Question

Explain enzyme – replacement therapy to treat adenosine deaminase deficiency. Mention two disadvantages of this procedure.

Answer 1

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency is a genetic disorder. In this disorder, the gene coding for the enzyme ADA gets deleted leading to deficiency of ADA and problems in the immune system. ADA deficiency in patients can be treated by enzyme replacement therapy. In this treatment, patients are regularly injected with the functional ADA enzyme.

Disadvantages of this process:
(i) It does not eradicate the disease.
(ii) Requirement of repeated doses of the enzyme makes it expensive.