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Biomedical subjects

U von Döbeln

Publications and source records attributed to U von Döbeln.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Increased lipolysis in LCHAD deficiency.

An increasing number of fatty acid oxidation defects are being detected owing to diagnostic improvements and a greater awareness among clinicians. The metabolic block leads to energy disruption, fatty infiltration, and toxic effects on organ functions exerted by beta-oxidation metabolites. This investigation was undertaken to assess the influence of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency on lipolysis and energy turnover. We addressed the question whether the lipolysis and glucose production rates would be altered in the fasting state in a child with this disease. Lipolysis, glucose production and resting energy expenditure (REE) were studied in a 17-month-old girl with LCHAD deficiency and her healthy twin sister. Lipolysis and glucose production were determined after a 4-6 h fast by constant-rate infusion of [1,1,2,3,3-(2)H(5)]glycerol and [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. REE was estimated by indirect calorimetry. The affected girl showed 50% higher lipolysis than did her sister, whereas the glucose production rates were similar. Plasma levels of dicarboxylic acids of 6-12 carbon atoms chain length, 3-hydroxy fatty acids of 6-18 carbon atoms chain length, total free fatty acids, and acylcarnitines were increased in the patient, as was REE. Since glucose production rates and plasma glucose levels were similar in the two girls, the increased lipolysis observed in the patient probably represents a compensatory mechanism for energy generation. This is achieved at the price of an augmented risk for fatty acid infiltration and toxic effects of beta-oxidation intermediates. This highlights the importance of avoiding fasting in these patients.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase, Long-Chain↗

Pregnancy and lactation in a woman with classical galactosaemia heterozygous for p.Q188R and p.R333W.

A 31-year old patient who is compound heterozygous for the two galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase mutations p.Q188R and p.R333W delivered two healthy boys after uneventful spontaneous pregnancies. The patient chose to breast-feed her first baby and her galactose metabolites in blood and urine were monitored closely. A temporary increase in her galactose-1-phosphate (gal-1-P) levels with a maximum of 0.30 mmol/L on day 2 after delivery was observed. Galactose-1-phosphate was normalized 10 days after delivery. At the time of weaning, 8 months after delivery, her menses returned and she had normal sex steroid levels. She became pregnant again 2 months later. The second baby was also breast-fed. This time an increase in her gal-1-P values could be seen for 3 weeks with a maximum gal-1-P level of of 0.25 mmol/L at day 7. Only minor changes in her urine galactitol values were noted during the study period but the values stayed in the range of treated galactosaemia patients. We thus report that breast-feeding has been possible with only small adverse effects on the levels of galactose metabolites in a patient with classical galactosaemia.

Adult↗

Beneficial effects of dietary supplementation in a disorder with defective synthesis of cholesterol. A case report of a girl with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, polyneuropathy and precocious puberty.

In 1993 the Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome, known as a malformation syndrome characterized by certain stigma, turned out to be a metabolic disease with a defect in the last step of cholesterol biosynthesis. This led to the possibility of identifying affected individuals by biochemical methods and of increasing understanding of pathogenic mechanisms. Hopes of influencing the effects of the metabolic defect by dietary supplementation were raised and reports with some benefits of treatment have been published. This is a report of a 12-y-old girl with the SLO syndrome in an apparently progressive form. In addition to typical signs and well-known symptoms she has a verified polyneuropathy and precocious puberty. She has been treated with cholesterol and bile acids for 3 y, during which time the progressive course has been arrested. A notable effect has been the improvement of her polyneuropathy, verified by measurement of nerve conduction velocities. Possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of her precocious puberty are discussed.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Fatty acid oxidation in fibroblasts from patients with defects in beta-oxidation and in the respiratory chain.

Fatty acid oxidation has been studied with the tritium release assay in cultured fibroblasts from patients with defects in beta-oxidation and in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Cells from all patients with beta-oxidation defects and cells from 10 of 16 patients with respiratory chain defects showed an impairment of fatty acid oxidation. The result of the tritium release assay is not only dependent on the proper function of the beta-oxidation cycle but is also influenced by the reoxidation of reduced cofactors. The assay can thus be used to study the expression of respiratory chain defects in cultured fibroblasts.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗

