Hallazgos clínicos, bioquímicos y moleculares de la acidemia propiónica / Clinical, biochemical and molecular findings of propionic acidemia

La acidemia propiónica es un trastorno infrecuente con patrón de herencia autosómico recesivo causado por la deficiencia de la enzima mitocondrial propionil-CoA carboxilasa, que convierte el propionil-CoA a D-metilmalonil-CoA. Se expone el caso de un recién nacido masculino con signos de dificultad respiratoria, vómitos y cansancio durante la alimentación. Presentó acidosis metabólica, cuerpos cetónicos en el suero y la orina positivos, hiperamonemia, anemia, trombocitopenia e hipoproteinemia. El estudio bioquímico por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas en la muestra de orina fue sugestivo de acidemia propiónica. El estudio molecular en el gen PCCA encontró las mutaciones c.893A>G (p.K298R) en el padre y c.937C>T (p.R313X) en la madre. Existe la necesidad de establecer el diagnóstico de esta entidad infrecuente para implementar las medidas terapéuticas disponibles y aportar el oportuno asesoramiento genético.

Propionic acidemia is an infrequent disorder with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern caused by the deficiency of the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase that converts propionyl-CoA to D-methylmalonyl-CoA. We present the case of a male newborn who showed signs of respiratory distress, vomiting and tiredness during feeding. He presented metabolic acidosis, positive serum and urine ketone bodies, hyperammonemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoproteinemia. The biochemical study by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in a urine sample was suggestive of propionic acidemia. The molecular study in the PCCA gene found the mutations c.893A>G (p.K298R) in the father and c.937C> T (p.R313X) in the mother. There is a need to establish the diagnosis of this infrequent entity to implement the therapeutic measures available and provide the appropriate genetic counseling.

Study on tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in Northern Chinese population / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To emphasize early differential diagnosis from patients with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and to evaluate the treatment and long-term outcome of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin synthase (BH4) deficiency in Northern Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 1992 to 2005, a total of 618 patients with HPA were diagnosed and/or cared for in our outpatient clinic. Urinary pterin analysis, detection of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity in blood, and then BH4 loading tests were carried out to differentiate BH4 deficiency in these patients from classical phenylketonuria. BH4 deficient patients were treated with BH4, levodopa and 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) immediately while the diagnosis was done to disease. Patientso blood phenylalanine levels, psychomotor and intelligence development were followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 38 cases were diagnosed as BH4 deficiency, all of them were revealed as 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency from the extremely decreased urine biopterin, normal DHPR activities and drop down of blood phenylalanine level to normal range within 4 to 8 hours after BH4 loading. The most common manifestations were progressively psychomotor and mental retardation to patients even after taking early dietary treatment. The patients were diagnosed and treated with drugs at the ages of 2.1 months to 13 years. With 4 patients died of pneumonia, 7 patients refused to treatment, only 27 patients were under treatment and followed up. The average full scale development or intelligence quotient (DQ/IQ) of patients who were treated within and after 6 months were 86+/- 10 or 66+/- 7 respectively. Development was not even in different aspects. A significant negative correlation was observed between the level of the DQ and the age of treatment commenced (r was -0.714, P< 0.01). Eleven patients experienced the extrapyramidal movement disorders, 3 of them combined with epilepsy. The extrapyramidal disorders were controlled by administration of levodopa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The differential diagnosis for BH4 deficiency should be carried out in all patients with HPA. PTPS deficiency is the most common form of BH4 deficiency in Northern Chinese population. The long-term outcome of these patients benefits from diagnosis and treatment with BH4, levodopa and 5-HTP as early as possible.</p>