Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in children with non-ketotic hypoglycemia and low carnitine levels

Three children in two families presented in early childhood with episodes of illness associated with fasting which resembled Reye's syndrome: coma, hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, and fatty liver. One child died with cerebral edema during an episode. Clinical studies revealed an absence of ketosis on fasting (plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate less than 0.4 mmole/liter) despite elevated levels of free fatty acids (2.6-4.2 mmole/liter) which suggested that hepatic fatty acid oxidation was impaired. Urinary dicarboxylic acids were elevated during illness or fasting. Total carnitine levels were low in plasma (18-25 mumole/liter), liver (200-500 nmole/g), and muscle (500-800 nmole/g); however, treatment with L-carnitine failed to correct the defect in ketogenesis. Studies on ketone production from fatty acid substrates by liver tissue in vitro showed normal rates from short-chain fatty acids, but very low rates from all medium and long-chain fatty acid substrates. These results suggested that the defect was in the mid-portion of the intramitochondrial beta-oxidation pathway at the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase step. A new assay for the electron transfer flavoprotein-linked acyl-CoA dehydrogenases was used to test this hypothesis. This assay follows the decrease in electron transfer flavoprotein fluorescence as it is reduced by acyl-CoA-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase complex. Results with octanoyl-CoA as substrate indicated that patients had less than 2.5% normal activity of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. The activities of short-chain and isovaleryl acyl-CoA dehydrogenases were normal; the activity of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase was one-third normal. These results define a previously unrecognized inherited metabolic disorder of fatty acid oxidation due to deficiency of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.     

Deficiency of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase: a cause of lethal myopathy and cardiomyopathy in early childhood

A child presented in early childhood with episodes of coma and hypoglycemia and a rapidly evolutive myopathy and cardiomyopathy leading to death at 9 mo of age. Ketosis was decreased (blood beta-hydroxybutyrate: 0.07 mmol/L) despite normal plasma levels of fatty acids (0.81 mmol/L). The patient's urine contained excessive amounts of the C6 to C10 dicarboxylic acids present in almost all defects of fatty acid mitochondrial oxidation. More specifically, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified an accumulation of medium- and long-chain (C8 to C14) 3-hydroxy-dicarboxylic acids, suggesting a defect of the mitochondrial enzyme that normally dehydrogenates these 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA esters. Biochemical studies in the patient's cultured fibroblasts confirmed the impairment of medium- and long-chain fatty acid oxidation, and allowed the recognition of the deficiency of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. The activities of long-, medium-, and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenases and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase were normal. These results describe a disorder of fatty acid metabolism that affects the liver, skeletal muscles, and myocardium. It is important to point out that long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA deficiency shares many clinical similarities with systemic carnitine deficiency, as well as with carnitine-palmityl-CoA transferase and long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiencies. The differential diagnosis of this disease relies on the demonstration of long-chain urinary dicarboxylic acids with a hydroxyl group in 3-position and the study of the enzyme activity in cultured fibroblasts.     

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency is one of the recently discovered defects of mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation. As a group, the β-oxidation defects are among the most common inherited metabolic disorders, and LCHAD deficiency appears to be the most frequently diagnosed β-oxidation defect in Finland. In the vast majority of patients, LCHAD deficiency is caused by a common autosomal recessive mutation G1528C. Like several β-oxidation defects, it presents during infancy with hypoglycemic coma, hepatic steatosis, and hypocarnitinemia. Other manifestations are cardiomyopathy and rhabdomyolysis, which are frequent in defects of long-chain fatty acid oxidation. In addition, LCHAD deficiency has specific features, namely peripheral neuropathy and chorioretinopathy. Female carriers of LCHAD deficiency are prone to have preeclampsia-related pregnancy complications. Diagnosis is suggested by 3-hydroxylated acylcarnitine species in blood and the definitive diagnosis can be made by measuring intermediates of fatty acid β-oxidation in fibroblasts or by detecting disease causing mutations. Analysis of the frequency of the G1528C mutation in Finland revealed carrier frequency of 1:240. Because of therapeutic and prenatal diagnostic opportunities in LCHAD deficiency, it is important to recognize this severe disorder early in its course.     

