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Adachi T, El-Hattab AW, Jain R, Nogales Crespo KA, Quirland Lazo CI, Scarpa M, Summar M, Wattanasirichaigoon D. Enhancing Equitable Access to Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment around the World: A Review of Evidence, Policies, and Challenges. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4732. [PMID: 36981643 PMCID: PMC10049067 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This document provides a comprehensive summary of evidence on the current situation of rare diseases (RDs) globally and regionally, including conditions, practices, policies, and regulations, as well as the challenges and barriers faced by RD patients, their families, and caregivers. The document builds on a review of academic literature and policies and a process of validation and feedback by a group of seven experts from across the globe. Panelists were selected based on their academic merit, expertise, and knowledge regarding the RD environment. The document is divided into five main sections: (1) methodology and objective; (2) background and context; (3) overview of the current situation and key challenges related to RDs covering six dimensions: burden of disease, patient journey, social impact, disease management, RD-related policies, and research and development; (4) recommendations; and (5) conclusions. The recommendations are derived from the discussion undertaken by the experts on the findings of this review and provide a set of actionable solutions to the challenges and barriers to improving access to RD diagnosis and treatment around the world. The recommendations can support critical decision-making, guiding efforts by a broad range of RDs stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, manufacturers, researchers, and patient advocacy groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeya Adachi
- Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Medical Regulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
- United Japanese-Researchers Around-the-World (UJA), Isehara 259-1143, Japan
| | - Ayman W. El-Hattab
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Organization for Rare Diseases, Dubai 500767, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Sharjah, Sharjah 72772, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ritu Jain
- Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DEBRA), Singapore 059811, Singapore
- Asia Pacific Alliance of Rare Disease Organizations (APARDO), Singapore 188976, Singapore
- Language and Communication Centre, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | | | - Camila I. Quirland Lazo
- Health Technology Assessment Unit, Cancer Research Department, Arturo López Perez Foundation, Santiago 7500921, Chile
- School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 080193 Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Maurizio Scarpa
- European Reference Network for Hereditary Metabolic Diseases (MetabERN), 33100 Udine, Italy
- Regional Coordinating Center for Rare Diseases Friuli Venezia Giulia, Udine University Hospital, 33100 Udine, Italy
- Brains for Brain Foundation, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Marshall Summar
- The Translational Science Training Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Maryland, MD 20814, USA
- Children’s National Medical Centre, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Quincy, MA 02169, USA
- Children’s National Rare Disease Institute, Washington, DC 20012, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Duangrurdee Wattanasirichaigoon
- Thai Rare Disease Foundation (ThaiRDF), Bangkok 10230, Thailand
- Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) of Thailand, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Rare Disease Working Committee, Thai National Health Security Office (NHSO), Bangkok 10210, Thailand
- Sub-Working Committee for Rare Disease Medicine, Thailand National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), National Drug Policy Division, Food and Drug Administration, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
- Medical Genetics Network, Genetics Society of Thailand, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Thailand Medical Genetics and Genomics Association (TMGGA), Bangkok 10510, Thailand
- Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics (APSHG), Singapore 229899, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Zimmermann BM, Eichinger J, Baumgartner MR. A systematic review of moral reasons on orphan drug reimbursement. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:292. [PMID: 34193232 PMCID: PMC8247078 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01925-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of market approvals of orphan medicinal products (OMPs) has been increasing steadily in the last 3 decades. While OMPs can offer a unique chance for patients suffering from rare diseases, they are usually very expensive. The growing number of approved OMPs increases their budget impact despite their low prevalence, making it pressing to find solutions to ethical challenges on how to fairly allocate scarce healthcare resources under this context. One potential solution could be to grant OMPs special status when considering them for reimbursement, meaning that they are subject to different, and less stringent criteria than other drugs. This study aims to provide a systematic analysis of moral reasons for and against such a special status for the reimbursement of OMPs in publicly funded healthcare systems from a multidisciplinary perspective. RESULTS With a systematic review of reasons, we identified 39 reasons represented in 243 articles (scientific and grey literature) for and against special status for the reimbursement of OMPs, then categorized them into nine topics. Taking a multidisciplinary perspective, we found that most articles came from health policy (n = 103) and health economics (n = 49). More articles took the position for a special status of OMPs (n = 97) than those against it (n = 31) and there was a larger number of reasons identified in favour (29 reasons) than against (10 reasons) this special status. CONCLUSION Results suggest that OMP reimbursement issues should be assessed and analysed from a multidisciplinary perspective. Despite the higher occurrence of reasons and articles in favour of a special status, there is no clear-cut solution for this ethical challenge. The binary perspective of whether or not OMPs should be granted special status oversimplifies the issue: both OMPs and rare diseases are too heterogeneous in their characteristics for such a binary perspective. Thus, the scientific debate should focus less on the question of disease prevalence but rather on how the important variability of different OMPs concerning e.g. target population, cost-effectiveness, level of evidence or mechanism of action could be meaningfully addressed and implemented in Health Technology Assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina M Zimmermann
