Which of the following diseases is caused by a deficiency of sphingomyelinase?
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Niemann-Pick disease results from a deficiency of sphingomyelinase that causes accumulation of sphingomyelin in the cells of the reticuloendothelial and central nervous systems. As in Gaucher disease, there is an infantile form of Niemann-Pick disease that is rapidly fatal.
How common is Niemann-Pick disease?
The incidence within the Ashkenazi population is approximately 1 in 40,000 individuals. Combined, Niemann-Pick disease types C1 and C2 are estimated to affect 1 in 150,000 individuals; however, type C1 is by far the more common type, accounting for 95 percent of cases.

How is Niemann-Pick disease C diagnosed?
Ultrasound can detect the enlarged liver and spleen that’s caused by type C. And amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling may be used to confirm a diagnosis of Niemann-Pick.
Is Niemann-Pick disease type C fatal?
Niemann-Pick type C is always fatal. However, life expectancy depends on when symptoms begin. If symptoms appear in infancy, your child isn’t likely to live past the age of 5. If symptoms appear after 5 years of age, your child is likely to live until about 20 years of age.

What is acid sphingomyelinase deficiency?
Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) is a rare progressive genetic disorder that results from a deficiency of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase, which is required to break down (metabolize) a fatty substance (lipid) called sphingomyelin.
What is Hunter syndrome disease?
Hunter syndrome is a very rare, inherited genetic disorder caused by a missing or malfunctioning enzyme. In Hunter syndrome, the body doesn’t have enough of the enzyme iduronate 2-sulfatase.
How does Niemann-Pick disease affect lysosomes?
Niemann-Pick disease is a rare genetic condition that affects many of the body’s organs and systems, including the central nervous system. It is one of about 50 diseases classified as lysosomal storage disorders (LSD), where a genetic variation disrupts the normal activity of lysosomes in human cells.
Is Gaucher disease a metabolic disease?
Gaucher disease is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder in which deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase results in the accumulation of harmful quantities of certain fats (lipids), specifically the glycolipid glucocerebroside, throughout the body especially within the bone marrow, spleen and liver.