脂肪酸氧化代谢病与心肌病

脂肪酸是心肌最重要的能量来源, 脂肪酸氧化代谢病（FAOD）可导致线粒体能量生成不足, 同时可造成心肌细胞内脂质和长链酰基肉碱等中间代谢产物蓄积, 从而导致心肌病变。FAOD主要包括肉碱依赖的脂肪酸转运障碍和线粒体内的脂肪酸β-氧化异常, 缺陷可发生于脂肪酸氧化过程中的任何酶或转运蛋白。尽管FAOD是引起儿童心肌病的少见病因之一, 但部分FAOD通过早期纠正脂肪酸代谢紊乱后, 心肌病有望得到改善, 生存质量可显著提高。     

Octanoic acidemia and octanoylcarnitine excretion with dicarboxylic aciduria due to defective oxidation of medium-chain fatty acids

Five patients aged 7 to 21 months are described who developed attacks of coma after a short prodromal illness with diarrhea or vomiting or both. Four had concomitant hypoglycemia, and all had hypoketonemia, with excessive urinary excretion of medium-chain dicarboxylic acids, medium-chain (omega-1)-hydroxyacids, suberylglycine, hexanoylglycine, and octanoylcarnitine. All patients accumulated octanoic acid, decanoic acid, and cis-4-decenoic acid in plasma. Fibroblasts from three patients showed a decreased rate of octanoate oxidation (10%, 12%, and 29% of control values, respectively). These findings suggest a deficiency of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, most probably an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder. Two of the patients died during an acute attack, and a third had severe neurologic sequelae; the two remaining patients recovered. Plasma free carnitine levels were low, but total carnitine was normal. The three surviving patients underwent a fasting test, which did not lead to hypoglycemia, although hypoketonemia, dicarboxylic aciduria, and excessive mobilization of fatty acids did occur. The surviving patients were maintained on frequent carbohydrate-enriched meals.     

Significance of phototherapy-induced riboflavin deficiency in the full-term neonate.

As a result of impaired fatty acid oxidation, a characteristic urinary dicarboxylic aciduria occurs in the riboflavin deficient animal. We compared the occurrence of riboflavin deficiency induced by phototherapy with changes in urinary organic acid profiles in 8 full-term, breast-fed neonates who received phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia, and in 10 full-term, breastfed controls. Riboflavin status was assessed by measuring flavin adenine dinucleotide saturation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase. All 8 neonates exposed to phototherapy developed riboflavin deficiency (p less than 0.001). Riboflavin deficiency was progressive with the duration of phototherapy. None of the controls was riboflavin deficient. Urine organic acid profiles indicative of mitochondrial acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity (fatty acid beta-oxidation, quantitated by gas chromatography mass spectrometry) showed no changes between the study and control groups in mono-, di-, or tricarboxylic acids or other organic acids. The riboflavin deficiency induced by phototherapy in full-term neonates was not of sufficient severity to limit riboflavin-dependent fatty acid oxidation.     

Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I deficiency with clinical and biochemical features of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency

The mitochondrial respiratory chain and the fatty acid oxidation cycle are theoretically interdependent on each other for normal function. We describe a patient with complex I deficiency who had clinical and biochemical features of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency including liver failure, cardiomyopathy, and consistent urine organic acid pattern. Patients with features of either a respiratory chain or fatty acid oxidation disorder should have the defect characterized biochemically because of the implications with respect to potential therapy and genetic counseling.     

