Paralysis Resource Guide - (Page 20) CONDITIONS THE LEUKODYSTROPHIES The leukodystrophies are progressive, hereditary disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Specific leukodystrophies include metachromatic leukodystrophy, Krabbe leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, Canavan disease, Alexander disease, Zellweger syndrome, Refsum disease, and cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease can also lead to paralysis. Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) affected the young boy Lorenzo Odone, whose story is told in the 1993 film “Lorenzo’s Oil.” In this disease the fatty covering (myelin sheath) on nerve fibers in the brain is lost, and the adrenal gland degenerates, leading to progressive neurological disability. (See http://www.myelin.org) United Leukodystrophy Foundation (ULF) offers resources and clinical detail on the leukodystrophies. ULF, 2304 Highland Drive, Sycamore, IL 60178; toll-free 1-800-728-5483; or visit the Internet site http://www.ulf.org LYME DISEASE Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by the bite of certain black-legged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache and fatigue. Lyme disease, which can lead to neurological symptoms, including loss of function in arms and legs, is often misdiagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or multiple sclerosis. According to some Lyme disease advocates, standard diagnostic methods fail to discover as many as 40 percent of cases. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. While some people with long-term Lyme disease take antibiotics over an extended course of time, most physicians do not consider Lyme to be a chronic infection. There are reports that hyperbaric oxygen and bee venom have been effective in treating symptoms of the disease. For more information contact the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, http://ilads.org; American Lyme Disease Foundation, www.aldf.com; Lyme Disease Association, www.lymediseaseassociation.org 20 http://www.myelin.org http://www.ulf.org http://ilads.org http://www.aldf.com http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
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