Aboul Nasr and Fateen (2004) performed prenatal diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type III in three pregnant females with previously affected child or more with one of the mucopolysaccharidoses types. All the pregnant females were subjected to history taking, pedigree construction, clinical examination and ultrasound scan. Proper counseling was done and patients were scheduled for prenatal diagnosis. Amniocentesis was done at the 15th week gestational age in two cases to withdraw 10 ml of amniotic fluid for the analysis of the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) by the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DEP). Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was done at 11-12 weeks gestational age in one case to perform the specific enzyme assay fluorimetrically which was developed during the study. In one pregnancy, a normal fetus was detected. The other two cases were affected as tested by amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, respectively. Aboul Nasr and Fateen (2004) indicated that couples, with an affected mucopolysaccharidosis child, are eager to have a normal child and are keen to do prenatal diagnosis.

Mossman et al. (1983) described a Lebanese family affected with Sanfilippo disease. Two of the unaffected parents' siblings died before enzyme based diagnosis could be performed. For their third pregnancy, amniocentesis was performed. GAG analysis showed excess amount of heparan sulphate, and the pregnancy was terminated. 

Zhao et al. (1996) used SSCP analysis of PCR-amplified segments of genomic DNA and found homozygosity for a G-to-A transition resulting in substitution of his for arg674 in 2 patients of Arab origin from Palestine with Sanfilippo B syndrome. The homozygous R674H mutation was not shown to be a polymorphism by allele-specific nucleotide analysis of genomic DNA from 47 Arab individuals from Palestine and in 53 individuals of other ethnic groups.

Mossman et al. (1983) described a Saudi family affected with Sanfilippo disease. Two of the unaffected parents' siblings were affected. GAG analysis of amniotic fluid in a subsequent pregnancy showed normal results from enzyme assays, and the pregnancy was taken to term. 

In 1990, Fensom et al. reported a 21 months old male child, born to Syrian consanguineous parents with delayed speech, abdominal enlargement, dysmorphic facies, enlarged liver and spleen, anterior breaking of lower dorsal and lumbar vertebrae, and enlarged J-shaped scull. The patient had one normal 5 year old brother.

[Fensom AH, Kimonis V, Fathalla M, Fahmy NA, Sermin A, Benson PF, Auersperg E. Clinical heterogeneity in four unrelated patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type II B (San Filippo disease type III B) from the Arabic continent. Emirates Med J 1990; 8:129-33.]

[See also: United Arab Emirates > Fensom et al. (1990)]

Chaabouni et al. (2001) conducted a retrospective study over a period of 12 years (1988-1999) in the pediatric department of Sfax University Hospital. One case of mucopolysaccharidosis type III B was confirmed by an enzymatic proportioning. The clinical examination included a craniofacial dysmorphy besides other symptoms. The therapeutic treatment was limited to the symptomatic measures with genetic consulting and antenatal diagnosis.

In 1990, Fensom et al. reported a 6 year old girl from the United Arab Emirates with mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB. She was the product of a consanguineous marriage and showed coarse facies, mild hirsutism, broad hands, hepatomegaly, severely delayed speech, and behavioral problems. The patient was one of 13 sibs and had a sister who died at one year of age with diarrhea. Fensom et al. (1990) established the diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB in their patients by demonstrating heparin sulphate in the urine and by enzyme assay.

[Fensom AH, Kimonis V, Fathalla M, Fahmy NA, Sermin A, Benson PF, Auersperg E. Clinical heterogeneity in four unrelated patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type II B (San Filippo disease type III B) from the Arabic continent. Emirates Med J 1990; 8:129-33.]

In 1990, Fensom et al. reported a 16 months old Yemeni boy who showed delayed speech, delay in motor development, and hepatosplenomagaly. He had a 4 year old sister with mental handicap and a normal brother.

[Fensom AH, Kimonis V, Fathalla M, Fahmy NA, Sermin A, Benson PF, Auersperg E. Clinical heterogeneity in four unrelated patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type II B (San Filippo disease type III B) from the Arabic continent. Emirates Med J 1990; 8:129-33.]