Benefits of neonatal screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency) in Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of neonatal screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). METHODS: All children with CAH born in Sweden from January 1989 to December 1994 were subjected to a systematic follow-up. Clinical symptoms were recorded and laboratory data collected. The clinical diagnosis versus diagnosis by screening was investigated. The results were compared with those of a retrospective study of all patients diagnosed during 1969-1986 (before the introduction of neonatal screening). RESULTS: The prevalence of CAH in Sweden was 1:9800 with screening. Patients with CAH were identified earlier by screening. Half of the infants (47%) were not diagnosed at the time of recall, which was 8 days (median). In the study population, 25% of the girls and 73% of the boys were diagnosed by screening alone. The median age at the time of the definite diagnosis in boys was 21 days before screening as compared with 9 days (median) during the last part of the screening period. During the screening period, only 1 boy had a severe salt loss crisis, which occurred at the age of 8 days. Before screening, (1969-1986) 2 boys had died in the neonatal period because of an adrenal crisis. The lowest serum sodium recorded at the time of diagnosis was 124 mmol/L (median; range, 93-148) before, as compared with 134 mmol/L (median; range, 115-148) after the introduction of screening. The number of girls who were initially considered to be boys was not reduced by screening (17% vs 18%). The period of uncertainty regarding gender attributable to virilization was shortened considerably, as well as the time it took to make a correct gender assignment: 23 days (median) before screening versus 3 days (median) with screening. The maximum time it took to make the correct gender assignment was 960 days before screening and 14 days with screening. The number of patients diagnosed late, ie, after the first year of life, decreased considerably after the introduction of screening. The false-positive rate (when a new filter paper blood sample was requested or when a child was referred to a pediatrician for follow-up) was <0.05% and in about 60% of the cases, it was attributable to preterm infants. The cost of screening was US dollar 2.70 per screened infant. CONCLUSION: The main benefits of screening were avoidance of serious salt loss crises, earlier correct gender assignment in virilized girls, and detection of patients who would have otherwise been missed in the neonatal period. Deaths in the neonatal period were prevented by screening. The aim of the screening program was to identify patients with the severe forms of CAH. Nevertheless, it must be considered a distinct benefit that a number of patients with milder forms of CAH were detected earlier, because earlier therapy results in decreased virilization, normalized growth and puberty, and, in all probability, an improved psychosocial situation for these children. We conclude that, in the Swedish health care system, the benefits of screening for CAH outweigh the costs.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency with the G1528C mutation: clinical presentation of thirteen patients.

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase is one of three enzyme activities of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein. We report the clinical findings of 13 patients with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. At presentation the patients had had hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, muscle hypotonia, and hepatomegaly during the first 2 years of life. Seven patients had recurrent metabolic crises, and six patients had a steadily progressive course. Two patients had cholestatic liver disease, which is uncommon in beta-oxidation defects. One patient had peripheral neuropathy, and six patients had retinopathy with focal pigmentary aggregations or retinal hypopigmentation. All patients were homozygous for the common mutation G1528C. However, the enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase activities of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein were variably decreased in skin fibroblasts. Dicarboxylic aciduria was detected in 9 of 10 patients, and most patients had lactic acidosis, increased serum creatine kinase activities, and low serum carnitine concentration. Neuroradiologically there was bilateral periventricular or focal cortical lesions in three patients, and brain atrophy in one. Only one patient, who has had dietary treatment for 9 years, is alive at the age of 14 years; all others died before they were 2 years of age. Recognition of the clinical features of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA deficiency is important for the early institution of dietary management, which may alter the otherwise invariably poor prognosis.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗

Treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy with bone marrow transplantation.

Three children with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) between 1992 and 1993. The first boy had attention deficits, marked neuropsychological deficits and widespread demyelination in the frontal lobes on MRI before transplantation. Four years later he has mentally deteriorated and the demyelination on MRI has progressed. The second boy had no symptoms but had white matter lesions on MRI when diagnosed. He was regularly followed with MRI and neuropsychological investigations until BMT 18 months later. A progress of the lesions was noted on the initial MRI investigations, and 4 months before BMT a worsening of deficits in attention and kinaesthetic praxis could be observed. He rapidly deteriorated after the transplantation and died 18 months later. Both PCR and in situ hybridization confirmed the presence of donor cells in the brain. The third boy had no symptoms but white matter lesions on MRI when diagnosed. The neuropsychological tests remained normal but a slight progress was observed on MRI just before transplantation. This boy is still healthy 3.5 years after BMT. BMT as treatment for ALD has to be considered very early, even if a child without symptoms but signs of demyelination on MRI, if a suitable donor is available.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in galactosaemia.

