Severe Neonatal Metabolic Decompensation in Methylmalonic Acidemia Caused by CblD Defect

Abstract

CblD disorder is an autosomal recessive, rare, heterogeneous disease with variable clinical presentations, depending on the nature and location of the MMADHC gene mutations. Mutations in MMADHC lead to three distinct phenotypes: cblD-MMA, cblD-HC, and cblD-MMA/HC. To date, 18 cblD patients have been reported. Six of them were affected by cblD-MMA, but only three had a known clinical history. One of these patients presented with a metabolic decompensation at 11 months; the second one, born prematurely, was diagnosed with cblD after being treated for intracranial hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, and convulsions at birth; the third one was diagnosed at 5 years of age.

Here we present a case of a cblD-MMA patient who had an acute neonatal onset with severe hyperammonemia requiring hemodiafiltration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first cblD-MMA patient who presented acutely in the newborn period. He has developed well upon treatment with B₁₂, carnitine, and hypoproteic diet. At present time, at the age of 7, he shows normal growth and cognitive development. Thus, it is likely that the aggressive treatment of this child with hemodiafiltration might have prevented him from long-term neurological sequelae. Overall, this case shows that even severe, neonatal-onset patients may display a vitamin B₁₂-responsive MMA. Furthermore, it suggests that an early treatment with vitamins might be beneficial for patients presenting with neonatal-onset hyperammonemia regardless of the suspected disease and before receiving the biochemical diagnosis.

Competing interests: None declared

Synopsis

CblD defect with unusual acute neonatal onset requiring hemodiafiltration.