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Treatment of galactosemia
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
Galactosemia. Type I
The main method of treatment of galactosemia I is diet therapy. The use of lactose-free mixtures leads to rapid reduction of the main clinical symptoms and restoration of liver function. However, as the extensive clinical experience of the treatment of the disease shows, a large number of patients adhering to a strict diet nevertheless have neurological and endocrinological complications.
Galactosemia. Type II
Treatment consists in the cancellation of dairy products. At the beginning of treatment after 2-3 weeks cataract may disappear. If the diagnosis is late and cataract is tight, surgical intervention is necessary. Cataract can occur repeatedly if the diet is not respected.
Galactosemia, type III
Patients with severe enzyme deficiency can not synthesize galactose from glucose and therefore are galactose-dependent. The complete elimination of galactose leads to glycosylation disorders of proteins, which are the most important components of the nervous tissue, therefore a diet with a restriction of galactose should be recommended.