LAL Deficiency is a rare autosomal-recessive lipid storage disorder that is caused by a marked decrease or almost complete absence of LAL, leading to the accumulation of lipids, predominately cholesteryl esters and triglycerides, in various tissues and cell types. In the liver, accumulation of lipids leads to hepatomegaly, liver dysfunction, and hepatic failure. Although a single disease, LAL Deficiency presents as a clinical continuum with 2 major phenotypes, Cholesteryl Ester Storage Disease (CESD) and Wolman Disease.
Early-onset LAL Deficiency (Wolman Disease) is extremely rare, with an estimated incidence of less than 2 lives per million. It is characterized by profound malabsorption, growth failure, and hepatic failure, and is usually fatal in the first year of life.
