Clinical correlates Flashcards
Systemic carnitin edeficiency
. Presents at an earlyage • Characterized by hypoglycemia due to impaired gluconeogenesis (remember, acetyl CoA is an activator of pyruvate carboxylase) • Also, ketogenesis is decreased if liver carnitine is deficient
Biochemical consequences of MCAD deficiency
Decreased β- oxidation: • Decreased β oxidation of medium chain fatty acids• C8-C10 acyl carnitines in blood• Increased flux through ω-oxidation (Dicarboxylic acids in urine) Hypoglycemia: • Decreased utilization of fatty acids by peripheral tissues• Increased reliance on glucose as an energy source• Decreased ATP and acetyl CoA to activategluconeogenesis Hypoketonemia: • Decreased β-oxidation in liver• Decreased substrate for ketogenesis (acetyl CoA)
Myopathic carnitine deficiency Characteristics
Characterized by muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy (presents at a later age) • Presence of CK-MM and myoglobin in urine indicates skeletal muscle damage
CPT-I and CPT-II deficiency
• CPT-I deficiency is characterized by a hypoglycemia and predominantly affects the liver isoform (systemic form) – Serum carnitine levels are usually elevated • CPT-II deficiency is characterized by cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness (myopathic form). Lipid deposits (triglycerides) are found in skeletal muscle. Prolonged exercise results in myoglobinuria and elevated CK-MM levels in serum
Zellweger syndrome
Defective peroxisomal oxidation of long chain fatty acids • Levels of C-26 fatty acids in circulation are increased. • Neurological manifestations (delayed development) and extensive demyelination are seen • Hepatomegaly and hepatocellular failure • Usually fatal in infancy
Refsum disease
• A disorder characterized by deficiency of the peroxisomal phytanyl CoA alpha-hydroxylase (defect in alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid dietary branched chain fatty acid, found in dairy)• In this disorder, phytanate accumulates in tissues, especially the neurologic tissues • Characterized by visual defects, ataxia and polyneuropathy and skeletal manifestations• Management includes dietary restriction of branched chain fatty acids
SLOS (Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome)
- Genetic defect of cholesterol synthesis (autosomal recessive)
- Cause: 7-dehydrocholesterol Reductase, needed for the correct double bond formation in ring B, is partially deficient.
- Relatively common, leads to microencephaly and other embryonic malformations.
- Surviving children have an IQ 20-40
Cushing’s syndrome: Characteristic, Cause, Symptoms
● High cortisol concentration and low ACTH concentration in plasma (high cortisol in urine) ● This is due to a hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex, usually due to an adrenocortical tumor ● Glucocorticoid excess leads to protein loss and to characteristic fat distribution Characteristic fat distribution in the: -Face -Neck -Truncus -Hirsutism -Early pubic hair development
Addison’s disease:Primary adrenal cortical insufficiency
● Adrenal cortex atrophy due to disease
● Mostly by autoimmune destruction
● Aldosterone and cortisol levels are low, and ACTH is high, which does not lead to hyperplasia due to cortex atrophy
Symptoms: Failure to thrive Muscle weakness, Fatigue, Weight loss Hyperpigmentation Salt craving Hyponatremia Hyperkalemia Hypovolemia Hypotension Abdominal pain Vomiting, Constipation
Hypoalphalipoproteinemiashows
very low serum HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dl
Shows very low serum HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dl.
If it is acquired, it is related to _obesity, smoking, some medical drug_s and also to cholesterol reducing drugs.
Normal levels of HDL are in the range of 40-70 mg/dL. Lower levels can be a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Tangier disease (Hereditary Disease): Cause & Symptoms
Cause: Tangier disease is related to a defective cholesterol ABC transporter in the plasma membrane.This leads to less substrate for LCAT and to early degradation of the lipid poor apo A-1 & HDL.
Symptoms: Childhood to coronary disease, corneal opacities and orange tonsils, also enlargement of liver and spleen.
Abetalipoproteinemia: Cause, Characteristics, Symptoms
Cause: This hypolipidemia is due to a defect in the microsomal TAG transfer protein (MTP) which normally interacts with apo B and is needed for the formation of VLDL or CM.MTP (or MTTP) is essential for the assembly of chylomicrons and VLDL.
