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A pregnancy at risk for the Sanfilippo syndrome has been studied in which clear evidence was obtained from the study of amniotic fluid and fetal organs that the fetus was affected. Increased levels of heparan sulphate were found in amniotic fluid and fetal liver, while electronmicroscopy of cultured fetal fibroblasts and fetal liver showed abnormal cytoplasmic inclusions. SO uptake studies of cultured fetal cells showed abnormal intracellular accumulation of mucopoly saccharide, while both cultured amniotic cells and fetal skin fibroblasts demonstrated deficiency of heparin sulphamidase, the enzyme responsible for the `A' subtype of the disease. It is suggested that by use of a combination of these methods Sanfilippo A disease can now be diagnosed reliably [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The cellular uptake of N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminidase, the deficient enzyme in Sanfilippo B disease, and the intracellular fate and metabolic effect of this enzyme have been investigated in Sanfilippo B and normal fibroblasts. For both genotypes the uptake is highly efficient (up to 0.025 mU/h/mg cell protein), specific and constant over a period of at least 6 days. It is probable that the enzyme protein is taken up by adsorptive pinocytosis. The enzymatic activity as well as the biological activity towards (35)SO(4)-labeled mucopolysaccharides persist in Sanfilippo B cells with a half-life of 34 h, indicating the intralysosomal localization of the pinocytosed enzyme. The data obtained are discussed with regard to a possible enzyme replacement therapy. For Sanfilippo B disease the doses used in the past are considered to be insufficient to cause measurable effects.