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Aljassim N, Alfadhel M, Nashabat M, Eyaid W. Clinical presentation of seven patients with Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2020; 25:100644. [PMID: 32939339 PMCID: PMC7479436 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2020.100644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency; MTHFR (MIM 236250) is widely studied with more than 200 reported cases up to our knowledge from pediatrics to adult patients. Clinical presentation of MTHFR deficiency has a wide spectrum and its severity correlates with the degree of the enzyme activity. We report here seven pediatric cases with variable presentations including apnea at early infancy, in addition to hydrocephalus that needed drainage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Aljassim
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care, Critical Care Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid Alfadhel
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwan Nashabat
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wafa Eyaid
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Huemer M, Diodato D, Schwahn B, Schiff M, Bandeira A, Benoist JF, Burlina A, Cerone R, Couce ML, Garcia-Cazorla A, la Marca G, Pasquini E, Vilarinho L, Weisfeld-Adams JD, Kožich V, Blom H, Baumgartner MR, Dionisi-Vici C. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of the cobalamin-related remethylation disorders cblC, cblD, cblE, cblF, cblG, cblJ and MTHFR deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis 2017; 40:21-48. [PMID: 27905001 PMCID: PMC5203859 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-016-9991-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Remethylation defects are rare inherited disorders in which impaired remethylation of homocysteine to methionine leads to accumulation of homocysteine and perturbation of numerous methylation reactions. OBJECTIVE To summarise clinical and biochemical characteristics of these severe disorders and to provide guidelines on diagnosis and management. DATA SOURCES Review, evaluation and discussion of the medical literature (Medline, Cochrane databases) by a panel of experts on these rare diseases following the GRADE approach. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS We strongly recommend measuring plasma total homocysteine in any patient presenting with the combination of neurological and/or visual and/or haematological symptoms, subacute spinal cord degeneration, atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome or unexplained vascular thrombosis. We strongly recommend to initiate treatment with parenteral hydroxocobalamin without delay in any suspected remethylation disorder; it significantly improves survival and incidence of severe complications. We strongly recommend betaine treatment in individuals with MTHFR deficiency; it improves the outcome and prevents disease when given early.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Huemer
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Childrens' Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- radiz - Rare Disease Initiative Zürich, Clinical Research Priority Program, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Paediatrics, Landeskrankenhaus Bregenz, Bregenz, Austria
| | - Daria Diodato
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Research Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Bernd Schwahn
- Willink Biochemical Genetics Unit, Saint Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Manuel Schiff
- Reference Center for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Robert Debré University Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
- Inserm U1141, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, site Robert Debré, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Francois Benoist
- Reference Center for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Robert Debré University Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
- Inserm U1141, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
- Biochimie, faculté de pharmacie, Université Paris Sud, Paris, France
| | - Alberto Burlina
- Division of Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Cerone
- University Dept of Pediatrics, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria L Couce
- Congenital Metabolic Diseases Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, IDIS, CIBER, Compostela, Spain
| | - Angeles Garcia-Cazorla
- Department of Neurology, Neurometabolism Unit, and CIBERER (ISCIII), Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giancarlo la Marca
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Firence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Pasquini
- Metabolic and Newborn Screening Clinical Unit, Department of Neurosciences, A. Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Vilarinho
- Newborn Screening, Metabolism & Genetics Unit, National Institute of Health, Porto, Portugal
| | - James D Weisfeld-Adams
- Section of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Inherited Metabolic Diseases Clinic, Childrens Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Viktor Kožich
- Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Charles University-First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Henk Blom
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolism, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine University Hospital, Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias R Baumgartner
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Childrens' Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- radiz - Rare Disease Initiative Zürich, Clinical Research Priority Program, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Carlo Dionisi-Vici
