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Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome

Reviewed November 2008

What is Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is a condition in which fats (lipids) are stored abnormally in the body. Affected individuals cannot break down certain fats called triglycerides, and these fats accumulate in organs and tissues, including skin, liver, muscles, intestine, eyes, and ears. People with this condition also have dry, scaly skin (ichthyosis), which is usually present at birth. Additional features of this condition include an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly), clouding of the lens of the eyes (cataracts), difficulty with coordinating movements (ataxia), hearing loss, short stature, muscle weakness (myopathy), involuntary movement of the eyes (nystagmus), and mild mental retardation.

The signs and symptoms vary greatly among individuals with Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. Some people may have ichthyosis only, while others may have problems affecting many areas of the body.

How common is Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is a rare condition; its incidence is unknown.

What genes are related to Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

Mutations in the ABHD5 gene cause Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. The ABHD5 gene provides instructions for making a protein that turns on (activates) the ATGL enzyme, which breaks down triglycerides. Triglycerides are the main source of stored energy in cells. These fats must be broken down into simpler molecules called fatty acids before they can be used for energy.

ABHD5 gene mutations impair the protein's ability to activate the ATGL enzyme. An inactive enzyme makes the breakdown of triglycerides impossible, causing them to accumulate in tissues throughout the body. The buildup of triglycerides results in the signs and symptoms of Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome.

How do people inherit Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Where can I find information about treatment for Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

You may find information on treatment or management of Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome or some of its symptoms in the links below, particularly the links for MedlinePlus Encyclopedia, Educational resources, and Patient support.

Where can I find additional information about Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

You may find the following resources about Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome helpful. These materials are written for the general public.

  • MedlinePlus - Health information
    • Encyclopedia: Ichthyosis vulgaris (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001451.htm)
    • Health Topic: Cataract (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cataract.html)
    • Health Topic: Metabolic Disorders (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/metabolicdisorders.html)
  • Additional NIH Resources - National Institutes of Health
    • National Eye Institute: Cataract (http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp)
    • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Lipid Storage Diseases Information Page (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lipid_storage_diseases/lipid_storage_diseases.htm)
  • Educational resources - Information pages
    • British Association of Dermatologists: Ichthyosis (http://www.bad.org.uk/site/830/default.aspx)
    • Cleveland Clinic: What You Need To Know About Triglycerides (http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Triglycerides/hic_What_You_Need_To_Know_About_Triglycerides.aspx)
    • Orphanet (http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=EN&Expert=165)
  • Patient support - For patients and families
    • Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST) (http://www.scalyskin.org/)
    • Hearing Loss Association of America (http://www.hearingloss.org/)
    • WE MOVE (Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders) (http://www.wemove.org/)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.

  • Gene Tests - DNA tests ordered by healthcare professionals (http://www.genetests.org/query?testid=245416)
  • PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=PubMed&term=((chanarin-dorfman+syndrome[TIAB])+OR+(neutral+lipid+storage+disease+with+ichthyosis[TIAB]))+AND+english[la]+AND+human[mh]&orig_db=PubMed&filters=ON&pmfilter_EDatLimit=3600+Days)
  • OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=275630)

What other names do people use for Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

  • CDS
  • Chanarin-Dorfman disease
  • Ichthyotic neutral lipid storage disease
  • neutral lipid storage disease with ichthyosis
  • Triglyceride storage disease with ichthyosis
  • triglyceride storage disease with impaired long-chain fatty acid oxidation

See How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.

What if I still have specific questions about Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

  • See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.
  • Ask the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/).
  • Submit your question to Ask the Geneticist (http://www.askthegen.org/).

What glossary definitions help with understanding Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome?

acids ; ataxia ; autosomal ; autosomal recessive ; cataract ; cell ; enzyme ; erythroderma ; fatty acids ; gene ; ichthyosiform ; ichthyosis ; incidence ; intestine ; involuntary ; lipid ; mental retardation ; molecule ; mutation ; nystagmus ; oxidation ; protein ; recessive ; short stature ; sign ; stature ; symptom ; syndrome ; tissue ; triglycerides

You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary).

References
  • Bruno C, Bertini E, Di Rocco M, Cassandrini D, Ruffa G, De Toni T, Seri M, Spada M, Li Volti G, D'Amico A, Trucco F, Arca M, Casali C, Angelini C, Dimauro S, Minetti C. Clinical and genetic characterization of Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 May 16;369(4):1125-8. Epub 2008 Mar 11. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18339307)
  • Bruno C, Dimauro S. Lipid storage myopathies. Curr Opin Neurol. 2008 Oct;21(5):601-6. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18769256)
  • Elias PM, Williams ML, Holleran WM, Jiang YJ, Schmuth M. Pathogenesis of permeability barrier abnormalities in the ichthyoses: inherited disorders of lipid metabolism. J Lipid Res. 2008 Apr;49(4):697-714. Epub 2008 Feb 2. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18245815)
  • Lass A, Zimmermann R, Haemmerle G, Riederer M, Schoiswohl G, Schweiger M, Kienesberger P, Strauss JG, Gorkiewicz G, Zechner R. Adipose triglyceride lipase-mediated lipolysis of cellular fat stores is activated by CGI-58 and defective in Chanarin-Dorfman Syndrome. Cell Metab. 2006 May;3(5):309-19. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16679289)
  • Lefèvre C, Jobard F, Caux F, Bouadjar B, Karaduman A, Heilig R, Lakhdar H, Wollenberg A, Verret JL, Weissenbach J, Ozgüc M, Lathrop M, Prud'homme JF, Fischer J. Mutations in CGI-58, the gene encoding a new protein of the esterase/lipase/thioesterase subfamily, in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2001 Nov;69(5):1002-12. Epub 2001 Oct 2. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11590543)
  • Pujol RM, Gilaberte M, Toll A, Florensa L, Lloreta J, González-Enseñat MA, Fischer J, Azon A. Erythrokeratoderma variabilis-like ichthyosis in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. Br J Dermatol. 2005 Oct;153(4):838-41. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16181472)

 

The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.

 
Reviewed: November 2008
Published: January 12, 2009