Hospital Virtual Tour

Menkes syndrome - Treatment

Alternative Names

Steely hair disease; Menkes kinky hair syndrome; Kinky hair disease

Treatment:

Treatment usually only helps when started very early in the course of the disease. Injections of copper into a vein or under the skin have been used with mixed results.

Expectations (prognosis):

Most persons with this condition die within the first few years of life.

Complications:

Seizures
Death

Calling your health care provider:

Talk to your health care provider if you have a family history of Menkes syndrome and you plan to have children. A baby with this condition will often show symptoms early in infancy.

Hypotonia

Reviewed last on: 5/22/2007
Brian Kirmse, MD, Department of Human Genetics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)