Characteristic: very low amounts of serum VLDL, LDL and chylomicrons.
Symptoms: fat malabsorption and TAG accumulation in liver and intestine, retinitis pigmentosa and peripheral neuropathy.
3-B Hydroxysteroid DH deficiency
- No mineralcorticoid, glucorcorticoid, active androgens or estrogens - Marked excretion of salt in urine - Female like genitalia
17-alpha hydroxylase Deficiency
- No sex hormones, no cortisol - Overproduction of mineralcorticoids–> sodium & fluid retention–> hypertension - Female like genitalia
21 Hydroxylase Deficiency
- Most common CAH
- Partial and complete deficiencies are known. Absent glucocorticoid & mineralcorticoid (Classic form). Or deficient glucocorticoid & mineralcorticoid (non-classic form)
- Overproduction of androgens–> masculinization of ext genitalia in females and early virilization in males
11B Hydroxylase deficiency
- low aldosterone, cortisol, corticosterone in serum - increased production of deoxycorticosterone cause fluid retention. It also inhibits renin/angiotensin system–> low renin hypertension - Masculinization ext genitalia in females & early virilization males
Cholesterol Type I
Hyperchylomicronemia
• High levels of chylomicrons in blood after a fast of 12-14 hrs. Cause: Genetic deficiency of LPL(Type Ia) or of apo C-II (Type Ib) or presence of a LPL inhibitor protein (Type Ic)
Symptoms:
- Childhood onset, often abdominal colic
- Eruptive XANTHOMAS on the skin of the trunk, buttock or extremities.
- The patient’s blood shows in a vial lipemic plasma which is characterized by a creamy layer on top with clear infranatant.
- Patients can encounter lipemia retinalis, hepatosplenomegaly, irritability and recurrent epigastric pain with increased risk of pancreatitis
Cholesterol Type IIa: Characteristic, Cause, Symptoms
Familial Hypercholesterolemia
• High levels of LDL with normal VLDL
Cause: Defective LDL-receptor (autosomal dominant) Symptoms:
• The heterozygous form occurs in 1:500. Adult onset, risk of coronary heart disease. The homozygous form occurs in 1:1million. Childhood onset, risk of MI and death in childhood.
Symptoms: xanthoma over tendon and xanthelasmas
Type IIb Characteristic, Causes
Characteristic: Familial combined hyperlipidemiaonset in puberty, prevalence 1:100(1:10 in patients with cardiovascular disease)
Characteristics: high serum LDL and high VLDL
Causes very complex:overproduction of apo B-100?or overproduction of VLDL?or defective clearance of LDL?It most likely involves several genes
Cholesterol Type III Characteristic, Cause, Symptom
Dysbetalipoproteinemia (rare)
Characteristic: High remnants: IDL and chylomicron remnants due to apo E deficiency (homozygous for less functional apo E-2), [b-VLDL]
Cause: Apo E deficiency
Symptoms: Type III is characterized by palmar xanthomas and tubereruptive xanthomas over the elbows and knees.
Adult onset with accelerated atherosclerosis
Type IV (common about 1:100) Characteristic, Cause, Symptom
Hyperlipidemia
Characteristic:Hyperprebetalipoproteinemia, High serum VLDL
Cause: LPL deficiency or overproduction of VLDL High serum TAG can lead to pancreatitis
Cholesterol Hyperlipidemia Type V
Hypertriacylglycerolemia
High serum VLDL and high chylomicrons
Patients serum: creamy layer of top and turbid infranatant
Tay-Sachs: Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms
Enz: B-Hexosaminidase Accumulating substrate: Ganglioside (GM2) Symptoms: Neurodegeneration at 3-6 months, blindness, development milestone delay, cherry spot macula, onion shell in lysosomes, fatal by 2-6 years
Gaucher disease: Enz, Accumulating substrate, symptoms
Enzyme: B-Glucosidase Accumulating substrate: Glucosyl ceramide (glucocerebroside) Symptoms: Macrophages filled with glucocerebroside, Hepatosplenomegaly, osteoporosis of long bones.
