Hurler Syndrome

Hurler's Syndrome causes progressive deterioration of the central nervous system and death in childhood. Children with Hurler’s Syndrome typically die before the age of 10, but may live longer with treatment.

Stem cells from a newborn baby's umbilical cord blood can save the lives of children with Hurler's Syndrome and can repair organ damage. A cord blood transplant can help in prevention of certain measure of mental decline if it is performed before significant damage. Between December 1995 and October 2002, 20 children with Hurler's Syndrome received cord blood transplants from unrelated donors. Event-free survival rate was 85% and transplantation improved neurocognitive performance and decreased somatic features of Hurler's Syndrome.