ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evauluate the relationship between propionic acidemia (PA) and cardiomyopathy. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively compared clinical and metabolic results of patients with PA with and without cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: Of 26 patients with PA who survived the first year of age, a dilated cardiomyopathy developed in 6 (group 1) at a median age of 7 years (range, 5-11 years). They were compared with 14 patients without cardiomyopathy for whom data were available (group 2). Their median age at the time of the study was 11 years (range, 3-21 years). PA was diagnosed in the neonatal period in 5 of 6 patients in group 1 and 11 of 14 patients in group 2. All patients received similar medical treatment. Two patients in group 1 died of cardiac arrest. In 2 patients, the cardiomyopathy was reversed during the year after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In 2 other patients, OLT was contraindicated because of severe heart disease. The number of metabolic distress episodes was similar in both groups. Excretion of propionate metabolites in urine did not correlate with the occurrence of cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: Dilated cardiomyopathy, a frequent complication of PA, develops independent of any specific metabolic profile and is reversible after OLT.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/etiology , Liver Transplantation , Propionic Acidemia/complications , Propionic Acidemia/surgery , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/metabolism , Carnitine/administration & dosage , Carnitine/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Propionates/metabolism , Propionic Acidemia/diagnosis , Propionic Acidemia/metabolism , Retrospective Studies , Vitamin B Complex/administration & dosageABSTRACT
We describe the clinical, biochemical, and molecular characteristics of 31 patients with hepatic respiratory chain deficiencies to suggest possible guidelines for a liver biopsy. Initially, 67% of the children did not have any sign of hepatic dysfunction, and 35% presented exclusively with neurologic symptoms. Initial hyperlactacidemia was severe in 52%. Mortality was high (52%) and more marked in newborns; 28% never developed hepatic disease over time despite long-term follow-up. Hepatic, nonspecific multisystem initial symptoms, and constant hyperlactacidemia had significant statistical value as negative prognosis factors. We conclude that liver biopsy should be considered not only in patients with hepatic involvement, but also in patients with predominant neurologic disorders if there is a suspicion of a mitochondrial respiratory chain defect.