Mucopolysaccharidosis type I: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is a rare disease in which the body is missing or does not have enough of an enzyme needed to break down long chains of sugar molecules. These chains of molecules are called glycosaminoglycans (formerly called mucopolysaccharides). As a result, the molecules build up in different parts of the body and cause various health problems.
P The condition belongs to a group of diseases called mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs). MPS I is the most common.
P There are several other types of MPSs, including:
- MPS II (Hunter syndrome)
- MPS III (Sanfilippo syndrome)
- MPS IV (Morquio syndrome)

T Causes
P MPS I is inherited, which means that your parents must pass the disease on to you. If both parents carry a nonworking copy of the gene related to this condition, each of their children has a 25% (1 in 4) chance of developing the disease.
P People with MPS I do not make an enzyme called lysosomal alpha-L-iduronidase. This enzyme helps break down long chains of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans . These molecules are found throughout the body, often in mucus and in fluid around the joints.
P Without the enzyme, glycosaminoglycans build up and damage organs, including the heart. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. The mild form is called attenuated MPS I and the severe form is called severe MPS I.

T Symptoms
P Symptoms of MPS I most often appear between ages 3 to 8. Children with severe MPS I develop symptoms earlier than those with the less severe form.
P Some of the symptoms include:
- Abnormal bones in the spine
- Claw hand
- Cloudy corneas
- Deafness
- Halted growth
- Heart valve problems
- Joint disease, including stiffness
- Intellectual disability that gets worse over time in severe MPS I
- Thick, coarse facial features with low nasal bridge

T Exams and Tests
P In some states, babies are tested for MPS I as part of the newborn screening tests.
P Other tests that may be done depending on symptoms, include:
- ECG
- Genetic testing for changes to the alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA) gene
- Urine tests for extra mucopolysaccharides
- X-ray of the spine

T Treatment
P Enzyme replacement therapy may be recommended. The medicine, called laronidase (Aldurazyme), is given through a vein (IV, intravenously). It replaces the missing enzyme. Talk to your child's provider for more information.
P Bone marrow transplant has been tried. The treatment has had mixed results.
P Other treatments depend on the organs that are affected.

T Support Groups
P These resources can provide more information about MPS I:
- National MPS Society -- www.mpssociety.org
- National Organization for Rare Disorders -- rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/mucopolysaccharidosis-type-i
- NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center -- rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10335/mucopolysaccharidosis-type-i

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P Children with severe MPS I usually do not do well. Their health problems worsen over time, resulting in death by age 10.
P Children with attenuated (milder) MPS I have fewer health problems, with many leading fairly normal lives into adulthood.

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your provider if:
- You have a family history of MPS I and are considering having children
- Your child begins to show symptoms of MPS I

T Prevention
P Experts recommend genetic counseling and testing for couples with a family history of MPS I who are considering having children. Prenatal testing is available.

T Alternative Names
P Alpha-L-iduronate deficiency; Mucopolysaccharidosis type I; Severe MPS I; Attenuated MPS I; MPS I H; MPS I S; Hurler syndrome; Scheie syndrome; Hurler-Scheie syndrome; MPS 1 H/S; Lysosomal storage disease - mucopolysaccharidosis type I

T Images
- Low nasal bridge

T References
P Pyeritz RE. Inherited diseases of connective tissue. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 260.
P Spranger JW. Mucopolysaccharidoses. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 88.
P Wraith JE. Mucopolysaccharidoses. In: Rimoin D, Korf B, eds. Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2013:chap 102.

T Review Date 5/1/2017
P Updated by: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Assistant Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

