Evaluation of low serum vitamin B(12) in the non-anaemic pregnant patient

Low serum vitamin B(12) concentrations in pregnancy may not indicate true megaloblastic anaemia. In the present study we compared biochemical indices of vitamin B(12) deficiency (serum homocysteine and urine methylmalonic acid) in non-anaemic pregnant women with and without low serum vitamin B(12) concentrations. The groups were matched for age, parity and gestational age. No differences were found, and all values were within normal range. These results suggest that the measurement of low serum B(12) concentrations in pregnant women should be followed by analysis at the biochemical level before vitamin B(12) injections are started.     

Clear relationship between ETF/ETFDH genotype and phenotype in patients with multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenation deficiency

Mutations in electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) and its dehydrogenase (ETFDH) are the molecular basis of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenation deficiency (MADD), an autosomal recessively inherited and clinically heterogeneous disease that has been divided into three clinical forms: a neonatal-onset form with congenital anomalies (type I), a neonatal-onset form without congenital anomalies (type II), and a late-onset form (type III). To examine whether these different clinical forms could be explained by different ETF/ETFDH mutations that result in different levels of residual ETF/ETFDH enzyme activity, we have investigated the molecular genetic basis for disease development in nine patients representing the phenotypic spectrum of MADD. We report the genomic structures of the ETFA, ETFB, and ETFDH genes and the identification and characterization of seven novel and three previously reported disease-causing mutations. Our molecular genetic investigations of these nine patients are consistent with three clinical forms of MADD showing a clear relationship between the nature of the mutations and the severity of disease. Interestingly, our data suggest that homozygosity for two null mutations causes fetal development of congenital anomalies resulting in a type I disease phenotype. Even minute amounts of residual ETF/ETFDH activity seem to be sufficient to prevent embryonic development of congenital anomalies giving rise to type II disease. Overexpression studies of an ETFB-D128N missense mutation identified in a patient with type III disease showed that the residual activity of the mutant enzyme could be rescued up to 59% of that of wild-type activity when ETFB-D128N-transformed E. coli cells were grown at low temperature. This indicates that the effect of the ETF/ETFDH genotype in patients with milder forms of MADD, in whom residual enzyme activity allows modulation of the enzymatic phenotype, may be influenced by environmental factors like cellular temperature.     

Novel L2HGDH mutations in 21 patients with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria of Portuguese origin

We studied 21 patients, from 18 families, with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA), a rare neurometabolic disorder with a homogeneous presentation: progressive neurodegeneration with extrapyramidal and cerebellar signs, seizures, and subcortical leukoencephalopathy. Increased levels of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in body fluids proved the diagnosis of L-2-HGA in all 21 patients. We analyzed the L-2-HGA gene (L2HGDH), recently found to be mutated in consanguineous families with L-2-HGA, and identified seven novel mutations in 15 families. Three mutations appeared to be particularly prevalent in this Portuguese panel: a frameshift mutation (c.529delC) was detected in 12 out of 30 mutant alleles (40%), a nonsense mutation (c.208C>T; p.Arg70X) in 7/30 alleles (23%), and a missense mutation (c.293A>G; p.His98Arg) in four out of 30 mutant alleles (13%), suggesting that common origin may exist. Furthermore, two novel missense (c.169G>A; p.Gly57Arg, c.1301A>C; p.His434Pro) and two splice error (c.257-2A>G, c.907-2A>G) mutations were found. All the mutations presumably lead to loss-of-function with no relationship between clinical signs, progression of the disease, levels of L-2-HGA and site of the mutation. In the three remaining families, no pathogenic mutations in the L-2-HGA were found, which suggests either alterations in regulatory regions of the gene or of its intervening sequences, compound heterozygosity for large genomic deletion and, or further genetic heterogeneity.     

Holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency: Early diagnosis and management of a new case

We present a new case of holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) deficiency, a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, causing the early-onset form of multiple carboxylase deficiency. The patient was born at term of healthy consanguineous parents after an uncomplicated pregnancy. On the 2nd day of life she refused oral feeding, became tachydyspnoeic and showed excessive weight loss. Laboratory studies showed metabolic acidosis, marked lactic acidaemia, hyperammonaemia and increased urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid, 3-methylcrotonyglycine, 3-hydroxypropionic acid and methylcritric acid. Peritoneal dialysis combined with oral supplementation of biotin (10 mg/day) started on the 3rd day of life resulted in rapid clinical recovery and normalisation of biochemical parameters. HCS deficiency was established in lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts. The activities of all biotin-dependent carboxylases were severely decreased in fibroblasts grown in medium with moderate biotin concentration (10^–8 mol/l) but normal in a high biotin medium (10^–5 mol/l). Mitochondrial carboxylase activities in lymphocytes were 23%–29% of mean normal during therapy with 20 mg of biotin/day, with the higher dose of 40 mg/day they were within (3-methylcrotoryl-CoA carboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase) or slightly below (propionyl-CoA carboxylase) the normal range. At the age of 3 years the patient's physical and psychomotor development are normal. Early biotin supplementation should be considered in newborns with lactic acidosis and organoaciduria until a final diagnosis has been established. Furthermore, the required individual dose of biotin has to be carefully evaluated biochemically for the individual patient.     

