Estudio de la deficiencia de acil-CoA deshidrogenasa de cadena muy larga con cardiomiopatía mediante el uso de un sustrato deuterado / Study of very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency with cardiomyopathy using a deuterated substrate / Estudo da deficiência de acil-CoA desidrogenase de corrente muito longa com cardiomiopatia mediante o uso de um substrato deuterado Estudo da deficiência de acil-CoA desidrogenase de corrente muito longa com cardiomiopatia mediante o uso de um substrato deuterado

Introducción: la deficiencia de acil-CoA deshidrogenasa de cadena muy larga (VLCAD) se manifiesta en los primeros meses de vida con cardiomiopatía hipertrófica o dilatada y arritmias, que pueden llegar a ser letales. Objetivo: analizar la producción de metabolitos en fibroblastos de pacientes con deficiencia de VLCAD y cardiomiopatía, incubados con ácido oleico deuterado. Materiales y métodos: se incubaron fibroblastos de cuatro pacientes con deficiencia de VLCAD y cardiomiopatía y 10 de controles en presencia de ácido oleico deuterado. Resultados y conclusión: en pacientes con esta deficiencia se encontró un perfil característico luego de la incubación de los fibroblastos. Esta prueba se podría usar para confirmar in vitro la deficiencia de VLCAD con cardiomiopatía.

Introduction: Deficiency of VLCAD is present in the early months of life, with hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias which may be lethal. Objective: To analize the production of metabolites in fibroblasts from patientes with VLCAD deficiency and cardiomyopathy incubated with deuterated oleic acid. Materials and methods: Fibroblasts from four patients with VLCAD deficiency and cardiomyopathy and from ten controls were incubated in the presence of deuterated oleic acid. Results and conclusison: A characteristic profile was found in the fibroblastos of patients with VLCAD after the described incubation. This test could be used to confirm VLCAD deficiency with cardiomyopathy.

Introdução: a deficiência de acil-CoA desidrogenase de corrente muito longa (VLCAD) manifesta-se nos primeiros meses de vida com cardiomiopatia hipertrófica ou dilatada e arritmias, que podem chegar a ser letais. Objetivo: analisar a produção de metabólitos em fibroblastos de pacientes com deficiência de VLCAD e cardiomiopatia, incubados com ácido oleico deuterado. Materiais e métodos: incubaram-se fibroblastos de quatro pacientes com deficiência de VLCAD e cardiomiopatia e 10 de controles em presença de acido oleico deuterado. Resultados e conclusão: em pacientes com esta deficiência se encontrou um perfil característico depois da encubação dos fibroblastos. Esta prova se poderia usar para confirmar in vitro a deficiência de VLCAD com cardiomiopatia.

Critical illness in energy metabolism genetic disorder: rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, respiratory arrest / Enfermedad crítica por trastorno genético en el metabolismo de la energía: rabdomiolisis, lesión renal aguda, paro respiratorio

In very long-chain acylCoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCAD), the activity of this enzyme is either reduced or absent with the inability to use long-chain fatty acids as energy substrates. A 25-year old male with VLCAD was admitted to the Emergency Department of Policlinico Teaching Hospital (Modena, Italy) for generalized weakness and oliguria, after a period of physical and mental stress and inadequate compliance to a long-chain fatty acid free diet. Laboratory tests were compatible with acute kidney injury. Seventy-two hours after admission, the subject had an episode of chest pain with elevated markers of myocardial necrosis. The rapid deterioration of muscular strength and the subsequent worsening respiratory failure necessitated ventilator support within the local Medical Intensive Care Unit. There, the patient showed a prompt normalization of respiratory parameters and a steady improvement of renal function. An inadequate compliance to lifestyle and dietary restriction in VLCAD may trigger severe and potentially lethal crisis. The in-hospital management of these patients calls for early intensive care admission as their conditions may deteriorate without warning.

En el caso de deficiencia de acylCoA deshidrogenasa de cadena muy larga (VLCAD), o bien se reduce la actividad de esta enzima, o la misma se halla ausente con la consiguiente incapacidad para utilizar los ácidos grasos de cadena larga como sustratos de energía. Un hombre de 25 años fue ingresado con VLCAD fue admitido en el Departamento de emergencia del Hospital Policlínico Docente Hospital de Modena, en Italia, a causa de presentar debilidad generalizada y oliguria, después de un período de estrés físico y mental, y por no cumplir adecuadamente con una dieta libre de ácidos grasos de cadena larga. Las pruebas de laboratorio eran compatibles con una lesión renal aguda. Setenta y dos horas después de su ingreso, el sujeto tuvo un episodio de dolor en el pecho con marcadores elevados de necrosis miocárdica. El rápido deterioro de la fuerza muscular, y el posterior empeoramiento de la insuficiencia respiratoria requirieron el apoyo de un ventilador en la Unidad de Cuidados Médicos Intensivos. Una vez allí, el paciente mostró una pronta normalización de los parámetros respiratorios, y una constante mejoría de la función renal. Un inadecuado cumplimiento con las restricciones dietéticas y el estilo de vida en los casos de VLCAD, pueden desatar una crisis grave y potencialmente fatal. El tratamiento intrahospitalario de estos pacientes requiere un ingreso temprano en cuidados intensivos, ya que sus condiciones pueden deteriorarse sin previo aviso.

MCT oil-based diet reverses hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a patient with very long chain acyl-coA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency is one of the genetic defects of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation presenting in early infancy or childhood. If undiagnosed and untreated, VLCAD deficiency may be fatal, secondary to cardiac involvement. We assessed the effect of replacing part of the fat in the diet of a 2 ½-month-old male infant, who was diagnosed with VLCAD deficiency,with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil and essential fats. The patient presented with vomiting, dehydration, and was found to have persistent elevation of liver function tests, hepatomegaly, pericardial and pleural effusion, right bundle branch block, and biventricular hypertrophy. Because of the cardiomyopathy, hepatomegaly, and an abnormal acylcarnitine profile and urine organic acids, he was suspected of having VLCAD deficiency. This was confirmed on acyl-coA dehydrogenase, very long chain (ACADVL) gene analysis. He was begun on an MCT oil-based formula with added essential fatty acids, uncooked cornstarch (around 1 year of age), and frequent feeds. By 7 months of age, cardiomyopathy had reversed and by 18 months of age, all cardiac medications were discontinued and hypotonia had improved such that physical therapy was no longer required. At 5 years of age, he is at the 50th percentile for height and weight along with normal development. Pediatricians need to be aware about the basic pathophysiology of the disease and the rationale behind its treatment as more patients are being diagnosed because of expansion of newborn screen. The use of MCT oil as a medical intervention for treatment of VLCAD deficiency remains controversial mostly because of lack of clear phenotype-genotype correlations, secondary to the genetic heterogeneity of the mutations. Our case demonstrated the medical necessity of MCT oil-based nutritional intervention and the need for the further research for the development of specific guidelines to improve the care of these patients.