Adrenoleukodystrophy added as the 48th disorder
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is rolling out today a test for adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) for all newborn babies statewide. ALD is a rare hereditary disorder that affects the brain, nervous system, and adrenal gland. It affects approximately 1 in 20,000 births.
“Babies born with adrenoleukodystrophy have normal brains at birth. However, progression of the disorder without treatment can be fatal,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “By adding ALD to the Illinois newborn screening panel, every baby born in Illinois will be tested for ALD. Babies who test positive for this disorder can then receive therapies during the early stage of the disease.”     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.