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Biomedical subjects

E R Baumgartner

Publications and source records attributed to E R Baumgartner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Partial 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency in an infant with fatal outcome due to progressive respiratory failure.

UNLABELLED: Isolated partial 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) deficiency has been described to be the cause for a distinct relatively mild clinical picture in a single patient. We describe another patient with isolated partial MCC deficiency who suffered from failure to thrive, muscular hypotonia and progressive respiratory insufficiency with fatal outcome at the age of 6.5 months. MCC deficiency was suspected at 3 months of age on the basis of mildly elevated urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid and 3-methylcrotonylglycine and confirmed by enzyme analysis in lymphocyte and fibroblast homogenates. Residual MCC activity in lymphocytes was 25% of the mean normal value. Residual activity in fibroblasts was lower than in lymphocytes (3.8% of mean normal) and not significantly different from that in patients with complete MCC deficiency. However, the residual incorporation of 14C-isovalerate into macromolecules in intact fibroblasts, was clearly higher (28% of mean normal) than in fibroblasts with complete MCC deficiency (<4%). In both patients with partial deficiency the residual MCC activity was higher in lymphocytes than in fibroblasts. Clinical symptoms and signs in our patient attributable to MCC deficiency include muscular hypotonia, failure to thrive (already present at birth), progressive respiratory failure due to diaphragmatic paresis and a moderate brain atrophy. The clinical presentation was more severe than in many patients with complete MCC deficiency. Dietary therapy was biochemically effective as shown by normalization of organic acid excretion, however, had no effect on the CNS symptoms. CONCLUSION: We speculate that the severity of the disease could be related primarily to deficiency of MCC activity in the brain. Variable MCC activity among various organs may explain the peculiar clinical picture in this patient.

Brain↗
PubMed1998

Late-onset holocarboxylase synthetase-deficiency: pre- and post-natal diagnosis and evaluation of effectiveness of antenatal biotin therapy.

UNLABELLED: The clinical and biochemical findings in a family with late-onset holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) deficiency are described. The index patient had two life-threatening episodes of metabolic decompensation at the age of 13 and 18 months with ketotic hypoglycaemia, vomiting and progressive loss of consciousness. The child recovered without biotin therapy. Organic aciduria characteristic of multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD) was found, however, the key metabolites were only slightly elevated in some samples. Biotinidase deficiency was considered but excluded by the finding of normal plasma biotinidase activity. The correct diagnosis was made only at the age of 19 months when severe MCD was found in lymphocytes in the presence of normal plasma biotin concentration. HCS deficiency was confirmed by fibroblast studies. Biotin therapy (20 or 40 mg/day) prevented further episodes and normalized biochemical parameters with so far normal development. During two subsequent pregnancies, 10 mg biotin/day was administered to the mother from the 20th week of gestation. At delivery plasma biotin in cord blood samples was 3 4 times higher than in maternal plasma. The 2nd child was unaffected. In the 3rd pregnancy prenatal diagnosis was performed at 16 weeks of gestation. The concentration of methylcitrate in amniotic fluid was within the normal range and that of 3-hydroxyisovalerate only slightly elevated. However, enzyme assays in cultured amniotic fluid cells were consistent with an affected fetus. At birth, carboxylase activities in lymphocytes of this newborn were only moderately decreased to 37% of mean normal. HCS deficiency was confirmed postnatally in fibroblasts. Development remains normal on biotin therapy (20 mg/day). CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis in families with milder forms of HCS deficiency has to be performed by enzyme assays in cultured amniotic cells since organic acid analysis of amniotic fluid may be inconclusive in affected fetuses. Biotin administered prenatally is effectively taken up by the fetus and prevents functional deficiency of the carboxylases in an affected newborn.

Biotin↗
PubMed1998

Delayed-onset profound biotinidase deficiency.

