Many human disorders of glycosylation pathways have now been identified; they include defects in synthetic pathways for N-linked oligosaccharides, O-linked oligosaccharides, shared substrates, glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, and dolichols. This overview will focus on disorders of the N-linked glycan synthetic pathway and some disorders that overlap this metabolic network (multiple-pathway disorders). The purpose of this overview is to:
Describe the clinical characteristics of congenital disorders of N-linked glycosylation;
Review the causes of congenital disorders of N-linked glycosylation;
Provide an evaluation strategy to identify the genetic cause of congenital disorders of glycosylation in a proband;
Inform (when possible) management;
Inform genetic counseling of family members of a proband with congenital disorders of N-linked glycosylation.
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