eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Genetics and Metabolic Disease > Metabolic Diseases

Propionic Acidemia (Propionyl CoA Carboxylase Deficiency)

Author: Karl S Roth, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Creighton University School of Medicine
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Updated: Aug 24, 2007

Introduction

Background

In 1961, Childs et al published the earliest clinical report of a patient who was ultimately found to be affected by a deficiency of propionyl coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase. These authors noted a series of severe ketoacidotic episodes in the child that were precipitated by protein ingestion (specifically, methionine and threonine administration) but manifested by marked elevations in plasma and urinary glycine levels. Because of these observations, the disease was given the name ketotic hyperglycinemia, a phenomenological term that inadvertently drew investigators' efforts toward a defect in glycine metabolism and delayed elucidation of the biochemical basis. The clinical hallmark of the disease is severe ketoacidosis of an episodic nature.

In 1969, Hsia et al described the underlying defect in propionate carboxylation that occurs in patients with ketotic hyperglycinemia.¹ Simultaneously, Morrow et al described the concurrence of methylmalonic acidemia and ketotic hyperglycinemia; thus, although the condition had been previously considered a single disorder, it was subsequently recognized on clinical grounds to be composed of least 2 different diseases.²

In 1971, subsequent studies by Hsia et al of the original patient's sister demonstrated a specific defect in propionyl CoA carboxylase.³ The study also delineated propionic acidemia from methylmalonic acidemia as a distinct biochemical disorder. Subsequent work led to further delineation of another disorder, initially called multiple carboxylase deficiency, which includes deficiency of propionyl CoA carboxylase activity in addition to defects in other carboxylases.

The defect may be present at either of 2 different gene loci. One locus, on chromosome 13, controls synthesis of the a subunit of the tetrameric enzyme apoprotein; the second locus, on chromosome 3, controls synthesis of the b subunit. The 2 types of mutations are categorized as PCCA and PCCB (also PCCC) complementation groups, distinguishable from each other by complementation studies of cultured fibroblasts in vitro.

Pathophysiology

The formation of propionyl CoA in human metabolism is derived from many sources, chiefly catabolism of a number of essential amino acids (isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine). Other sources of propionyl CoA include odd chain-length fatty acids and the side chain of cholesterol, although these probably contribute very little in relation to the amino acid sources. Accumulation of the 3-carbon fatty acyl-CoA within the mitochondrion leads to decreased free CoA for other reactions, which is alleviated by conversion of propionyl CoA to propionyl-carnitine.

Propionyl-carnitine is transported out of the cell and excreted in urine, while the mitochondrial CoA, thus freed, can participate in other reactions or once again become involved in formation of propionyl CoA. The relative reaction rates of these simultaneous processes stand between a tenuously balanced state of equilibrium and severe ketoacidosis. Carnitine deficiency can precipitate a clinical episode by disruption of the balance. Obviously, enhanced dietary protein intake has the same net effect by flooding the mitochondrion with propionyl CoA.

A common clinical finding is mild-to-moderate blood ammonia elevation, which may contribute by direct neurotoxicity to changes in a patient's mentation. Studies suggest that the underlying cause of the hyperammonemia is the inhibition of N -acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) activity by free propionic acid. Since N -acetylglutamate (NAG) is the allosteric activator of carbamoylphosphate synthase, the entry step into the urea cycle, decreased ureagenesis occurs with accumulation of free ammonia.

Additional evidence suggests that plasma glutamine-to-glutamate ratios decrease with increasing plasma ammonia concentration; simultaneously, urinary methylcitrate excretion increases while urinary citrate diminishes. Taken together, these data might suggest mitochondrial impairment, with inability to produce adequate alpha-ketoglutarate as substrate for formation of glutamate. This hypothesis, while attractive, has not been validated. The free organic acid has also been demonstrated to inhibit bone marrow production of leukocytes, red cells, and platelets. Pancytopenia is common and usually occurs 2-3 days after the acute presentation.

The reason for elevation of serum glycine levels is unclear, although studies show inhibition of glycine cleavage to 1-carbon fragments. Unlike ketoacidosis and hyperammonemia, elevation of glycine in the circulation is not known to be harmful. Thus, propionic acidemia manifests as clinical signs and symptoms of acidosis and hyperammonemia, including tachypnea, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, shock, coma, and death.

Frequency

United States

The incidence rate is estimated to be approximately 1 per 100,000 live births. The caveat here is that population screening programs for the disease are not available in most areas; thus, this figure rests on clinical diagnosis. Because mild and even asymptomatic cases in which persons are genetically affected have been reported, the incidence is likely an under-representation of the true occurrence rate of homozygosity in the US population.

International

Although the disease is generally quite rare, the incidence rate has been reported to be as high as 1 per 2000 to 1 per 5000 births in areas of the world with restricted gene pools, such as Saudi Arabia.

Mortality/Morbidity

• In most patients in whom presentation occurs in infancy with full-blown symptoms, the morbidity is very high. Severe ketoacidosis with pH values as low as 6.80 may cause circulatory shock, hypoxia, and irreparable brain damage.
• Repetitive hyperammonemia causes neurotoxicity with neuronal cell death leading to mental retardation.
• The pancytopenia commonly seen after clinical presentation renders the patient vulnerable to infection, which may become overwhelming and result in death.
• Death can occur at any time from an acute episode.

Sex

Propionyl CoA carboxylase deficiency is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait; therefore, no sex bias is observed.

Age

Like many autosomal recessive traits, multiple mutations at a single gene locus can account for various clinical severities, especially given the potential for mixed heterozygosity.

Clinical

History

• Many affected infants initially present in the first month of life, often with failure to thrive due to feeding intolerance and vomiting. Somnolence is also often a part of the history; thus, poor feeding may be erroneously attributed to CNS disorders.
• Other infants have a fulminant initial presentation, with rapidly developing ketoacidosis, dehydration, shock, and a precedent history of lethargy, poor feeding, and rapid breathing that only extends over 1-2 days.
• As a rare autosomal recessive disease, a family history of similarly affected infants is extremely unlikely.
• Occasionally, an older infant or young child may have a lifelong history of episodic lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, and acidosis that has responded to short hospital stays with intravenous glucose and bicarbonate administration.

Physical

• Affected newborns have been protected from their disease by the maternal circulation and metabolism; therefore, no relevant physical findings present upon neonatal examination.
• Carefully assess infants who present with unexplained vomiting for signs of ketoacidosis; urinalysis is particularly important because neonates normally do not excrete large quantities of ketones.
• CNS depression, which signifies either severe acidosis or hyperammonemia, may be apparent upon examination.
• Any infant with an inborn error can also be affected by other disorders. Suspicion of sepsis based on the typical nonspecific signs must not eliminate the possibility of underlying disease, such as propionic acidemia, from the differential.

Causes

Propionyl CoA carboxylase is a tetrameric enzyme, comprising 4 chains of 2 a and 2 b polypeptides. The gene for production of the b chain has a locus of 13q32, whereas the gene for production of the b chain has a locus of 3q21-q22. Thus, a mutation at either locus affects enzyme activity, but only changes that have occurred in either the a or the b chain affect the respective enzyme activity.  In a mixed heterozygotic individual, with mutations at each gene locus, both types of monomeric constituent polypeptides are affected.

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