Children with biotinidase deficiency usually exhibit symptoms at several months to years of age. We describe four children who had symptoms later in childhood or during adolescence; they had motor limb weakness, spastic paresis, and eye problems, such as loss of visual acuity and scotomata, rather than the more characteristic symptoms observed in young untreated children with the disorder. These older children each have different mutations, but they are the same as those of children who have exhibited symptoms at an early age. Biotinidase deficiency should be considered in older children who suddenly experience limb weakness and/or spastic paresis and eye symptoms.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1998

Biotin determination by three different methods: specificity and application to urine and plasma ultrafiltrates of patients with and without disorders in biotin metabolism.

A microbiological, an avidin-binding and a streptavidin-binding method for biotin determination were compared. All three methods detected biotin equally well but they exhibit different specificities for derivatives of biotin. The microbiological assay has the highest specificity and is the method of choice for biotin determination in biotinidase-deficient patients. The specificity of streptavidin-binding has not been investigated so far. Application of the three methods to urine samples of patients with and without biotin therapy indicated that only 50% of biotin equivalents measured with the avidin method correspond to authentic biotin as previously shown. The other 50% comprise mainly bisnorbiotin and biotin-d-sulfoxide. HPLC-separation of urine samples prior to assay confirmed this finding and revealed a bisnorbiotin oxidation product and an unknown compound as further biotin metabolites. The latter was measurable by all three methods and not detectable in plasma ultrafiltrate. This was the only metabolite which was able to restore deficient 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase activity in biotin-deficient fibroblasts. The combination of the three methods together with HPLC-separation proved to be a valuable analytical tool for the identification of the main biotin metabolites in biological fluids.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Multiple carboxylase deficiency: inherited and acquired disorders of biotin metabolism.

Acquired biotin deficiency and the two known congenital disorders of biotin metabolism, biotinidase and holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) deficiency, all lead to deficiency of the 4 biotin-dependent carboxylases, i.e. to multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD). The underlying mechanism in HCS-deficiency, discovered in 1981, is decreased affinity of HCS for biotin impairing the formation of holocarboxylases at physiological biotin levels. In biotinidase deficiency, discovered in 1983, MCD results from progressive development of biotin-deficiency due to inability to liberate and recycle biotin which is lost in urine as biocytin. MCD leads to typical organic aciduria and severe life-threatening illness. Main symptoms and signs are feeding difficulties, neurologic abnormalities (hypotonia, impaired consciousness, seizures, ataxia) and cutaneous changes (rash, alopecia). However, the clinical presentation and age of onset are extremely variable, and organic aciduria may initially be absent in biotinidase deficiency. Therefore, the definitive diagnosis requires enzyme studies. MCD can be detected in lymphocytes obtained before treatment and biotinidase deficiency is confirmed or excluded by a colorimetric enzyme assay in plasma. Newborn screening for biotinidase deficiency has resulted in the detection of patients with partial deficiency (10-30% of mean normal activity) in addition to patients with profound deficiency (0-10%). Severe illness has been observed mainly in patients with O-activity or a Km-mutation, detection of which requires detailed investigation. HCS-deficiency has to be confirmed by enzyme assay in cultured cells. Both congenital disorders respond clinically and biochemically to oral biotin therapy. Whereas 10 mg/day or less is sufficient to treat profound biotinidase deficiency, the optimal biotin dose for patients with HCS-deficiency must be assessed individually. The prognosis of both disorders is good if biotin therapy is introduced early and continued throughout life. However, delayed commencement of therapy in biotinidase deficiency can result in irreversible neurological damage, and in HCS-deficiency a few patients have responded only partially even to massive biotin doses of up to 100 mg/day.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1996

Isolated biotin-resistant 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency: long-term outcome in a case with neonatal onset.

