:

  • Movement
  • Vision
  • Mental and physical development
  • Speaking
  • Hearing

Medications

One of the main treatments for adult onset leukodystrophy is medications to treat various symptoms. There are several different medications that can be used including:

Muscle relaxers: This disorder often causes muscle contractures. Muscle relaxing medications can help to alleviate these so that the patient is more comfortable. Soma and Skelaxin are commonly prescribed muscle relaxers.

Psychiatric medications: This disorder is characterized by the brain cells being affected. This can result in a variety of psychiatric issues, such as dementia. Certain medications can help to relieve some of the symptoms of these disorders. Certain psychiatric medications, such as Valium and Cymbalta can also help relieve muscle-related pain.

Seizure medications: Seizure medications can be used for nerve-related pain, a type of pain common with this condition. They may also help to relieve contracted muscle. Neurontin and Lyrica are commonly prescribed seizure medications.

Pain medications: Pain is very common with this disorder. Patients may take a variety of pain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotic pain relievers. Vicodin and Percocet are commonly prescribed narcotic pain relievers, and Ibuprofen, Mobic, and Celebrex are commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Surgery

As time passes, a patient’s muscle contractures can cause deformities. These deformities can result in loss of function and pain. Surgery, performed by orthopedia surgeons, can perform surgery to help alleviate the muscle contractures.

Therapies

Leukodystrophy patients can benefit from occupational, recreational, physical, and speech therapy. Physical therapy is the most commonly used. It can help to stimulate the joints and muscles through exercise and hydrotherapy. This therapy can help in delaying muscle contractures, joint stiffness, pain, and loss of function. The other types of therapy can help to improve a patient’s quality of life.

Nutrition and Assistive Devices

A patient’s ability to swallow liquid and food occurs as this disorder progresses. However, patient’s must do something to maintain proper nutrition. This often results in the need for assistive devices. Such assistive devices include:

  • Nasogastric tube
  • Percutaneous esophago-gastrostomy tube

Resources

Medline Plus. (2010). Leukodystrophies. Retrieved on July 30, 2010 from Medline Plus: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leukodystrophies.html

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2010). NINDS Leukodystrophy Information Page. Retrieved on July 30, 2010 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/leukodystrophy/leukodystrophy.htm