Cerebroside sulfatase activity in cultivated human skin fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells;

In an effort to improve the precision in prenatal monitoring for metachromatic leukodystrophy, levels of cerebroside sulfatase were determined in fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells. Cells from MLD patients demonstrated no significant sulfatide hydrolysis, whereas cultures from heterozygous subjects hydrolyzed diminished but definite amounts of sulfatide. Cells from a fetus with low arylsulfatase A activity were able to cleave considerable amounts of sulfatide; enzyme assays performed postnatally suggest that the infant is heterozygous for MLD. This report documents the value of cerebroside sulfatase assays in the in utero monitoring for MLD.