Control of fatty acid oxidation by intramitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+] in developing rat small intestine

The oxidation of palmityl-coenzyme A and acetate to CO2 by mitochondria isolated from rat small intestine increases 10-fold at the time of weaning (18-21 days of age). Carnitine palmitoyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.21) activity is 2-fold greater in mitochondria of suckling rat intestine compared to postweaned intestine. These data indicate that carnitine palmitoyltransferase does not control the increase in intestinal fatty acid oxidation during weaning. We have previously reported that the estimated intramitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+] as determined by the ratio of tissue levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate is fivefold greater in suckling rat intestine compared to postwean animals. High intramitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+] which is present in suckling rat small intestine is associated with a decrease in citric acid cycle activity and beta oxidation. The addition of acetoacetate causes a decrease in intramitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+]. The oxidation of acetate and glucose to CO2 by suckling rat intestine mitochondria was stimulated by the addition of 1 mM acetoacetate. These data suggest that the lower rate of fatty acid oxidation by suckling rat small intestine is controlled by elevated intramitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+].     

Cyclic vomiting syndrome masking a fatal metabolic disease

Disorders of fatty acid oxidation are rare but can be fatal. Hypoglycaemia with acidosis is a cardinal feature. Cases may present during early childhood or can be delayed into adolescence or beyond. We present a case of multiple acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), an extremely rare disorder of fatty acid oxidation. Our 20-year-old patient presented with cardiovascular collapse, raised anion gap metabolic acidosis and non-ketotic hypoglycaemia. She subsequently developed multi-organ failure and sadly died. She had a previous diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) for more than 10 years, warranting frequent hospital admissions. The association between CVS and MADD has been made before though the exact relationship is unclear. All patients with persistent severe CVS should have metabolic investigations to exclude disorders of fatty acid oxidation. In case of non-ketotic hypoglycaemia with acidosis, the patient should be urgently referred to a specialist in metabolic diseases. All practitioners should be aware of these rare disorders as a cause of unexplained acidosis.     

Plasma carnitine levels during intravenous feeding of the neonate.

The premature infant has a limited capacity for fatty acid oxidation. This study shows that solutions commonly used for intravenous feedings in the newborn infant contain no carnitine. Infants maintained on this solution have significantly lower total, free, and acylcarnitine levels as compared to when they are fed orally with expressed human milk or a proprietary formula, which is known to contain carnitine. The exogenous supply of carnitine to the premature infant may have a significant influence on the ability to stimulate optimal fatty acid oxidation.     

Determination of the oxidation rate of medium-chain triglycerides in newborn infants with the 13C trioctanoin breath test

Up to the present time medium chain triglycerides (MCT) have been applied solely for the enteral nutrition of newborn infants. Results of the oxidative utilization of parenterally applicated MCT have not yet been published. We therefore investigated the MCT oxidation with the 13C trioctanoin breath test in neonates. The patients received parenterally 10 mg/kg MCT (1-13C3 trioctanoin) enriched with the stable isotope 13C and emulsified with MCT/LCT 10%. The expired 13CO2 resulting from fat oxidation was determined by a ratio-mass-spectrometer. The 13C content of exhaled air represents the rate of fatty acid oxidation. Within the test period the fatty acid oxidation showed a clear dependency on the simultaneous carbohydrate supply. The oxidation rates of MCT were about twice als high as those of long chain triglycerides (LCT). On account of their high energetic level, MCT-containing emulsions are, in principle, also suitable for the parenteral nutrition of newborn infants.     

Carnitine metabolism in diabetes mellitus

In diabetes mellitus (DM), increased fatty acids have negative effects on pancreatic beta-cell functions, in addition to enhanced mitochondrial transportation of fatty acids related to decreased insulin levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid metabolism in children with DM by measuring plasma fatty acids and carnitine fractions to reveal relationships between carnitine status and increased fatty acid oxidation. Increased plasma fatty acids (except for arachidonic acid, there were no significant differences in the ratio of each specific fatty acid to total fatty acids), lipoprotein (a), acyl carnitine levels and urinary total and free acyl carnitine excretion, and decreased plasma free carnitine levels, were found in children with DM. There were no correlations between the duration of DM or HbA1c and study parameters. It is recommended that plasma free carnitine determinations should be made even if the patient has good metabolic control.     