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Research Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Kobow K, Blümcke I. The emerging role of DNA methylation in epileptogenesis. Epilepsia 2013; 53 Suppl 9:11-20. [PMID: 23216575 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a covalent chromatin modification, characterized by the biochemical addition of a methyl group (-CH3) to cytosine nucleotides via a DNA methyltransferase enzyme. 5'-Methylcytosine (5-mC), frequently called the fifth base, has been implicated in genome stability, silencing of transposable elements, and repression of gene expression. Through the latter, DNA methylation dynamics broadly influence brain development, function, and aging. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns, either localized to specific gene regions or scattered throughout the genome, are associated with many neurologic disorders. Herein, we discuss the emerging role of DNA methylation in epileptogenesis and the perspectives arising from epigenetic medicine as new therapeutic strategy in difficult-to-treat epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Kobow
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Prasad AN, Rupar CA, Prasad C. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency and infantile epilepsy. Brain Dev 2011; 33:758-69. [PMID: 21778025 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2011.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Revised: 05/18/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A recessively inherited defect leading to deficiency of the enzyme 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) underlies one form of hyperhomocysteinemia. We describe the association of severe MTHFR deficiency and neurological manifestations with particular attention to neurodevelopment and evolution of epileptic seizures. METHODS Case study and review of literature. RESULTS A 9 year old female infant born to Caucasian non-consanguineous parents presented with infantile spasms and developmental regression in the first year. The biochemical profile of low plasma methionine (below detectable limits), and slightly elevated homocystine (3 μmol/L (0-trace) and homocystinuria (234 μmol/gm creatinine) (0-trace amounts) was suggestive of a disturbance in homocysteine metabolism. Plasma homocysteine measurements (30.7 μmol/L, normal <13.5 μmol/L) confirmed hyperhomocysteinemia. Enzyme assay in skin fibroblasts confirmed severe MTHFR deficiency (patient 0.92, control 13.3±4.6nmol/mg/h). Molecular genetic studies identified compound heterozygosity for 2 variant polymorphisms (c.677C>T, and c.1298A>C) and a splicing mutation (c.1348+1G>A). This is a novel mutation that removes a splice site at the end of exon 7 resulting in a premature stop codon that truncates the protein, losing exons 8-11. CSF neurotransmitter analysis showed an extremely low level of 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate of <5 (40-128 nmol/L). The course of epilepsy has been characterized by progression to severe epileptic encephalopathy. Periventricular white matter change consistent with demyelination is seen on MR imaging. Treatment protocols include; oral betaine, supplementation with methionine, folic acid, and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate with questionable benefit. Epileptic seizures remain pharmacoresistant to antiepileptic medications singly and in combinations. Frequent bouts of status epilepticus have led to multiple hospitalizations, and neurosurgical interventions (corpus callosotomy, vagal nerve stimulation). At age 9 years, the patient remains severely impaired by vertebral compressive and limb fractures secondary to severe osteoporosis. CONCLUSION Severe MTHFR deficiency is an important diagnostic consideration in infantile epileptic encephalopathies. Early diagnosis and specific treatment interventions are possible. Further research is needed into effective treatment of epilepsy and prevention of complications in this disorder. Genotype and phenotype correlations will be explored in the light of available biochemical and molecular genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuri N Prasad
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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Nallamothu BK, Fendrick AM, Omenn GS. Homocyst(e)ine and coronary heart disease: pharmacoeconomic support for interventions to lower hyperhomocyst(e)inaemia. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2002; 20:429-442. [PMID: 12093299 DOI: 10.2165/00019053-200220070-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Homocyst(e)ine, a sulphur-containing amino acid, is an intermediate formed during the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine. Biological and epidemiological evidence suggest that elevated plasma levels of homocyst(e)ine are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). In the general US population, hyperhomocyst(e)inaemia is common and most often due to mild nutritional deficiencies in the B vitamins (folic acid, vitamin B(12) and vitamin B(6)). While high homocyst(e)ine levels can be effectively lowered using folic acid and other B vitamins, it is unknown whether such vitamin therapy will lead to clinical benefits. Given that strategies for homocyst(e)ine-lowering are safe and inexpensive, however, even small reductions in CHD risk will be highly cost effective. Thus, it may be prudent for patients to ensure an adequate daily intake of dietary folic acid and other B vitamins and for physicians to screen high-risk adults such as those with established CHD as we await definitive results from ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahmajee K Nallamothu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, B1F245 University Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 49109-0022, USA.
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