Refsum disease
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Refsum disease is an autosomal recessive[5] neurological disease that results in the over-accumulation of phytanic acid in cells and tissues. It is one of several disorders named after Norwegian neurologist Sigvald Bernhard Refsum (1907–1991).[6][7] Refsum disease typically is adolescent onset and is diagnosed by above average levels of phytanic acid. Humans obtain the necessary phytanic acid primarily through diet. It is still unclear what function phytanic acid plays physiologically in humans, but has been found to regulate fatty acid metabolism in the liver of mice.[8]
Quick Facts Other names, Specialty ...
Refsum disease | |
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Other names | Adult Refsum disease, heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis, phytanic acid oxidase deficiency and phytanic acid storage disease,[1][2][3][4] |
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Phytanic acid | |
Specialty | Neurology ![]() |
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