Fabry disease: Enz, Accumulating substrate, symptoms
Enz: Galactosidase Accumulating substrate: Globoside (aka ceramide trihexoside) Symptoms: Perioheral neuropathy, Globoside accumulates in bv of nerves, heart, kidney & skin. Children susceptible to kidney damage, heart attack & stroke. Angiokeratoma
Niemann-Pick disease: Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptpms
- Enz: Sphingomyelinase
- Accumulating substrate: Sphingomyelin
- Symptoms: Type A: death 2-3 years, Cherry red spot in macula Type B: Hepatosplenomegaly, foamy cells
Metachromatic leukodystrophy: Enz, Accumulating substrate, symptoms
Enz: Aryl Sulfatase Accumulating substrate: Sulfatide Symptoms: Progressive paralysis, Demyelination
I cell disease: Cause, Characteristic, Symptoms
Cause: Defect in trafficking enzymes to lysosomes. Golgi fails to add mannose-6-P marker to enzymes. These Enz secreted in blood. Characteristic: Accumulatikn glycoaminoglycans and sphingolipids in lysosomes. Intracytoplasmic inclusion in fibroblast called Inclusion cells (I-cells) Symptoms: similar to Hurler but more severe and earlier onset. Propotic eyes, full & prominent mouth caused by gingival hypertrophy, umbilical hernia.
Pomp disease: Enz, accumulating substrate, symptoms
Enz: Lysosomal acid Maltese (1–> 4 Glucosidase) Acc: Glycogen in heart, muscle, liver & kidney Symptoms: Cardiac failure, myopathy, Hepatocellular failure.
Acute Intermittent Porphyria Enzyme deficient, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment, Comment
Deficient Enzymes: Hydroxymethylbilane synthase (porphobilinogen deaminase) Genetic defect autosomal dominant trait
Accumulating substrate: ALA (can act like GABA) and Porphobilinogen
Symptoms: dark color urine due to formation of Porphobilinogen, very severe abdominal pain, abdominal colic, highly agitated state, tachycardia, respiratory problems, nausea, confusion, mental disturbance, **weakness of lower extremities. **
Patients are not photosensitive, as HMB cannot be formed, however, ALA and porphobilinogen accumulate and at very high levels can act as neurotransmitters.ALA has a similar structure to GABA
Treatment: pain medication, intravenous glucose and saline infusion. [_hypoglycemia induces ALAS1 synthesis]_In severe cases, intravenous hemin administration may be needed (Hemin is ferric protoporphyri )
Congenital Erythpoeitic Porphyris Deficient Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment
Deficient Enz: Deficiency of uroporphyrinogen III synthase (formed by alternative splicing)
Genetic defect autosomal recessive trait
Accumulating substrate: Uroporphyrin 1 and Coproporphyrin 1
Symptoms: extremely painful photosensitivity, severe damage to skin beginning in childhood, blisters, poor wound healing, ulcers, infections, hypertrichosis, ** can include reddish-brown teeth**, “werewolf” features, hairy front and arms
Treatment: bone marrow transplantation
Porphyria cutaneous Tarda
Deficient Enz, Substrate accumulation, symptoms, treatment
Deficient Enzyme: Deficiency of uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase. Type I (sporadic, 80%) Type II (familial, autosomal dominant trait, 20%)
It’s the most common porphyria and often due to a chronic disease of the liver. Liver damage can lead to acquired PCT. (hepatitis, ethanol abuse)
Accumulating substrate: Uroporphyrin 3
Symptoms: Urine is red Cutaneous lesions and accumulation of the red uroporphyrin III in skin and also in the liver.
Erosions and bullous lesions in sun-exposed areas of the patients are produced by minor trauma because of increased skin fragility.These lesions heal with scarring, pigment changes, and formation of small white papules
Treatment: avoidance of sunlight, iron, & alcohol
Wilson’s disease
. Characteristic: Low ceruloplasmin levels are found in Wilson’s disease • Cause: deficiency of a COPPER-TRANSPORTING ATPase which is needed to link copper to ceruloplasmin and is also needed to release copper into BILE. • Apoceruloplasmin is released from the liver into serum and as it is without copper, it is degraded in serum. • Symptoms: Damage due to copper accumulation in liver, brain, eyes, “Kayser-Fleischer rings” and kidney.
