Adrenoleukodystrophy Research Paper

Adrenoleukodystrophy (or ALD) is a very rare disease which is passed down through genetics. How it works is it is the breakdown or loss of myelin; the fatty covering surrounding nerve cells in the brain, and progressive dysfunction of the adrenal gland. It is most common in young men and 1 in every 17,000 people have it. When ALD is suspected based on clinical symptoms, the initial testing usually includes plasma very long chain fatty acid determination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The concentration of unsaturated VLCFA, particularly 26 carbon chains are significantly elevated in males with ALD, even prior to the development of other symptoms confirmation of ALD after positive plasma VLCFA determination usually involves molecular