Carbohydrate-deficient isoforms of transferrin (CDT) were examined in Guthrie cards from patients with galactosaemia before and during dietary treatment for up to 9 y. In untreated patients the CDT values were elevated due to abnormal asialo- and/or disialotransferrin. During treatment, the CDT levels were normal except on a few temporary occasions. Galactose or its close metabolites did not inhibit two relevant glycosyltransferases in vitro, and their levels were not correlated to the CDT values. The transferrin isoform changes in untreated patients were similar to, but less pronounced than in CDG syndrome type I.

Biomarkers↗

Muscle morphology and mitochondrial investigations of a family with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia and retinal degeneration mapped to chromosome 3p12-p21.1.

The autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCA) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders with ataxia and dysarthria as early and dominant signs. In ADCA type II, retinal degeneration causes severe visual impairment. ADCA type II has recently been mapped to chromosome 3p by three independent groups. In the family with ADCA type II studied here, the disease has been mapped to chromosome 3p12-p21.1. Histochemical examination of muscle biopsies in 5 cases showed slight neurogenic atrophy and irregular lobulated appearance or focal decreases of enzyme activity when staining for NADH dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. Ragged-red fibres were scarce. Electron microscopic examination showed uneven distribution of mitochondria with large fibre areas devoid of mitochondria and/or large subsarcolemmal accumulations of small rounded mitochondria, and frequent autophagic vacuoles. These vacuoles contained remnants of multiple small rounded organelles, possibly mitochondria, and had a remarkably consistent ultrastructural appearance. Biochemical investigation of mitochondrial function showed reduced activity of complex IV and slightly reduced activity of complex I in the respiratory chain in a severely affected child while no abnormalities were found in his affected uncle.

Adult↗

Antiepileptic drug treatment during pregnancy and neonatal screening results.

Many antiepileptic drugs induce hepatic metabolic enzymes and thus enhance metabolism of steroid and thyroid hormones. Antiepileptic drugs readily cross the placenta and the foetal liver is metabolically active. We therefore evaluated the neonatal screening results of TSH and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in 34 study children and their matched controls. There were no statistically significant differences in the results between the groups.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Severe mental retardation in 2 to 24-month-old children in Lahore, Pakistan: a prospective cohort study.

Severe mental retardation (developmental quotient (DQ) < 50) was investigated in 1303 children from 2 to 24 months of age, born during 1984-87 in four population groups representing different socio-economic levels in and around Lahore, Pakistan. The incidence per 1000 live births was 22 in the periurban slum, 9 in the urban slum, 7 in the village and 4 in the upper middle class group. The aetiology was prenatal in 79%, perinatal in 14% and untraceable in 7% of cases. Down's syndrome was the most common cause of severe mental retardation (36%). Impairments were studied at 2 years of age. Impairment of language was present in all, while locomotor dysfunction was seen in 89% of cases. Epilepsy and cerebral palsy were each present in 22% of cases. Mortality among these severely mentally retarded children was 36%.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Dystonia and dyskinesia in glutaric aciduria type I: clinical heterogeneity and therapeutic considerations.

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA-I) is an inborn error in the degradation of lysine, hydroxylysine, and tryptophan due to a deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Glutaric, 3-OH-glutaric, and glutaconic acids are excreted in the urine, particularly during intercurrent illness. The enzyme may be assayed in leukocytes, cultured fibroblasts and chorionic villi. Twelve new cases, 9 months-16 years of age, are reported, comprising all known cases of GA-I in Sweden and Norway. Ten had a severe dystonic-dyskinetic disorder, one had a mild hyperkinetic disorder, and one was asymptomatic. Two children died in a state of hyperthermia. Carnitine deficiency and malnutrition developed in patients with severe dystonia and dysphagia, which necessitated substitution and gastrostomy. A slowly progressive dyskinetic disorder developed in spite of adequate early dietary treatment in one subject. Macrocephaly was found in three. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance investigations in 10 showed deep bitemporal spaces in 7. Neuropsychological testing of 8 of 12 subjects demonstrated receptive language function to be superior to expressive language and motor function. Cognitive functions were obviously less affected than motor functions. A review of 57 pooled cases showed that a severe dystonic syndrome developed in 77%, a mild extrapyramidal syndrome in 10%, and 12% were asymptomatic. This disorder may pass undetected in the cerebral palsy and mentally retarded child and adult populations. Repeated urine examinations of organic acids in the urine and enzyme assay may be necessary to confirm GA-I.

Adolescent↗