Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is a condition in which fats (lipids) build up in the body. Affected individuals have trouble breaking down certain fats called triglycerides; these fats then accumulate in organs and tissues, including the skin, liver, muscles, intestine, and bone marrow.

Several variants (also called mutations) in the ABHD5 gene have been found to cause Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome. The ABHD5 gene provides instructions for making a protein that turns on (activates) an enzyme called adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). This enzyme breaks down triglycerides, which are a major source of stored energy in cells. The ATGL enzyme helps break triglycerides down into simpler molecules called fatty acids, which the body can then use for energy.

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome is a rare condition. Approximately 150 people with this condition have been reported in the literature.

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell must have a variant to cause the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the altered gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Published Date: May 07, 2024
Published By: National Institutes of Health