PEROXISOMAL DISORDERS - A REVIEW

The peroxisomal disorders represent a group of inherited diseases in m an in which there is an impairment in one or more peroxisomal function s. The disorders known up to now are usually subdivided into three gro ups depending upon whether there is a more generalized, multiple or si ngle loss of peroxisomal functions. In this paper we will briefly desc ribe the peroxisomal disorders known thus far with the biochemical abn ormalities identified. Furthermore, we will describe a straightforward approach for the postnatal identification of patients suspected to su ffer from a peroxisomal disorder which is of great importance since re liable prenatal diagnostic methods have become available for each of t hese disorders.