[Recent advances in inborn errors of metabolism]. / Recentes avanços em erros inatos do metabolismo.

Four aspects of advances in inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are analysed: 1) concerning the general comprehension of the pathogenesis, genic localization and genetic heterogeneity; 2) clinical aspects, with description of new variants of known IEM or new IEM; 3) laboratory diagnostic tests presently used in our country: dosage of some genetic markers (arylsulfatases, hexosaminidases, beta-glycosidase; beta-galactosidase and sphingomyelinase), newborn populational screening (for hyperphenylalaninemia, and hypothyroidism), heterozygote detection (for Tay-Sachs disease) and also some prenatal diagnosis; 4) therapeutic aspects presenting substitutive treatment, special diets, plasmapheresis and leukapheresis. The first results of 4 cases of mucopolysaccharidosis treated with the last technic are presented.