Four Years' Experience in the Diagnosis of Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Infants Detected in Three Spanish Newborn Screening Centers.

Identification of very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency is possible in the expanded newborn screening (NBS) due to the increase in tetradecenoylcarnitine (C14:1) and in the C14:1/C2, C14:1/C16, C14:1/C12:1 ratios detected in dried blood spots. Nevertheless, different confirmatory tests must be performed to confirm the final diagnosis. We have revised the NBS results and the results of the confirmatory tests (plasma acylcarnitine profiles, molecular findings, and lymphocytes VLCAD activity) for 36 cases detected in three Spanish NBS centers during 4 years, correlating these with the clinical outcome and treatment. Our aim was to distinguish unambiguously true cases from disease carriers in order to obtain useful diagnostic information for clinicians that can be applied in the follow-up of neonates identified by NBS.Increases in C14:1 and of the different ratios, the presence of two pathogenic mutations, and deficient enzyme activity in lymphocytes (<12% of the intra-assay control) identified 12 true-positive cases. These cases were given nutritional therapy and all of them are asymptomatic, except one. Seventeen individuals were considered disease carriers based on the mild increase in plasma C14:1, in conjunction with the presence of only one mutation and/or intermediate residual activity (18-57%). In addition, seven cases were classified as false positives, with normal biochemical parameters and no mutations in the exonic region of ACADVL. All these carriers and the false positive cases remained asymptomatic. The combined evaluation of the acylcarnitine profiles, genetic results, and residual enzyme activities have proven useful to definitively classify individuals with suspected VLCAD deficiency into true-positive cases and carriers, and to decide which cases need treatment.

Enzymatic diagnosis of homocystinuria by determination of cystathionine-ß-synthase activity in plasma using LC-MS/MS.

BACKGROUND: Cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS) is released into plasma from organs expressing this enzyme. Decreased plasma CBS activity has been demonstrated in CBS-deficient patients with 16 different genotypes. The aim of this study was to determine plasma CBS activity in patients carrying 11 additional genotypes using two LC-MS/MS methods. Patients and methods CBS activity was measured in EDTA or heparin plasma using either a previously described or a newly developed LC-MS/MS method optimized for analysis of the reaction product, 3,3-(2)H2-cystathionine, as its butyl ester derivative. We analyzed plasma samples from 26 CBS-deficient patients with known genotypes and 57 controls. RESULTS: We developed a new LC-MS/MS method for simple and sensitive determination of CBS activity. Plasma CBS activity was low (i.e., 0.001-0.036 of the multiples of median control values, MoM) in patients homozygous for the prevalent Hispanic mutation c.572C>T (p.T191M) but was highly elevated (2.95 MoM) in a single patient homozygous for the c.1330G>A (p.D444N) mutation. Patients with the remaining nine genotypes exhibited decreased activities (0.00-0.22 MoM), which did not overlap with the controls (0.29-2.10 MoM). CONCLUSIONS: The determination of CBS activity in plasma is a rapid and non-invasive procedure for detecting a subgroup of CBS-deficient patients with distinct genotypes.

Creatine transporter deficiency in two adult patients with static encephalopathy.

Creatine transporter deficiency is a recently identified X-linked inborn error of metabolism. The natural course of the disease is not well delineated since clinical data from adult patients have scarcely been reported. A progressive course of the disease has been noted in a few described cases. We report the first two Spanish adult patients with creatine transporter deficiency and compare their clinical phenotype and the evolution of the disease with those of other published cases. The two brothers were identified in a study of a cohort of 610 mentally handicapped male patients. The disease was detected by biochemical studies and confirmed by DNA studies. The most significant clinical features were mental retardation, epilepsy and autistic behaviour, and these symptoms did not worsen, in contrast to other reports. They did not present gastrointestinal problems or movement disorders. Creatine transporter deficiency could be an underdiagnosed metabolic disorder and should be considered in adult patients with mental retardation. Clinical presentation of this disorder showed marked differences among adult patients and the course of the disease was static in our cases. Detection of additional adult patients might allow better understanding of the phenotypic outcome at a later age.

[Health visit to the newborn]. / Visita de salud al recién nacido.

Each child's medical record was reviewed to pick out any health problems detected in 1) the Newborn Checkup, 2) the first 15 days of life, and 3) during the child's first year. The number of visits was also recorded. Each mother was interviewed about the acceptability/usefulness of these checkups. The newborn checkup facilitates compliance with programmed checkups in the health plan for a healthy child. This program is useful to detect health problems precociously, to increase the knowledge mothers possess, to build confidence in nurses, and in general, to build up links with the pediatrics services of a health center.