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

Niemann-Pick disease

Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) is a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which harmful quantities of a fatty substance (lipids) accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and brain.[1][2] Symptoms may include lack of muscle coordination, brain degeneration, learning problems, loss of muscle tone, increased sensitivity to touch, spasticity, feeding and swallowing difficulties, slurred speech, and an enlarged liver and spleen.[1] Inheritance is autosomal recessive.[2][3]

Niemann-Pick disease is divided into four main types according to the altered (mutated) gene and the signs and symptoms:[1][3]
  • Type A, caused by mutations in the SMPD1 gene. It is the most severe form, occurs in early infancy and is seen primarily in Jewish families.
  • Type B , caused by mutations in the SMPD1 gene. Usually occurs in children, and affects the liver, spleen and lungs (visceral form), but generally does not affect the brain.
  • Type C1, caused by mutations in the NPC1 gene. May occur at any age and affect the brain and the viscera.
  • Type C2, caused by homozygous mutation in the NPC2 gene. Similar to type C1, but more severe, and mostly affecting the lungs.
Some classify type A and B as "acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) deficiency".[4] NP type D is now considered as type C (when affected people are from Nova Scotia, Canada); other rarer types have being described.[3][2]

There is currently no effective treatment for type A. Bone marrow transplantation, enzyme replacement and gene therapies may be helpful for people with type B.[1]  A medication called Miglustat has been shown to stabilize certain neurological symptoms in people with type C. Currently other treatments are under clinical investigation.[2][5]
Last updated: 4/9/2018

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.
  • 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.

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.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Niemann-Pick disease:
    International Niemann-Pick Disease Registry (INPDR)
     

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

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  1. NINDS Niemann-Pick Disease Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Niemann-Pick-Disease-Information-Page.
  2. Porter FD, Dang Do AN. Niemann Pick Disease Type C. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). 2017; https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/niemann-pick-disease-type-c/.
  3. Niemann-Pick disease. Genetics Home Reference (GHR). 2015; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=niemannpickdisease.
  4. Wasserstein MP & Schuchman EH. Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency:. GeneReviews. 2015; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1370/.
  5. Evans WRH, Hendriksz CJ. Niemann–Pick type C disease – the tip of the iceberg? A review of neuropsychiatric presentation, diagnosis and treatment. BJPsych Bulletin. 2017; 41(2):109-114. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376728/.
  6. Niemann-Pick disease. MedlinePlus. 2016; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001207.htm.