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For Healthcare Professionals

Metachromatic
leukodystrophy (MLD)

is a rare disease that if left untreated has catastrophic consequences1

Metachromatic
leukodystrophy (MLD)

is a rare disease that if left untreated has catastrophic consequences1

Disease awareness and INCIDENCE

Both a neurometabolic disorder and a leukodystrophy, MLD can lead to severe disability and premature death1

MLD is a rare, autosomal recessive, inherited lysosomal storage disease, caused by a deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ARSA) enzyme. Deficiency of ARSA enzyme activity leads to accumulation of sulfatides in the CNS and PNS. This leads to progressive loss of motor and cognitive skills, dysphagia, seizures, severe neurological disability, and ultimately death.1,2

CNS, central nervous system; PNS, peripheral nervous system.

Due to the fact that MLD patients never achieve or progressively lose motor and cognitive functions, caregivers tend to spend an average of 15 hours per day caring for an affected child.3

MLD is fatal if left untreated. The average survival is 4.2 years
for late infantile and 17.4 years for early juvenile4
MLD is fatal if left untreated. The average survival is 4.2 years for late infantile and 17.4 years for early juvenile4

THE INCIDENCE OF MLD

 

RECOGNIZING EARLY SYMPTOMS OF MLD7,8

Late infantile MLD occurs before the age of 30 months.9
Early juvenile MLD is defined as occurring between 30 months to 7 years.9


DIAGNOSING MLD

Patients with MLD appear healthy at birth, and early diagnosis is critically important to allow for effective treatment7,8

Newborn screening is critical in ensuring that newborns are diagnosed and treated effectively before they become symptomatic and begin to rapidly progress. In addition, family screening is necessary to identify any other affected siblings.10
MLD can be tested through an ARSA leukocytes panel11
MLD can be tested through an ARSA leukocytes panel11

MLD IS AN AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE DISEASE1,12

  • The prognosis for MLD is poor13
  • Most children with the infantile form die by age 513
  • Symptoms of the juvenile form progress to death 10 to 20 years following onset13
Early detection of MLD is the key to better outcomes
Early detection of MLD is the key to better outcomes

References: 1. Biffi A, Cesani M, Fumagalli F, et al. Metachromatic leukodystrophy-mutation analysis provides further evidence of genotype-phenotype correlation. Clin Genet. 2008:74;349-357. 2. Lamichhane A, Cabrero RF. Metachromatic leukodystrophy. In: StatPearls [internet]. StatPearls Publishing; January 2024. Accessed March 7, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560744/ 3. Lin G, Suh K, Fahim SM, et al. Atidarsagene autotemcel for metachromatic leukodystrophy. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review; October 30, 2023. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://icer.org/assessment/metachromatic-leukodystrophy-2023/#timeline. 4. Mahmood A, Berry J, Wenger DA, et al. Metachromatic leukodystrophy: a case of triplets with the late infantile variant and a systematic review of the literature. J Child Neurol. 2010;25(5):572-580. 5. Soderholm HE, Chapin AB, Bayrak-Toydemir P, Bonkowsky JL. Elevated leukodystrophy incidence predicted from genomics databases. Pediat Neurol. 2020;111:66-69. 6. Gomez-Ospina N. Arylsulfatase A deficiency. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al, eds. GeneReviews® [internet]. University of Washington; 1993-2024. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1130/ 7. Wang RY, Bodamer OA, Watson MS, et al. Lysosomal storage diseases: diagnostic confirmation and management of presymptomatic individuals. Gen Med. 2011:13;457-484. 8. Gieselmann V, Krägeloh-Mann I. Metachromatic leukodystrophy – an update. Neuropediatrics. 2010;41:1-6. 9. LENMELDY (atidarsagene autotemcel) Prescribing Information. Orchard Therapeutics. 10. Fumagalli F, Calbi V, Natali Sora MG, et al. Lentiviral haematopoietic stem-cell gene therapy for early-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy: long-term results from a non-randomised, open-label, phase 1/2 trial and expanded access. Lancet. 2022;399:372-383. 11. Arylsulfatase A, leukocytes. Quest Diagnostics. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/5216/arylsulfatase-a-leukocytes?cc=MASTER 12. About MLD. MLD Support Association UK. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.mldsupportuk.org.uk/about-mld/ 13. Metachromatic leukodystrophy. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/metachromatic-leukodystrophy?search-term=MLD

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

• Thrombosis and Thromboembolic Events:

Treatment with LENMELDY may increase the risk of thrombosis and thromboembolic events.

INDICATION

LENMELDY™ (atidarsagene autotemcel) is an autologous hematopoietic stem cell-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of children with pre-symptomatic late infantile (PSLI), pre-symptomatic early juvenile (PSEJ), or early symptomatic early juvenile (ESEJ) metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).

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