UNLABELLED: A patient with early-onset 3-methylcrotonyl coenzyme A carboxylase (MCC) deficiency showing a severe clinical course is described. Abnormal eye and head movements suggestive of seizures were noticed soon after birth. Tonic convulsions at the age of 10 weeks led to admission. Urinary organic acid analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at 3 months of age revealed elevated concentrations of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid (3HIVA) and 3-methylcrotonylglycine but normal levels of lactate, 3-hydroxypropionate and methylcitrate suggesting isolated MCC deficiency. This was confirmed by enzyme assays in lymphocytes and cultured skin fibroblasts: MCC activity was virtually undetectable whereas activities of propionyl-CoA and pyruvate carboxylases were within the normal range. A low protein (0.8-1.5 g/kg/day) diet supplemented with a leucine-free amino acid mixture resulted in a marked decrease of 3HIVA excretion. L-Carnitine and biotin administration had no effect on the clinical condition or metabolite excretion. Supplementation with glycine resulted in only a temporary fall of 3HIVA excretion and was therefore discontinued. L-Carnitine therapy was reintroduced later because of secondary carnitine deficiency. Compliance with treatment was poor until the age of 27 months resulting in a severe episode with seizures and coma. The general clinical condition of the patient was always good but his psychomotor development was delayed and seizures were not continuously under good control due to poor therapy compliance. The boy is now 10.5 years old and attending a school for children with learning handicaps. CONCLUSION: Isolated MCC deficiency of early-onset is a rare condition exhibiting a more severe clinical course than the later-onset form described in most other cases. The prognostic value of 3 HIVA measurements in CSF and serum should be evaluated in future cases.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1995

Biotinidase Km-variants: detection and detailed biochemical investigations.

We describe a simple method for the detection of biotinidase Km-variants and detailed biochemical investigations in 5 such patient. They were detected among 103 patients with plasma biotinidase activity which ranged from undetectable to 30% of the mean normal value. Two different types of biotinidase Km-variants were found. (1) In 3 infants biotinidase had a single 105-430-fold elevated Km for biocytin. Biotinidase showed very low activities (0.2-4% of the mean normal value) in the routine colorimetric assay and was not functional in vivo. Accordingly, these patients presented with classical clinical illness. (2) In two patients biotinidase showed biphasic kinetics indicating the presence of one component with a normal Km and reduced Vmax (1.7% and 12%), and another with 330- and 59-fold elevated Km, respectively. In these two patients, biotinidase proved to be at least partially functional in vivo. However, the first patient developed severe symptoms and biotin deficiency late, at the age of 10-15 years, and the second had marginal biotin deficiency at the age of 2 years but no clinical symptoms. Comparative studies revealed that both patients had more severe biotin deficiency than age-matched patients with similar levels of residual biotinidase activity and a single normal Km. Therefore, all patients with residual biotinidase activity should be evaluated for the presence of a Km-mutation, since such patients should be treated with biotin. These can easily be detected by including a second substrate concentration (1.5 mmol/L) in the routine colorimetric biotinidase assay which is performed with 0.15 mmol/L biotin. Increased activity with the higher substrate concentration indicates the presence of a Km-mutation. Detailed kinetic studies are needed to evaluate the distinct forms of Km-variants.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1994

Identification of the mutations in the T-protein gene causing typical and atypical nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

We have investigated the molecular lesions of T-protein deficiency causing typical or atypical nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) in two unrelated pedigrees. A patient with typical NKH was identified as being homozygous for a missense mutation in the T-protein gene, a G-to-A transition leading to a Gly-to-Asp substitution at amino acid 269 (G269D). Sibling patients of a second family with atypical NKH had two different missense mutations in the T-protein gene (compound heterozygote), a G-to-A transition leading to a Gly-to-Arg substitution at amino acid 47 (G47R) in one allele, and a G-to-A transition leading to an Arg-to-His substitution at amino acid 320 (R320H) in the other allele. Gly 269 is conserved in T-proteins of various species, even in E. coli, whereas Gly 47 and Arg 320 are replaced by Ala and Leu, respectively, in E. coli. The mutation occurring in more conservative amino acid residues thus results in more deleterious damage to the T-protein, and gives the severe clinical phenotype, viz., typical NKH.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Propionic acidaemia: clinical, biochemical and therapeutic aspects. Experience in 30 patients.

