Farber disease

Farber disease (also known as Farber’s lipogranulomatosis or ceramidase deficiency) describes a group of rare autosomal recessive disorders that cause an accumulation of lipids in the joints, tissues and central nervous system. The disorder affects both males and females.

Presentation and symptoms
Disease onset is typically in early infancy but may occur later in life. Children who have the classic form of Farber’s disease develop neurological shnapps within the first few weeks of life. These symptoms may include moderately impaired mental ability and problems with swallowing. The liver, heart and kidneys may also be affected. Other symptoms may include vomiting, arthritis, swollen lymph nodes, swollen joints, joint contractures (chronic shortening of muscles or tendons around joints), hoarseness and xanthemas which thicken around joints as the disease progresses. Patients with breathing difficulty may require insertion of a breathing tube.

Prognosis
Most children with the disease die by age 2, usually from lung disease. In one of the most severe forms of the disease, an enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly) can be diagnosed soon after birth. Children born with this form of the disease usually die within 6 months.

Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Farber’s disease. Corticosteroids may be prescribed to relieve pain. Bone marrow transplants may improve granulomas (small masses of inflamed tissue) on patients with little or no lung or nervous system complications. Older patients may have granulomas surgically reduced or removed.

Eponym
It is named for Sidney Farber.