Selective Screening of Fatty Acids Oxidation Defects and Organic Acidemias by Liquid Chromatography/tandem Mass Spectrometry Acylcarnitine Analysis in Brazilian Patients.

BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are diseases which can lead to accumulation of toxic metabolites in the organism. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate, by selective screening, mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation defects (FAOD) and organic acidemias in Brazilian individuals with clinical suspicion of IEM. METHODS: A total of 7,268 individuals, from different regions of Brazil, had whole blood samples impregnated on filter paper which were submitted to the acylcarnitines analysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) at the Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, during July 2008-July 2016. RESULTS: Our results showed that 68 patients (0.93%) were diagnosed with FAOD (19 cases) and organic acidemias (49 cases). The most prevalent FAOD was multiple acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), whereas glutaric type I and 3-OH-3-methylglutaric acidemias were the most frequent disorders of organic acid metabolism. Neurologic symptoms and metabolic acidosis were the most common clinical and laboratory features, whereas the average age of the patients at diagnosis was 2.3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated a high incidence of glutaric acidemia type I and 3-OH-3- methylglutaric acidemia in Brazil and an unexpectedly low incidence of FAOD, particularly medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD).

Quantitative acylcarnitine determination by UHPLC-MS/MS--Going beyond tandem MS acylcarnitine "profiles".

Tandem MS "profiling" of acylcarnitines and amino acids was conceived as a first-tier screening method, and its application to expanded newborn screening has been enormously successful. However, unlike amino acid screening (which uses amino acid analysis as its second-tier validation of screening results), acylcarnitine "profiling" also assumed the role of second-tier validation, due to the lack of a generally accepted second-tier acylcarnitine determination method. In this report, we present results from the application of our validated UHPLC-MS/MS second-tier method for the quantification of total carnitine, free carnitine, butyrobetaine, and acylcarnitines to patient samples with known diagnoses: malonic acidemia, short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) or isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (IBD), 3-methyl-crotonyl carboxylase deficiency (3-MCC) or ß-ketothiolase deficiency (BKT), and methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). We demonstrate the assay's ability to separate constitutional isomers and diastereomeric acylcarnitines and generate values with a high level of accuracy and precision. These capabilities are unavailable when using tandem MS "profiles". We also show examples of research interest, where separation of acylcarnitine species and accurate and precise acylcarnitine quantification is necessary.

Evidencia del polimorfismo 511C>T en el gen de la acil-CoA deshidrogenasade cadena corta en Colombia / Evidence of 511C>T polymorphism in the short chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene in Colombia / Evidência do polimorfismo 511C>T no gene da acil-CoA desidrogenase de cadeia curta na Colômbia

La acil-CoA deshidrogenasa de cadena corta (SCAD) cataliza la reacción inicial de la ß-oxidación de los ácidos grasos de cadena corta. La deficiencia hereditaria de SCAD ha sido reportada y han sido descritos pocos casos de la misma. El presente estudio pretendió determinar la posible presencia del polimorfismo 511C>T en Caldas (Colombia), debido a que las variantes 625G>A y 511C>T en el gen de la acil-CoA deshidrogenasa de cadena corta están presentes en el 14% de algunas poblaciones estudiadas, causando algunas veces su deficiencia. El presente estudio es descriptivo. Muestras de sangre de 300 voluntarios fueron estudiadas para el polimorfismo 511C>T mediante la técnica de polimorfismo de conformación de la cadena simple, utilizando ADN amplificado por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. Los resultados fueron confirmados por secuenciación. El polimorfismo fue identificado en tres personas aparentemente sanas. Existe evidencia de la presencia del polimorfismo 511C>T en el gen de la acil-CoA en Colombia, lo que significa que algunas personas de esta población pueden tener riesgo de sufrir su deficiencia.

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) catalyzes the initial reaction in short-chain fatty acid ß-oxidation. Hereditary SCAD deficiency has been reported and only few cases of this disorder have been described. The present study was conducted to determine the possible presence of the 511C>T variation in the short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene in Caldas (Colombia), as the 625G>A and 511C>T variations are present in 14% of some studied populations causing its deficiency on some occasions. The present study is descriptive, blood samples of three hundred adult volunteers were tested for 511C>T polymorphism, analysing the polymerase chain reaction amplified cDNA, using a single-stranded conformation polymorphism assay. The results were confirmed by direct bidirectional cycle sequencing using DNA from the positive patients. The polymorphism was identified and confirmed in three healthy persons. This is evidence of the presence of 511C>T polymorphism in the short chain acyl-coA dehydrogenase gene in Colombia, which means that some people in these populations can be at risk of suffering SCAD deficiency.

A acil-CoA desidrogenase de cadeia curta (SCAD) catalisa a reação inicial da b-oxidação dos ácidos graxos de cadeia curta. Foi reportada a deficiência hereditária de SCAD e poucos casos da deficiência foram descritos. O presente trabalho quis determinar a possível presença do polimorfismo 511C>T em Caldas (Colômbia), devido a que as variantes 625G>A e 511C>T no gene da acil-CoA desidrogenase de cadeia curta estão presentes em 14% de algumas populações estudadas, produzindo algumas vezes sua deficiência. O presente estudo é descritivo. Amostras de sangue de 300 voluntários foram analisadas para o polimorfismo 511C>T através da técnica de polimorfismo de conformação da cadeia simples, utilizando DNA amplificado por reação em cadeia da polimerase. Os resultados foram confirmados por sequenciamento. O polimorfismo foi identificado em três pessoas aparentemente saudáveis. Existe evidência da presença do polimorfismo 511C>T no gene da acil-CoA na Colômbia, o que significa que algumas pessoas desta população correm o risco de sofrer sua deficiência.

[Expanded newborn screening in the Region of Murcia, Spain. Three-years experience]. / Cribado neonatal ampliado en la Región de Murcia. Experiencia de tres años.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The early detection of inborn errors of metabolism by mass spectrometry allows expanding the traditional neonatal screening of phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism to test for aminoacidopathies, fatty acid oxidation disorders and organic acid metabolic disorders. Cystic fibrosis and biotinidase deficiency screening is implemented in the Region of Murcia. The aim of the study is to describe our experience in the expanded neonatal screening and to define the prevalence of each of the metabolic disorders early detected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since March 2007 until October 2010, a total of 71,595 neonates were screened with this expanded program by mass spectrometry, fluoroimmunoassay or colorimetric methods. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (prevalence 1:1,884) were diagnosed of inborn errors of metabolism by mass spectrometry, 13 patients of cystic fibrosis (prevalence 1:5,507), 38 of congenital hypothyroidism (prevalence 1:1,884) and one of biotinidase deficiency. To date, the global frequency of inborn errors of metabolism is estimated to be 1:804. The positive predictive value for the results obtained by mass spectrometry was 20.25%. Two false negative patients were not identified (cystic fibrosis and methylmalonic aciduria patients) and 6 non neonatal patients were detected through expanded neonatal screening. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the necessity of unifying the set of metabolic diseases to be screened in all Regions of Spain for early detection of a defined panel of inborn errors of metabolism and to provide every newborn the same opportunities to be early diagnosed.