Comprehensive data on 30 patients with propionic acidaemia, diagnosed by selective screening for inborn errors of metabolism, are presented. The most valuable diagnostic metabolites found were methylcitric-, 3-hydroxypropionic-, and 2-methyl-3-oxovaleric acids. Hyperlysinaemia and hyperlysinuria are also characteristic findings in this disease. The metabolic pattern found in propionic acidaemia is discussed extensively as are enzymatic findings. Residual activity of propionyl-CoA carboxylase is neither a predictive marker for severity nor for outcome of the disease. Propionate fixation assays were less reliable for confirmation of propionic acidaemia and of no prognostic value. Clinical presentation of the disease is discussed in detail. Besides the well-known unspecific findings (poor appetite, feeding difficulties, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, muscular hypotonia, dyspnoea, somnolence, apathy, convulsion, coma, severe metabolic acidosis, hyperammonaemia) various skin abnormalities have been detected in about 50% of all patients. In 27% "dermatitis acidemica" was found.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1993

Na(+)-dependent biotin transport into brush-border membrane vesicles from human kidney cortex.

Renal reabsorption of biotin was investigated in human kidney by means of the isolated brush-border membrane vesicle technique. Biotin uptake into the vesicles was sodium-dependent producing a typical overshoot when incubated under sodium-gradient conditions (external concentration greater than internal). This effect was not observed in the presence of gradients of KCl, LiCl or choline-chloride, nor in the absence of any salt. Using the K+/valinomycin voltage-clamp method biotin uptake remained uninfluenced, i.e. was electroneutral, whereas glucose uptake (which is known to be electrogenic in kidney of other species) was greatly increased. When biotin transport was investigated as a function of external sodium concentration a stoichiometic coupling factor of 1 for the Na(+)-biotin- cotransport was determined. Increasing the biotin concentration in the incubation medium up to 200 mumol/l led to saturation with the kinetic parameters of 31 mumol/l for the apparent Michaelis constant and 82 nmol g protein-1 30 s-1 for the maximal transport rate. Uptake was not saturable in the concentration range of 0.001-1 mumol/l. Inhibition of the biotin uptake (25 mumol/l) was observed in the presence of 250 mumol/l dethiobiotin, bisnorbiotin, thioctic acid, and probenecid, whereas biocytin, propionic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, primidone and carbamazepine had no effect. We conclude that renal biotin reabsorption in human kidney is specifically sodium-dependent, saturable and electroneutral. It therefore fulfills the requirements for a secondary active carrier-mediated transport system. The results suggest that biocytin is not an inhibitor of renal biotin reabsorption.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1993

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-methylcrotonylglycine, 3-hydroxpropionic acid and methylcitric 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.

Biotin↗
PubMed1992

[Juvenile optic neuropathy caused by Km variants of biotinidase].

A patient with a newly recognised variant of biotinidase deficiency presented with acute bilateral visual loss at the age of 10 years. A progressive optic neuropathy, a predominantly motor type neuropathy and spastic paraparesis developed over the following 5 years. Metabolic investigations revealed biotin depletion causing multiple biotin dependent carboxylase deficiency. The basic defect was a biotin recycling disorder due to a biotinidase Km variant with residual colorimetric activity of 4.4% of normal. Further investigations on plasma biotinidase showed biphasic kinetics with two different reduced Vmax values and two Km-values, one being almost normal and the other highly elevated. After a period of 2 months of oral substitution with biotin 10 mg per day the visual field defects improved as well as the distal spastic parapareses and motor neuropathy. We conclude that the differential diagnosis of unexplained bilateral optic neuropathy of juvenile onset, particularly when associated with upper and lower motor neuron disease should include biotinidase deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A biotinidase Km variant causing late onset bilateral optic neuropathy.