The A985 to G mutation of the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene and sudden infant death syndrome in Normandy

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency is the most common genetic defect of hepatic fatty acid oxidation. Clinical signs are somnolence and lethargy potentially leading to coma. Death occurs during the first attack in about 20% of cases, suggesting sudden infant death syndrome. A point mutation (adenine to guanine at position 985) in exon 11 of the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene accounts for 90% of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency-causing alleles. Such a high prevalence of a single mutation makes it possible to estimate the incidence of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in the general population and in sudden infant death syndrome. The study was performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification from blood spots on filter paper in 2000 randomly selected newborns (group I) and in 225 infants dead from sudden infant death syndrome (group II). Among 2000 newborns, 17 were found to be heterozygote for the G985 mutation. In group 11, one child was found with a single copy of the G985 mutation. So. the estimated frequency of the G985 mutation in the general population was 1/118 and the incidence of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency was calculated as around 1/45 000 in Normandy.     

Familial Reye-like syndrome: a presentation of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency

A 20-month-old girl with a family history of two siblings who died of an encephalopathy diagnosed as Reye syndrome presented to an emergency room in hypoglycemic coma and was found to have medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency. The salient clinical and biochemical features of this newly described inborn error of fatty acid metabolism are described and contrasted to those of classical Reye syndrome. Important clues that should lead the clinician to suspect this disorder, methods of diagnosis, and appropriate acute and long-term therapy are also discussed.     

Creatine kinase and uric acid: early warning for metabolic imbalance resulting from disorders of fatty acid oxidation

In eight patients with disorders of fatty acid oxidation, analysis of uric acid and creatine kinase served as indicators of the underlying disorder in episodes of acute metabolic imbalance. Six patients had deficiency of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, one had long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, and one very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. The most common presentation was with symptomatic hypoglycemia; there was one Reye-like presentation and one of rhabdomyolysis. The mechanism of the elevation of uric acid and creatine kinase appears to be the breakdown of tissue. Conclusion: it is concluded that uric acid and creatine kinase provide a useful alerting signal to the presence of a disorder of fatty acid oxidation. Maximal levels of uric acid in this series were 6.2-21.5 mg/dl and of creatine kinase 879-27,557 U/l.     

极长链酰基辅酶A脱氢酶缺乏症研究进展

极长链酰基辅酶A脱氢酶缺乏症是一种较罕见的脂肪酸代谢障碍疾病,根据起病年龄和临床表现分为三型：心肌病型、肝型、肌病型。心肌病型病情重,病死率高。临床诊断可通过血串联质谱(MS/MS)检测血肉豆蔻烯酰基肉碱(C14:1)水平进行,进一步确诊可通过基因诊断、酶学分析及脂肪酸氧化流量分析。治疗上主要包括避免空腹,减少长链脂肪酸的摄入,补充中链甘油三酯等。     

Dietary lipid and postnatal development. II. Palmityl coenzyme A oxidation in heart and liver.

There is only indirect evidence to suggest that the sudden postpartum appearance of dietary lipid regulates the perinatal development of the enzyme pathways required for fatty acid oxidation. To test this idea directly, rabbit pups were maintained on diets containing lipid to equal either 14.2% (LF) or 77.6% (HF) of the total caloric intake. Palmityl coenzyme A oxidation rates in the presence of excess ADP and carnitine were measured polarographically in heart and liver homogenates. No significant difference in oxidation rates between HF and LF groups was observed even at 10 days of age. Palmityl coenzyme A oxidation in both groups was carnitine dependent and was in general the same as that of mother-fed animals. Similarly, an evaluation of cytochrome oxidase activity and glutamate + malate-supported respiration in heart and liver homogenates revealed no difference attributable to diet. To consider the possibility that fatty acid oxidation might be specifically increased or decreased over other mitochondrial respiratory activity as a function of diet, palmityl coenzyme A oxidation rates were normalized with respect to glutamate + malate oxidation rates. A similar comparison was made relative to cytochrome oxidase activity. Still no differences were observed between HF and LF groups. By studying the maximum rate of oxygen utilization in the presence of excess carnitine and palmityl-coenzyme A we would have detected any change in a rate-limiting step for fatty acid oxidation beyond acyl activation. We must conclude, therefore, that large differences in the proportion of postnatal dietary lipid do no influence the cellular capacity to oxidize palmityl coenzyme A.     

