Sunday, May 27, 2012

Hallervorden-Spatz disease

Table of Contents

Definition

Hallervorden-Spatz disease is a movement disorder that is passed down through families (inherited).


Alternative Names

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Hallervorden-Spatz disease usually begins in childhood.

Most cases of Hallervorden-Spatz disease are due to a defect in a gene that makes a protein called pantothenate kinase 2. Patients with this genetic defect have a buildup of iron in parts of the brain.



Review Date: 09/28/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)