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
- Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Johanna Eichinger
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias R Baumgartner
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Kacetl J, Marešová P, Maskuriy R, Selamat A. Ethical Questions Linked to Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs - A Systematic Review. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2020; 13:2125-2148. [PMID: 33116992 PMCID: PMC7568613 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s260641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rare or orphan diseases have become an important target of healthcare activities all over the world. The study aims to identify ethical questions linked to rare diseases and orphan drugs and ethical principles or approaches applied to solve them. Methods Relevant peer-reviewed articles were identified by means of a systematic review. The literature was searched from 20 May 2020 to 20 June 2020. The search included the databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (2010 – April 2020). A total of 4,139 papers related to rare diseases were identified; with 1,205 papers obtained from Scopus; 2,476 papers from PubMed; and 458 from Web of Science with keyword search “ethics” AND “rare” AND “disease”, “ethical” AND “orphan”, “ethical” AND “orphan” AND “drug”, and “ethical” AND “rare“ AND “disease”. Finally, XX studies were chosen for further analysis. Results The main findings reveal five main ethical issues. The most essential one shows that funding research and development in the field of orphan drugs poses an almost impossible dilemma. Other issues include the significance of non-economic values like compassion and beneficence in decision-making related to orphan drugs and rare diseases; the identification of limits to labelling diseases as rare; barriers to global, supranational and international cooperation; and last but not least, determining and establishing panels of decision-makers. Conclusions A strictly global approach would be the most appropriate way to deal with rare diseases. Nonetheless, international, let alone global, cooperation seems to be completely beyond the reach of the current international community, although the EU, for instance, has a centralized procedure for labelling orphan drugs. This deficit in international cooperation can be partly explained by the fact that the current technologically globalized world still lacks globally accepted ethical values and rules. This is further aggravated by unresolved international and intercultural conflicts. In addition, the sub-interests of various parties as well as the lack of desire to deal with other people’s problems need to be taken into account. The aforementioned problems are difficult to avoid. Nevertheless, let us be cautiously optimistic. At least, there are people who raise ethical questions about rare diseases and orphan drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Kacetl
- Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Marešová
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Raihan Maskuriy
- Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Department of Architecture, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Ali Selamat
- Media and Games Center of Excellence (MagicX), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia.,School of Computing, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Malaysia
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Limitations and Challenges of Conducting Budget Impact Analyses in Rare Diseases: A Case Study of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Value Health Reg Issues 2020; 23:70-76. [PMID: 32892111 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There are challenges in conducting a budget impact analysis (BIA) for rare disorders. Through this case study, we present some challenges and limitations of a BIA of managing patients affected with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). We explored a conceptual basis and barriers for health services researchers interested in quantifying budget impacts of rare disease management program (DMP). METHODS We developed a static budget impact cost calculator model in Microsoft Excel, obtaining the clinical impact of a DMP from the literature and translating it into costs using OLDW. Cost inputs and resource use was obtained from 2010 to 2015 claims data using the OLDW. Insurers' payments were calculated and categorized into the following cost buckets: physician visits, emergency room visits, inpatients stays, augmentation therapy, other prescription drugs costs, and other costs. RESULTS Data were based on 6832 patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency identified among over 21 million OLDW enrollees observed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. The introduction of a DMP was estimated to decrease costs of the management of patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency by $13.5 million over 5 years. The savings attributed to the program over the 5-year time horizon are due to 2555 exacerbations, 5180 emergency room visits, 9342 specialist visits, and 105 358 general practitioner visits avoided. CONCLUSIONS A comprehensive DMP for a rare condition might provide cost savings to a health plan. BIAs for rare disease may be more informative if they focus on DMPs rather than on individual drugs.