Serum dicarboxylic acids in patients with Reye syndrome

Reye syndrome resembles disorders of fatty acid metabolism. Analysis of serum free fatty acids from 18 patients with Reye syndrome revealed that dicarboxylic acids comprise as much as 55% (range 4% to 55%) of the patients' total free fatty acids; both medium- (6 to 12 carbon lengths) and long-chain (14 to 18 carbon lengths) dicarboxylic acids were identified. Long-chain dicarboxylic acids were not found in any control samples, whereas 86% +/- 4% of the serum dicarboxylic acids were long chain in 10 patients with Reye syndrome in state 3 to 4 coma and 31% +/- 8% in eight patients with a milder illness. The serum concentration of dicarboxylic acids correlated with the clinical state (P less than 0.001) and with the elevation in blood ammonia concentration (r2 = 0.8767). No long-chain dicarboxylic acids were found in the urine. The dicarboxylic acidemia in Reye syndrome may be secondary to the general mitochondrial dysfunction or could indicate that an insult to fatty acid metabolism or the stimulation of omega-oxidation is important in the pathogenesis of the illness. Measurement of serum dicarboxylic acids, especially long chain, may be important in assessing Reye syndrome and may prove useful in distinguishing this from other diseases.     

Hepatic and muscular presentations of carnitine palmitoyl transferase deficiency: two distinct entities

Human carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CTP) deficiency results in two different clinical variants, one with "hepatic" and one with "muscular" symptoms. We studied CPT activity and long-chain fatty acid oxidation in fibroblast cell lines from four patients, two from each group. Overall CPT activity was deficient in patients' fibroblasts with the hepatic presentation, as previously demonstrated in patients' fibroblasts with the muscular presentation. The hepatic patients' fibroblasts displayed a CPT1 deficiency which resulted in impaired long-chain fatty acid oxidation. In contrast, CPT1 activity and palmitate oxidation were normal in muscular patients' fibroblasts. In these latter patients, the mutation presumably involved CPT2 activity. These data suggest that CPT deficiency is due to at least two different mutations, resulting in two distinct patterns of clinical and biochemical abnormalities.     

Myocardial hypertrophy and the maturation of fatty acid oxidation in the newborn human heart

After birth dramatic decreases in cardiac malonyl CoA levels result in the rapid maturation of fatty acid oxidation. We have previously demonstrated that the decrease in malonyl CoA is due to increased activity of malonyl CoA decarboxylase (MCD), and decreased activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), enzymes which degrade and synthesize malonyl CoA, respectively. Decreased ACC activity corresponds to an increase in the activity of 5'-AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), which phosphorylates and inhibits ACC. These alterations are delayed by myocardial hypertrophy. As rates of fatty acid oxidation can influence the ability of the heart to withstand an ischemic insult, we examined the expression of MCD, ACC, and AMPK in the newborn human heart. Ventricular biopsies were obtained from infants undergoing cardiac surgery. Immunoblot analysis showed a positive correlation between MCD expression and age. In contrast, a negative correlation in both ACC and AMPK expression and age was observed. All ventricular samples displayed some degree of hypertrophy, however, no differences in enzyme expression were found between moderate and severe hypertrophy. This indicates that increased expression of MCD, and the decreased expression of ACC and AMPK are important regulators of the maturation of fatty acid oxidation in the newborn human heart.