Inborn errors of metabolism

Inborn errors of metabolism form a large class of genetic diseases involving congenital disorders of metabolism.[1] The majority are due to defects of single genes that code for enzymes that facilitate conversion of various substances (substrates) into others (products). In most of the disorders, problems arise due to accumulation of substances which are toxic or interfere with normal function, or to the effects of reduced ability to synthesize essential compounds. Inborn errors of metabolism are now often referred to as congenital metabolic diseases or inherited metabolic disorders.[2] The term inborn errors of metabolism was coined by a British physician, Archibald Garrod (1857–1936), in 1908. He is known for work that prefigured the "one gene-one enzyme" hypothesis, based on his studies on the nature and inheritance of alkaptonuria. His seminal text, Inborn Errors of Metabolism was published in 1923.[3]

Inborn errors of metabolism
SpecialtyMedical genetics 

Classification

Traditionally the inherited metabolic diseases were classified as disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, organic acid metabolism, or lysosomal storage diseases. In recent decades, hundreds of new inherited disorders of metabolism have been discovered and the categories have proliferated. Following are some of the major classes of congenital metabolic diseases, with prominent examples of each class. Many others do not fall into these categories.

Signs and symptoms

Because of the enormous number of these diseases and wide range of systems affected, nearly every "presenting complaint" to a healthcare provider may have a congenital metabolic disease as a possible cause, especially in childhood. The following are examples of potential manifestations affecting each of the major organ systems.

Diagnosis

Dozens of congenital metabolic diseases are now detectable by newborn screening tests, especially the expanded testing using mass spectrometry. This is an increasingly common way for the diagnosis to be made and sometimes results in earlier treatment and a better outcome. There is a revolutionary Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry-based technology with an integrated analytics system, which has now made it possible to test a newborn for over 100 mm genetic metabolic disorders.

Because of the multiplicity of conditions, many different diagnostic tests are used for screening. An abnormal result is often followed by a subsequent "definitive test" to confirm the suspected diagnosis.

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS)

Common screening tests used in the last sixty years:

  • Ferric chloride test (turned colors in reaction to various abnormal metabolites in urine)
  • Ninhydrin paper chromatography (detected abnormal amino acid patterns)
  • Guthrie bacterial inhibition assay (detected a few amino acids in excessive amounts in blood) The dried blood spot can be used for multianalyte testing using Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS). This given an indication for a disorder. The same has to be further confirmed by enzyme assays, IEX-Ninhydrin, GC/MS or DNA Testing.
  • Quantitative measurement of amino acids in plasma and urine
  • IEX-Ninhydrin post column derivitization liquid ion-exchange chromatography (detected abnormal amino acid patterns and quantitative analysis)
  • Urine organic acid analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
  • Plasma acylcarnitines analysis by mass spectrometry
  • Urine purines and pyrimidines analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Specific diagnostic tests (or focused screening for a small set of disorders):

A 2015 review reported that even with all these diagnostic tests, there are cases when "biochemical testing, gene sequencing, and enzymatic testing can neither confirm nor rule out an IEM, resulting in the need to rely on the patient's clinical course."[7]

Treatment

In the middle of the 20th century the principal treatment for some of the amino acid disorders was restriction of dietary protein and all other care was simply management of complications. In the past twenty years, enzyme replacement, gene therapy, and organ transplantation have become available and beneficial for many previously untreatable disorders. Some of the more common or promising therapies are listed:

  • Dietary restriction
    • E.g., reduction of dietary protein remains a mainstay of treatment for phenylketonuria and other amino acid disorders
  • Dietary supplementation or replacement
  • Vitamins
  • Intermediary metabolites, compounds, or drugs that facilitate or retard specific metabolic pathways
  • Dialysis
  • Enzyme replacement E.g. Acid-alpha glucosidase for Pompe disease
  • Gene therapy
  • Bone marrow or organ transplantation
  • Treatment of symptoms and complications
  • Prenatal diagnosis

Epidemiology

In a study in British Columbia, the overall incidence of the inborn errors of metabolism were estimated to be 40 per 100,000 live births or 1 in 2,500 births,[8] overall representing more than approximately 15% of single gene disorders in the population.[8] While a Mexican study established an overall incidence of 3.4: 1000 live newborns and a carrier detection of 6.8:1000 NBS [6]

Type of inborn errorIncidence
Disease involving amino acids (e.g. PKU), organic acids,
primary lactic acidosis, galactosemia, or a urea cycle disease
24 per 100 000 births[8]1 in 4,200[8]
Lysosomal storage disease 8 per 100 000 births[8]1 in 12,500[8]
Peroxisomal disorder ~3 to 4 per 100 000 of births[8]~1 in 30,000[8]
Respiratory chain-based mitochondrial disease ~3 per 100 000 births[8]1 in 33,000[8]
Glycogen storage disease 2.3 per 100 000 births[8]1 in 43,000[8]

References

  1. "Inborn errors of metabolism: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  2. "Inherited metabolic disorders - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic.
  3. Archibald Garrod. 1923. Inborn Errors of Metabolism at Electronic Scholarly Publishing site
  4. Cantú-Reyna, C.; Santos-Guzmán, J.; Cruz-Camino, H.; Vazquez Cantu, D.L.; Góngora-Cortéz, J.J.; Gutiérrez-Castillo, A. (4 February 2019). "Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency incidence in a Hispanic population". Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: 1–5. doi:10.3233/NPM-1831.
  5. Zea-Rey, Alexandra V.; Cruz-Camino, Héctor; Vazquez-Cantu, Diana L.; Gutiérrez-García, Valeria M.; Santos-Guzmán, Jesús; Cantú-Reyna, Consuelo (27 November 2017). "The Incidence of Transient Neonatal Tyrosinemia Within a Mexican Population". Journal of Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Screening. 5: 232640981774423. doi:10.1177/2326409817744230.
  6. Navarrete-Martínez, Juana Inés; Limón-Rojas, Ana Elena; Gaytán-García, Maria de Jesús; Reyna-Figueroa, Jesús; Wakida-Kusunoki, Guillermo; Delgado-Calvillo, Ma. del Rocío; Cantú-Reyna, Consuelo; Cruz-Camino, Héctor; Cervantes-Barragán, David Eduardo (May 2017). "Newborn screening for six lysosomal storage disorders in a cohort of Mexican patients: Three-year findings from a screening program in a closed Mexican health system". Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. 121 (1): 16–21. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2017.03.001.
  7. Vernon, Hilary (Jun 2015). "Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Advances in Diagnosis and Therapy". JAMA Pediatrics.
  8. Applegarth DA, Toone JR, Lowry RB (January 2000). "Incidence of inborn errors of metabolism in British Columbia, 1969-1996". Pediatrics. 105 (1): e10. doi:10.1542/peds.105.1.e10. PMID 10617747.
Classification
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