Experiences of patients and their family members with metachromatic leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Krabbe disease: A qualitative systematic review protocol

Objective: The objective of this review is to synthesize the experiences of patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), and Krabbe disease and the experiences of their family members. Introduction: MLD, ALD, and Krabbe disease are rare disorders that are classified as lysosomal storage or peroxisomal disorders, with similar presentations as leukodystrophy. As these diseases cause cognitive and neurological decline due to the progression of leukodystrophy associated with demyelination, they have significant impact on the lives of patients and their families. It is important to identify the impact and challenges of these diseases on patients' lives and on their families, as well as to synthesize qualitative studies regarding their experiences. Inclusion criteria: We will consider studies including patients with MLD, ALD, or Krabbe disease and their family members. These experiences will include the challenges, dissatisfactions, and frustrations with symptoms and treatments; complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; and the increased caregiver burden with disease progression. This is important since the impacts of disease progression are experienced in a variety of settings beyond the hospital, such as in the community and at home. Methods: The search strategy will follow JBI methodology and be conducted in 3 steps: an initial limited search, a comprehensive database search, and a reference search of the included articles. MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, and Scopus will be searched with no restriction on language or publication dates. The study selection, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis will be performed according to JBI guidelines for systematic reviews of qualitative research. Final syntheses will be assessed using the ConQual approach. Systematic review registration number: PROSPERO CRD42022318805.