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Puentes-Tellez MA, Lerma-Barbosa PA, Garzón-Jaramillo RG, Suarez DA, Espejo-Mojica AJ, Guevara JM, Echeverri OY, Solano-Galarza D, Uribe-Ardila A, Alméciga-Díaz CJ. A perspective on research, diagnosis, and management of lysosomal storage disorders in Colombia. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03635. [PMID: 32258481 PMCID: PMC7113438 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of about 50 inborn errors of metabolism characterized by the lysosomal accumulation of partially or non-degraded molecules due to mutations in proteins involved in the degradation of macromolecules, transport, lysosomal biogenesis or modulators of lysosomal environment. Significant advances have been achieved in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of LSDs patients. In terms of approved therapies, these include enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), substrate reduction therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and pharmacological chaperone therapy. In this review, we summarize the Colombian experience in LSDs thorough the evidence published. We identified 113 articles published between 1995 and 2019 that included Colombian researchers or physicians, and which were mainly focused in Mucopolysaccharidoses, Pompe disease, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, and Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases. Most of these articles focused on basic research, clinical cases, and mutation reports. Noteworthy, implementation of the enzyme assay in dried blood samples, led to a 5-fold increase in the identification of LSD patients, suggesting that these disorders still remain undiagnosed in the country. We consider that the information presented in this review will contribute to the knowledge of a broad spectrum of LSDs in Colombia and will also contribute to the development of public policies and the identification of research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Alejandra Puentes-Tellez
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Paula Andrea Lerma-Barbosa
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | | | - Diego A. Suarez
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Angela J. Espejo-Mojica
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Johana M. Guevara
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Olga Yaneth Echeverri
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Daniela Solano-Galarza
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Alfredo Uribe-Ardila
- Research Center in Biochemistry, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Carlos J. Alméciga-Díaz
- Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
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Wagner M, Khoury H, Willet J, Rindress D, Goetghebeur M. Can the EVIDEM Framework Tackle Issues Raised by Evaluating Treatments for Rare Diseases: Analysis of Issues and Policies, and Context-Specific Adaptation. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2016; 34:285-301. [PMID: 26547306 PMCID: PMC4766242 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-015-0340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The multiplicity of issues, including uncertainty and ethical dilemmas, and policies involved in appraising interventions for rare diseases suggests that multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) based on a holistic definition of value is uniquely suited for this purpose. The objective of this study was to analyze and further develop a comprehensive MCDA framework (EVIDEM) to address rare disease issues and policies, while maintaining its applicability across disease areas. METHODS Specific issues and policies for rare diseases were identified through literature review. Ethical and methodological foundations of the EVIDEM framework v3.0 were systematically analyzed from the perspective of these issues, and policies and modifications of the framework were performed accordingly to ensure their integration. RESULTS Analysis showed that the framework integrates ethical dilemmas and issues inherent to appraising interventions for rare diseases but required further integration of specific aspects. Modification thus included the addition of subcriteria to further differentiate disease severity, disease-specific treatment outcomes, and economic consequences of interventions for rare diseases. Scoring scales were further developed to include negative scales for all comparative criteria. A methodology was established to incorporate context-specific population priorities and policies, such as those for rare diseases, into the quantitative part of the framework. This design allows making more explicit trade-offs between competing ethical positions of fairness (prioritization of those who are worst off), the goal of benefiting as many people as possible, the imperative to help, and wise use of knowledge and resources. It also allows addressing variability in institutional policies regarding prioritization of specific disease areas, in addition to existing uncertainty analysis available from EVIDEM. CONCLUSION The adapted framework measures value in its widest sense, while being responsive to rare disease issues and policies. It provides an operationalizable platform to integrate values, competing ethical dilemmas, and uncertainty in appraising healthcare interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Wagner
- LASER Analytica, 1405 Transcanadienne, Suite 310, Montreal, QC, H9P 2V9, Canada.
