Abstract
This review highlights the importance of performing an autopsy when faced with fetal abortion or termination of pregnancy with suspicion of an inborn error of metabolism. Radiological, macroscopic and microscopic features found at autopsy as well as placental anomalies that can suggest such a diagnosis are detailed. The following metabolic disorders encountered in fetuses are discussed: lysosomal storage diseases, peroxisomal disorders, cholesterol synthesis disorders, congenital disorders of glycosylation, glycogenosis type IV, mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders, transaldolase deficiency, generalized arterial calcification of infancy, hypophosphatasia, arylsulfatase E deficiency, inborn errors of serine metabolism, asparagine synthetase deficiency, hyperphenylalaninemia, glutaric aciduria type I, non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, glutamine synthase deficiency, sulfite oxidase and molybdenum cofactor deficiency.
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Abbreviations
- ABCC6:
-
ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C, member 6
- AGPS:
-
Alkylglycerone phosphate synthase
- ALG:
-
Asparagine-linked glycosylation
- CDG:
-
Congenital disorders of glycosylation
- CDPX2:
-
X-linked dominant chondrodysplasia punctata-2
- CHARGE:
-
Coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, retardation, genital and ear anomalies
- CHILD:
-
Congenital hemidysplasia ichtyosis limb defect
- COG7:
-
Component of oligomeric Golgi complex 7
- CPT II:
-
Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 deficiency
- DGUOK:
-
Deoxyguanosine kinase
- ENPP1:
-
Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1
- GACI:
-
Generalized arterial calcification of infancy
- GNPAT:
-
Glyceronephosphate acyltransferase
- GRACILE:
-
Growth retardation, amino aciduria, cholestasis, iron overload, lactic acidosis, and early death
- GSDII:
-
Glycogen storage disorder type II
- GSDIV:
-
Glycogen storage disease type IV
- HES:
-
Hematoxylin eosin saffron
- IEM:
-
Inborn error of metabolism
- IUGR:
-
Intra uterine growth restriction
- LSD:
-
Lysosomal storage disorders
- MADD:
-
Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
- MPS:
-
Mucopolysaccharidosis
- PAS:
-
Periodic acid-Schiff
- PMM2:
-
Phosphomannomutase 2
- POR:
-
Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase
- RCDP:
-
Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata
- SLC39A8:
-
Solute carrier family 39 (zinc transporter), member 8
- SLO:
-
Smith-Lemli-Optiz syndrome
- SSIEM:
-
Society for the study of inborn errors of metabolism
- TAZ:
-
Tafazzin
- TOP:
-
Termination of pregnancy
- VACTERL:
-
Vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal renal and limb anomalies
- WG:
-
Weeks of gestation
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Acknowledgments
The authors particularly thank the members of the SOFFOET for providing their autopsy cases of inborn errors of metabolism. We also thank Dr Raymonde Bouvier who was our mentor in pediatric and perinatal pathology with special interests in metabolic disorders.
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Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.
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Collardeau-Frachon, S., Cordier, MP., Rossi, M. et al. Antenatal manifestations of inborn errors of metabolism: autopsy findings suggestive of a metabolic disorder. J Inherit Metab Dis 39, 597–610 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-016-9937-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-016-9937-x