Phenylketonuria 1 (Classic PKU) Deficient Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment. Comments
- Phenylalanine Hydroxylase (PAH) - Phenylalanine, Phenylpyruvate, Phenylacetate, phenylactate - Delay in milestones and low IQ, seizures, MOUSEY ODOR URINE, decreased pigmentation of skin and hair. - Dietary restriction of Phenylalanine (low protein diet), avoid eggs, meat…; avoid Aspartame & Use Sapropterin (synthetic BH4) if Enz has low affinity for BH4,Tyrosine now essential aa Comments: Autosomal recessive. Guthrie test, mass spec & fluorimetric assay. Melanin is inhibited by high Phe conc (inhibits tyrosinase)
Maternal PKU: Deficient Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms,Treatment, Comments
- Phenylalanine Hydroxylase (of mother) - Phenylalanine, phenylpyruvate - Microencephaly, mental retardation, congenital heart defects of foetus/newborn. - Mother must maintain low level of Phe before conception & during pregnancy. Comments: Elevated Phe has teratogenic properties. Maternal PKU syndrome occurs even though the fetus is NOT deficient in PHA (fetus heterozygous)
PKU 2 & 3
-Deficiency of dihydrobiopterin reductase (II) or dihydrobiopterin synthesis (III) leading to a lack of the essential coenzyme tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) - phenylalanine, Phenylpyruvate - Much more severe CNS symptoms – worse than Type I; decreased neurotransmitter synthesis (serotonin, dopamine, catecholamines) [also dependent on BH4] - Treatment includes low phe diet and providing dietary supplements of biopterin and precursors of the neurotransmitters
Alkaptonuria Deficient Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment
- Homogentisic acid oxidase is deficient -Homogentisate - Discoloration of cartilage and connective tissue (Ochronosis) Due to excess of homogentisic acid (Homogentisic aciduria), Darkening of urine on standing & may cause severe arthritis. -Dietary restriction of phe & tyr may reduce deposition of homogentisic acid
Tyrosinosis (Tyrosinemia type I & II) Deficient Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment
Type I - deficiency of Fumaryl acetoacetate hydrolase [catalyses laststep in tyrosine degradation]
Symptoms for Type 1: Manifestations are severe and usually fatal. Accumulation of fumarylacetoacetate causes liver and kidney damage. Death due to liver failure within first year -
Type II - deficiency of Tyrosine aminotransferase [catalyses conversion of tyrosine to p-hydroxyphenylalanine]
Symptoms Type 2: Leads to lesions in the eye and skin. Manifestation of neurological problems.
- Patients may respond to low phenylalanine and tyrosine diets.
Maple Syrup Urine disease (MSUD) Deficient Enz, Accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment, Comments
- Deficiency in Branched-chain a-ketoacid dehydrogenase - Accumulation of BCAA and associated a- ketoacids. - Ketosis and the characteristic odour of maple syrup in the urine - the first symptoms develop. Symptoms develop in neonates aged 4-7 days • Presents with poor feeding, vomiting, poor weight gain and increasing lethargy. •Neurological signs develop rapidly •Coma and death of the child in early infancy. - Treatment is by dietary restriction of branched chain amino acids Supplementation of dietary thiamine (coenzyme) may be useful in patients that have an enzyme with low coenzyme affinity - Comments: Problems of treatment: – Very difficult to treat – BCAA are very abundant in most protein sources – The 3 BCAA are all essential – Catabolic states mobilize tissue protein which then releases amino acids to metabolism
Methylmalonic aciduria Deficient Enz, accumulating substrate, Symptoms, Treatment, Comments
- Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase – Accumulation of methylmalonyl-CoA. Then qConverted to methylmalonic acid (accumulation). Causes metabolic acidosis and methylmalonic acidaemia/methylmalonic aciduria. - Methylmalonyl-CoA is also sometimes used instead of malonyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis. Leads to branched fatty acids into membranes - results in neurological problems: seizures, encephalopathy - On diagnosis, children are usually placed on a gastrostomy tube for feeding at regular intervals • They are given special diets low in branched chain amino acids on diagnosis • Milder form of the disease due to reduced affinity for coenzymes • Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) supplementation.