National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Galactose epimerase deficiency


Other Names:
UDP-Galactose-4-epimerase deficiency; GALE deficiency; Galactosemia 3; UDP-Galactose-4-epimerase deficiency; GALE deficiency; Galactosemia 3; Epimerase deficiency galactosemia; Galactosemia type 3; GALE-D; Uridine diphosphate galactose-4-epimerase deficiency See More
Categories:
This disease is grouped under:
The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 79238

Definition
A very rare, moderate to severe form of galactosemia characterized by moderate to severe signs of impaired galactose metabolism.

Epidemiology
Overall prevalence is not known but the disorder is thought to be very rare. Annual incidence is not known.

Clinical description
The disorder represents a continuum from peripheral to generalized states with corresponding disease severity. When ingesting breast milk or lactose-containing formula, patients may develop hypotonia, poor feeding, vomiting, weight loss, jaundice, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, liver disorders, aminoaciduria, impaired growth, cataracts and cognitive deficiency. In severe cases, the disease can be life-threatening.

Etiology
Galactose epimerase deficiency is caused by mutations in the GALE gene (1p36) encoding the UDP-galactose 4-epimerase enzyme.

Genetic counseling
Galactose epimerase deficiency is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Prognosis
Occurrence of these symptoms can be resolved or prevented by implementing a galactose-restricted diet.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 12/1/2011

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Aminoaciduria
High urine amino acid levels
Increased levels of animo acids in urine
[ more ] 		0003355
Cataract
Clouding of the lens of the eye
Cloudy lens
[ more ] 		0000518
Feeding difficulties
Feeding problems
Poor feeding
[ more ] 		0011968
Global developmental delay 0001263
Growth delay
Delayed growth
Growth deficiency
Growth failure
Growth retardation
Poor growth
Retarded growth
[ more ] 		0001510
Hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver
0002240
Impairment of galactose metabolism 0004915
Intellectual disability
Mental deficiency
Mental retardation
Mental retardation, nonspecific
Mental-retardation
[ more ] 		0001249
Jaundice
Yellow skin
Yellowing of the skin
[ more ] 		0000952
Muscular hypotonia
Low or weak muscle tone
0001252
Nausea and vomiting 0002017
Splenomegaly
Increased spleen size
0001744
Weight loss 0001824
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Delayed gross motor development
Delayed motor skills
0002194
Delayed speech and language development
Deficiency of speech development
Delayed language development
Delayed speech
Delayed speech acquisition
Delayed speech development
Impaired speech and language development
Impaired speech development
Language delay
Language delayed
Language development deficit
Late-onset speech development
Poor language development
Speech and language delay
Speech and language difficulties
Speech delay
[ more ] 		0000750
Failure to thrive
Faltering weight
Weight faltering
[ more ] 		0001508
Galactosuria
Increased urinary galactose level
0012023
Generalized hypotonia
Decreased muscle tone
Low muscle tone
[ more ] 		0001290
Hypergalactosemia 0012024
Sensorineural hearing impairment 0000407
Vomiting
Throwing up
0002013
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Newborn Screening

  • An ACTion (ACT) sheet is available for this condition that describes the short-term actions a health professional should follow when an infant has a positive newborn screening result. ACT sheets were developed by experts in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics.
  • An Algorithm flowchart is available for this condition for determining the final diagnosis in an infant with a positive newborn screening result. Algorithms are developed by experts in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics.
  • Baby's First Test is the nation's newborn screening education center for families and providers. This site provides information and resources about screening at the local, state, and national levels and serves as the Clearinghouse for newborn screening information.
  • The Newborn Screening Coding and Terminology Guide has information on the standard codes used for newborn screening tests. Using these standards helps compare data across different laboratories. This resource was created by the National Library of Medicine.
  • National Newborn Screening and Global Resource Center (NNSGRC) provides information and resources in the area of newborn screening and genetics to benefit health professionals, the public health community, consumers and government officials.

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Galactose epimerase deficiency. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Education Resources

  • The Genetics Education Materials for School Success (GEMSS) aims to assure that all children with genetic health conditions succeed in school-life. Their Web site offers general and condition-specific education resources to help teachers and parents better understand the needs of students who have genetic conditions.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Galactose epimerase deficiency. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Galactose epimerase deficiency. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.