3-Hydroxydicarboxylic aciduria due to long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency associated with sudden neonatal death: protective effect of medium-chain triglyceride treatment

Two siblings were found to be affected by longchain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, one of which died suddenly and unexpectedly on the 3rd day of life suffering from extreme hypoketotic hypoglycaemia. The younger sibling started to have feeding problems, lowered consciousness, and liver dysfunction at the age of 5 months. Her urine contained large amounts of C₆–C₁₄ 3-hydroxydicarboxylic acids and conjugated 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid, as verified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Plasma long-chain acylcarnitine was increased. A clue to the diagnosis was given by the results of a phenylpropionic acid loading test. This revealed small, but significant amounts of conjugated 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (phenylhydracrylic acid) in the patient's urine. Subsequently, the activity of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was found to be deficient in cultured skin fibroblasts. Based on the findings obtained by a medium-chain triglyceride load, a diet enriched in this type of fat was prescribed. On this regimen the patient started to thrive, signs of cardiomyopathy disappeared, and her liver function normalized.     

Methylmalonic acidemia mimicking diabetic ketoacidosis and septic shock in infants

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is most common inherited type of organic acidemia. It has diverse presentation in older infants without any initial apparent symptoms. MMA sometimes present with sudden metabolic decompensation, which may mimics common emergencies like septic shock and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) without early recognition can be fatal. In born error of metabolism especially organic acidemia should be suspected in any infant presented with severe high anion gap metabolic acidosis. We report two cases of MMA in infants presented acutely mimicking DKA and septic shock.     

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??Methylmalonic aciduria is severe metabolic disorders with potential life-threatening acute complications. Early recognition of metabolic decompensation and appropriate management are critical to ensure good outcome. Plasma total homocysteine should be determined as soon as possible for the differential diagnosis of isolated MMA or combined MMA. The cornerstone of acute management is provision of enough calories and volume of body fluid. Protein restriction is necessary for the patients with isolated MMA. Cobalamin??folate and L-carnitine supplementation are important to correct the metabolic disorders. Underlying triggers should be paid attention to. Long-term management can prolong the life time and improve the quality of life. The individualized nutritional therapy and medical management are keys.     

因预防接种诱发急性脑病的甲基丙二酸尿症cblA型一例

目的 报道1例因预防接种诱发急性脑病的中国甲基丙二酸尿症的cblA型病例.方法 就病例临床、血液酯酰肉碱谱、尿有机酸、甲基丙二酸尿症相关基因等特点进行分析.结果 患儿男,1岁3个月时因“间断呕吐、酸中毒、发育落后8个月”就诊.患儿生后7个月内发育正常,7个月时接种乙肝疫苗后lh出现呕吐、昏迷.临床诊断“中度脱水,电解质紊乱,代谢性酸中毒”,经补液等治疗后好转.此后,患儿发育落后,间断呕吐.1岁3个月时接种百白破疫苗,接种3h后再次出现呕吐,嗜睡,静脉补液后未见好转,7d后喘憋、呼吸困难、昏迷.患儿血液丙酰肉碱16.3μmol/L(参考值1.0 ～ 5.0μmol/L)、丙酰肉碱/游离肉碱0.27(参考值0.03 ～0.25)增高,尿甲基丙二酸(388.21 mmol/mol肌酐,参考值0.2～3.6 mmol/mol肌酐)及其代谢产物浓度显著增高,血浆总同型半胱氨酸浓度正常,符合单纯型甲基丙二酸血症,MMAA基因存在c.650 T＞A(p.L217X)和c.742 C＞T(p.Q248X)复合杂合突变,确诊为cblA型.经羟钴铵肌内注射、左卡尼汀、低蛋白饮食及特殊配方奶粉治疗后,患儿病情逐渐好转.患儿现2岁7个月,智力运动正常.结论 报道我国首例因预防接种诱发急性脑病的cblA型甲基丙二酸尿症.对疑似遗传代谢病患儿,预防接种前的代谢筛查是减少意外的关键.     

戊二酸尿症-Ⅰ型三例诊断分析及文献复习

目的探讨戊二酸尿症1型的临床特征和诊断思路。方法对3例戊二酸尿症1型患儿的临床资料进行分析。结果3例患儿均表现为感染或惊厥后发育倒退,其中大头畸形一例,不明原因的硬膜下积液一例。结论戊二酸尿症1型临床表现无特异性,但感染或惊厥后发育倒退、大头畸形、不明原因的硬膜下积液时是其主要特征,尿有机酸分析是诊断的重要依据。