| | - Hanane Khoury
- LASER Analytica, 1405 Transcanadienne, Suite 310, Montreal, QC, H9P 2V9, Canada
| | | | - Donna Rindress
- LASER Analytica, 1405 Transcanadienne, Suite 310, Montreal, QC, H9P 2V9, Canada
| | - Mireille Goetghebeur
- LASER Analytica, 1405 Transcanadienne, Suite 310, Montreal, QC, H9P 2V9, Canada
- University of Montreal, School of Public Health, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Giraldo GA, Ayala-Ramírez P, Prieto JC, García-Robles R, Acosta JC. Molecular findings of Colombian patients with type VI mucopolysaccharidosis (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome). Meta Gene 2015; 7:83-9. [PMID: 26909334 PMCID: PMC4733218 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Maroteaux–Lamy syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type VI, is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficient activity of the enzyme arylsulfatase B (ARSB), required to degrade dermatan sulfate. The onset and progression of the disease vary, producing a spectrum of clinical presentation. So far, 133 mutations have been reported. The aim of this study is to determine the mutations in the ARSB gene that are responsible for this disease in Colombian patients. Results Fourteen patients with clinical manifestations and biochemical diagnosis of MPS VI were studied, including two siblings. The 8 exons of the gene were directly sequenced from patients' DNA, and 14 mutations were found. 57% of these mutations had not been previously reported (p.H111P, p.C121R, p.G446S, p.*534W, p.S334I, p.H147P, c.900T > G, and c.1531_1553del) and 43% had been previously reported (p.G144R, p.W322*, p.G302R, p.C447F, p.L128del, and c.1143-1G > C). Of the previously reported mutations, 80% have been associated with severe phenotypes and 20% with intermediate-severe phenotypes. Bioinformatic predictions indicate that the new mutations reported in this paper are also highly deleterious. Conclusions Most of the Colombian patients in this study had private mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola Ayala-Ramírez
- Instituto de Genética Humana, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan Carlos Prieto
- Instituto de Genética Humana, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Reggie García-Robles
- Instituto de Investigación en Nutrición, Genética y Metabolismo, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Johanna Carolina Acosta
- Instituto de Investigación en Nutrición, Genética y Metabolismo, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
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Pachajoa H, Rodriguez CA. Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome) in the pre-Columbian culture of Colombia. Colomb Med (Cali) 2014; 45:85-7. [PMID: 25100895 PMCID: PMC4123588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI or Maroteaux Lamy syndrome is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from a deficiency of arylsulfatase B, the clinical features include short stature, hepatosplenomegaly, dysostosis multiplex, stiff joints, corneal clouding, cardiac abnormalities, and facial dysmorphism, with intelligence usually normal. We present evidence of the possible existence of Maroteaux Lamy syndrome in pre-Columbian pottery 2000 years ago, in the Colombo-Ecuadorian Pacific coast of the Tumaco-Tolita culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Pachajoa
- Centro de Investigaciones en Anomalías Congénitas y Enfermedades Raras. Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
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