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Mucopolysaccharides

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Overview

Mucopolysaccharides

Definition:

Mucopolysaccharides is a gel-like substance found in body cells, mucus, and joint-lubricating fluids.

Alternative Names:

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Mucopolysaccharidosis; Hunter syndrome; Hurler syndrome; Scheie syndrome; Sanfilippo syndrome; Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome; Morquio disease

Information:

When there is a deficiency of enzymes necessary to breakdown mucopolysaccharides, a condition called mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) exists. Mucopolysaccharidoses are a group of genetic disorders that cause excess build-up of mucopolysaccharides in body tissues. This build-up results in many serious physical disorders.

Usually, this results in various genetic deformities such as skeletal deformities (bone, cartilage, and connective tissue), abnormal facial features, mental retardation, and decreased life expectancy. Examples of these disorders are: Hunter syndrome, Hurler syndrome, Scheie syndrome, Sanfilippo syndrome, Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, and Morquio disease.

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