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Kevin had a birth defect called Morquio Syndrome. Morquio Syndrome is an

inherited disease in which a person does not have enough of a substance called

glycosaminoglycans. Glycosaminoglycans break down long chains of sugar

molecules, called keratan sulfate. The syndrome belongs in a bigger group

called mucopolysaccharidoses, also known as MPS IV. One type of Morquio

Syndrome is Type A, which means the person lacks the enzyme galactosamine 6 sulfatase. The other type, Type B, means the enzyme beta- galactosidase is

lacking. If the body lacks either of these enzymes, it can not break down the

glycosaminoglycan, so it builds up in the body and brain, which can damage organs. The syndrome occurs in one of every 200,000 births. The only way a child can get Morquio is if both parents either have it, or are carriers because it is a autosomal recessive trait.

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13y ago

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