A patient with a newly recognised variant of biotinidase deficiency presented with acute loss of vision at the age of 10 years. Progressive bilateral optic neuropathy, spastic paraparesis, and a predominantly motor type neuropathy developed over the next five years. Metabolic investigations revealed biotin depletion causing multiple carboxylase deficiency. The basic defect was a biotin recycling disorder due to a mutant biotinidase with residual activity of 4.4% assayed routinely. Biocytin excretion in urine was only slightly increased. Further investigations on plasma biotinidase revealed biphasic kinetics with two different reduced values for maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) and two for the Michaelis constant (Km), one being almost normal and the other considerably raised. In contrast to this patient, two age matched children with partial biotinidase deficiency (2.8% and 2.9% of normal), but with a normal Km for biocytin, remained asymptomatic. After six months of oral substitution with 10 mg biotin per day the coecocentral and peripheral scotomata regressed, the pyramidal signs in the lower limbs disappeared, and further progression of the motor neuropathy arrested. We conclude that the differential diagnosis of unexplained bilateral optic neuropathy of juvenile onset, particularly when associated with upper and lower motor neuron disease, should include biotinidase deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The gene coding for the alpha-chain of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase maps to chromosome band 13q32.

The human gene encoding the alpha-polypeptide of propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) has hitherto been localized to the distal half of the long arm of chromosome 13, segment 13q22----q34. We studied the enzyme activities of mitochondrial carboxylases in cell cultures obtained from patients with different deletions of chromosome 13. By setting the PCC activity in normal diploid cell cultures (control group) at 100%, cell cultures with trisomy 13 showed 150% activity. In contrast, one of four patients with partial monosomy 13 had an enzyme activity of only 50%. Thus, by comparative deletion mapping, combined with studies of the gene-dosage effect, we have been able to assign the PCCA gene locus to chromosome band 13q32.

Carbon-Carbon Ligases↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of patients with complete and partial biotinidase deficiency: biochemical studies.

Seventeen partially biotinidase-deficient patients detected by neonatal screening or family studies were compared with four patients with classical biotinidase deficiency. Using a sensitive HPLC method for biotinidase in plasma (substrate: biocytin) the patients could be divided into two groups: one with residual biotinidase activity, and the second with undetectable biotinidase activity (0-activity). Biocytin excretion, characteristically elevated in 0-activity patients, decreased rapidly with increasing residual biotinidase activity and was almost normal when residual activity exceeded 2-3% of mean normal. In one patient with classical disease (0-activity) biotin deficiency, typical organic aciduria and multiple carboxylase deficiency were found as early as at the second week of life. In contrast, 13 infants with residual activities from 1.2% to 23% had no remarkable clinical or biochemical abnormalities. However, in three 5-, 14- and 15-year-old healthy siblings with residual biotinidase activities between 2.3% and 4.2%, biotin deficiency was proven by decreased activities of the mitochondrial carboxylases in lymphocytes (30-57% of mean normal) and, in the older siblings, also by subnormal plasma biotin concentrations. In biotinidase deficiency, biotin depletion presumably occurs earlier in the brain than in other tissues and may thus first affect the central nervous system. For this reason and because of discrete biochemical abnormalities found in a patient with residual biotinidase activity of 8%, we suggest that at least all patients with residual activities below 10% should be treated with biotin.

Acids↗
PubMed1990

Symmetrical necrosis of the basal ganglia in methylmalonic acidaemia.

In a patient with methylmalonic acidaemia (MMAA), persistent neurological symptoms were observed in addition to the acute episodes of metabolic dysequilibrium. CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral symmetrical necrosis of the globus pallidus. Different episodes of metabolic decompensation, one with severe acidosis, had occurred. Persistent neurological symptoms in patients with MMAA who are appropriately treated suggest irreversible brain damage which appears to occur preferentially at the level of the basal ganglia.

Acidosis↗