Myelin repair

[judii2009]

My niece is 2 yrs old and was diagnosed with dysmelinating white matter disease, is there a treatment? is there a way to repair or generate the myelin sheaths?

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. This disorder may affect her speech ability and apart from MRI neurologist can order further investigation after further clinical assessment. Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for these disorders only healthy diet, vitamin supplements, physiotherapy and symptomatic treatment may help progression of the disorder. Hope this helps.

[judii2009]

Thanks for your prompt reply.  Can you please indicate how can we stop further myelin degeneration?.  we did consult a neurologist and he is the one who diagnosed the dysmelinating white matter disease after having a brain MRI .The patient is doing physical therapy to enable her to walk as this was the main reason for our worry.
My other questions are:
1-Will this disease affect her speech ability?  she says few words and her mental ability is ok.  
2-What other tests are to be done to specify the exact disease?

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine her I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that she needs, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about her health concern.

Demyelinating disease could be due to multiple sclerosis (most common), optic neuritis, devic’s disease, GBS and encephalomyelitis (post-infection). Therefore, treatment depends upon treating the individual disorder and subsequent symptoms. There is no such permanent cure is available to repair myelin though further myelin degeneration can be stopped/slowed with medications. Further treatment may be providing symptomatic relief. If she suffers continuous symptoms of delirium, seizures coma, loss of muscle coordination & strength, normal sensation and vision, please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away who will evaluate the possibilities here and can provide her further treatment. Hope this information proves helpful to you.

Take Care & Regards!!!