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Antenatal manifestations of inborn errors of metabolism: autopsy findings suggestive of a metabolic disorder

  • SSIEM 2015
  • Published:
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

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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Correspondence to Sophie Collardeau-Frachon.

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Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Editorial Responsibility: Jaak Jaeken

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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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