leukodystrophy

noun leu·ko·dys·tro·phy \ ˌlü-kō-ˈdi-strə-fē \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of leukodystrophy

plural leukodystrophies

: any of several genetically determined diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of myelin in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves

Recent Examples of leukodystrophy from the Web

That’s about 30 times the mortality rate of the leukodystrophy that Kefalas’ daughter is battling.

— helen ubiñas, Philly.com, "Right now we're dealing with the rarest form of the gun-violence disease | Helen Ubiñas," 27 Mar. 2018
Italian gene therapy researchers have reported comparable results for a similar treatment given to young patients with the brain disease metachromatic leukodystrophy.

— jocelyn kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Gene therapy’s new hope: A neuron-targeting virus is saving infant lives," 1 Nov. 2017
Waggoner ordered tests that would tell them definitively whether Kenan had leukodystrophy and, if so, which kind.

— amy dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "How Illinois bureaucracy robbed parents of a chance to save their children from a deadly disease," 4 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leukodystrophy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of leukodystrophy

1960

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

leukodystrophy

noun leu·ko·dys·tro·phy

variants: or chiefly British leucodystrophy play \ˌlü-kō-ˈdis-trə-fē\

medical Definition of leukodystrophy

plural leukodystrophies

: any of several inherited diseases (as adrenoleukodystrophy) characterized by progressive degeneration of myelin in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves