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Olivieri G, Martinelli D, Longo D, Grimaldi C, Liccardo D, Di Meo I, Pietrobattista A, Sidorina A, Semeraro M, Dionisi-Vici C. Ethylmalonic encephalopathy and liver transplantation: long-term outcome of the first treated patient. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:229. [PMID: 34011365 PMCID: PMC8136189 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01867-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE) is a severe intoxication-type metabolic disorder with multisystem clinical features and leading to early death. In 2014, based on the promising results obtained by liver-targeted gene therapy in Ethe1−/− mouse model, we successfully attempted liver transplantation in a 9-month-old EE girl. Here we report her long-term follow-up, lasting over 6 years, with a comprehensive evaluation of clinical, instrumental and biochemical assessments. Results Neurological signs initially reverted, with a clinical stabilization during the entire follow-up course. Accordingly, gross motor functions improved and then stabilized. Psychomotor evaluations documented an increasing communicative intent, the acquisition of new social skills and the capability to carry out simple orders. Neurophysiological assessments, which included EEG, VEP/ERG and BAEPs, remained unchanged. Brain MRI also stabilized, showing no further lesions and cerebral atrophy improvement. Compared to pre-transplant assessments, urinary ethylmalonic acid strikingly reduced, and plasma thiosulphate fully normalized. The child maintained good clinical conditions and never experienced metabolic crises nor epileptic seizures. Conclusions The long-term follow-up of the first EE transplanted patient demonstrates that liver transplantation stabilizes, or even improves, disease course, therefore representing a potentially elective option especially in early-diagnosed patients, such as those detected by newborn screening, before irreversible neurological damage occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Olivieri
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Martinelli
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Longo
- Neuroradiology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Grimaldi
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation and Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Research Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Liccardo
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Bambino Gesù Children's Research Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivano Di Meo
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Pietrobattista
- Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Bambino Gesù Children's Research Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Sidorina
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Semeraro
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Dionisi-Vici
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
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