MLD is a recessive genetic disorder, which means that each parent must pass on one copy of the recessive allele to the
child, which will result in the child having the disease. For this to happen, the parents will either have MLD or be carriers
of the recessive allele.
- Males and females are affected equally
- Two carrier parents have
- a 25% chance with each pregnancy to have an affected child
- a 50% chance with each pregnancy to have a child who is unaffected but is a carrier of MLD
- a 25% chance with each pregnancy to have a child who unaffected and is not a carrier
How MLD is passed down in families.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy is rare and has a worldwide incidence of in 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 160,000 births. However, the incidence is reported to be significantly higher in isolated populations including Habbanite Jews (1 in 75), certain Arab groups in Israel (1 in 8,000), and populations from the western portion of the Navajo Nation (1 in 2,500).
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