Niemann-Pick disease type C2

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Other Names:

NPC2

Categories:

Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Eye diseases; Metabolic disorders; Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Eye diseases; Metabolic disorders; Nervous System Diseases; RDCRN See More

This disease is grouped under:

Niemann-Pick disease

Summary Summary

Niemann-Pick disease type C2 is a rare metabolic condition that affects many different parts of the body. Although signs and symptoms can develop at any age (infancy through adulthood), most affected people develop features of the condition during childhood. Neimann-Pick disease type C2 may be characterized by ataxia (difficulty coordinating movements), vertical supranuclear gaze palsy (inability to move the eyes vertically), poor muscle tone, hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen), interstitial lung disease, intellectual decline, seizures, speech problems, and difficulty swallowing. Niemann-Pick disease type C2 is caused by changes (mutations) in the NPC2 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.^[1]^[2]^[3] There is, unfortunately, no cure for Niemann-Pick disease type C2. Treatment is based on the signs and symptoms present in each person.^[2]^[3]

Last updated: 4/7/2016

Symptoms Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms	Other Names	Learn More: HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormal circulating cholesterol concentration	Abnormality of cholesterol metabolism	0003107
Ataxia		0001251
Autosomal recessive inheritance		0000007
Bone-marrow foam cells		0004333
Cataplexy		0002524
Dementia	Dementia, progressive Progressive dementia [ more ]	0000726
Dysarthria	Difficulty articulating speech	0001260
Dysphagia	Poor swallowing Swallowing difficulties Swallowing difficulty [ more ]	0002015
Dystonia		0001332
Fetal ascites		0001791
Foam cells in visceral organs and CNS		0003640
Generalized hypotonia	Decreased muscle tone Low muscle tone [ more ]	0001290
Global developmental delay		0001263
Hepatomegaly	Enlarged liver	0002240
Intellectual disability	Mental deficiency Mental retardation Mental retardation, nonspecific Mental-retardation [ more ]	0001249
Loss of speech		0002371
Low cholesterol esterification rate		0003349
Muscular hypotonia	Low or weak muscle tone	0001252
Neurofibrillary tangles		0002185
Onset	Age symptoms begin	0003674
Perseveration		0030223
Prolonged neonatal jaundice	Prolonged yellowing of skin in newborn	0006579
Psychosis		0000709
Respiratory failure		0002878
Respiratory insufficiency	Respiratory impairment	0002093
Sea-blue histiocytosis		0001982
Seizure		0001250
Spasticity	Involuntary muscle stiffness, contraction, or spasm	0001257
Splenomegaly	Increased spleen size	0001744
Stereotypy	Repetitive movements Repetitive or self-injurious behavior [ more ]	0000733
Vertical supranuclear gaze palsy		0000511

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Last updated: 1/1/2021

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Diagnosis Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from Genetics Home Reference.

Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Patient Registry

A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease type C2. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

Registries for Niemann-Pick disease type C2:
Natural History Study - Niemann-Pick Disease, type C
International Niemann-Pick Disease Registry (INPDR)
The Lysosomal Disease Network is a team of doctors, nurses, research coordinators, and research labs throughout the U.S., working together to improve the lives of people with this condition through research. The Lysosomal Disease Network has a registry for patients who wish to be contacted about clinical research opportunities.
The Sterol and Isoprenoid Diseases Consortium (STAIR) is a team of doctors, nurses, research coordinators, and research labs throughout the U.S., working together to improve the lives of people with this condition through research. The Steroid and Isoprenoid Research Consortium (STAIR) has a registry for patients who wish to be contacted about clinical research opportunities.

For more information on the registry see: https://www.rarediseasesnetwork.org/cms/stair/Get-Involved/ContactRegistry

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation
4729 E Sunrise Dr. #327
Tucson, AZ 85718-4535
Telephone: 520-577-5106
Fax: 520-577-5212
E-mail: promano@parseghian.org
Website: http://www.parseghian.org
Hide and Seek Foundation for Lysosomal Storage Disease Research
6475 East Pacific Coast Highway
Suite 466
Long Beach, CA 90803
Toll-free: (844) 762-7672
E-mail: info@hideandseek.org
Website: https://hideandseek.org
Metabolic Support UK
5 Hilliards Court
Sandpiper Way
Chester Business Park
Chester, CH4 9QP United Kingdom
Toll-free: 0800 652 3181
Telephone: 0845 241 2173
E-mail: https://www.metabolicsupportuk.org/contact-us
Website: https://www.metabolicsupportuk.org
National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 49
401 Madison Avenue, Suite B
Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538
Toll-free: 877-CURE-NPC (287-3672)
Telephone: 920-563-0930
Fax: 920-563-0931
E-mail: nnpdf@nnpdf.org
Website: http://www.nnpdf.org
National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association
2001 Beacon Street
Suite 204
Brighton, MA 02135
Toll-free: 800-90-NTSAD (906-8723)
Telephone: 617-277-4463
Fax: 617-277-0134
E-mail: info@ntsad.org
Website: https://www.ntsad.org/

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Living With Living With

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

The Social Security Administration has included this condition in their Compassionate Allowances Initiative. This initiative speeds up the processing of disability claims for applicants with certain medical conditions that cause severe disability. More information about Compassionate Allowances and applying for Social Security disability is available online.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
MedlinePlus Genetics contains information on Niemann-Pick disease type C2. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Niemann-Pick disease type C2. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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