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Article
Amish Microcephaly: Long-term Survival and Biochemical Characterization
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
  • Victoria Mok Siu, The University of Western Ontario
  • Suzanne Ratko, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON
  • Asuri N. Prasad, The University of Western Ontario
  • Chitra Prasad, The University of Western Ontario
  • C. Anthony Rupar, The University of Western Ontario
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2010
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.33373
Disciplines
Abstract

Amish microcephaly (MCPHA, OMIM #607196) is a metabolic disorder that has been previously characterized by severe infantile lethal congenital microcephaly and alpha-ketoglutaric aciduria. All reported patients have been from the Pennsylvania Amish community and homozygous for a p.Gly177Ala mutation in SLC25A19. We present a further male patient with MCPHA born to distantly consanguineous parents in Ontario, Canada with Amish ancestors. Microcephaly was evident at 21 weeks gestation on ultrasound. At birth, the facial appearance and brain MRI scan were characteristic of MCPHA, with the additional features of partial agenesis of the corpus callosum and a closed spinal dysraphic state. Urine levels of alpha-ketoglutaric acid were normal at birth and during metabolic crisis, but were markedly elevated during a time of metabolic stability. A severe lactic acidosis was present during metabolic crises and responded to treatment with a high fat diet. At age 7 years, the child is healthy but has severe microcephaly and profound developmental delay. SLC25A19 has been described as a mitochondria inner membrane transporter for both deoxynucleotides and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). The biochemical phenotype of MCPHA may be attributable to decreased activity of the three mitochondrial enzymes that require TPP as a cofactor: pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and branched chain amino acid dehydrogenase. We confirm that alpha-ketoglutaric aciduria is not a constant finding in MCPHA and suggest that a persistent lactic acidemia may be more common. The diagnosis should be considered in patients with severe congenital microcephaly, especially in association with lissencephaly, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, or a spinal dysraphic state.

Citation Information
Victoria Mok Siu, Suzanne Ratko, Asuri N. Prasad, Chitra Prasad, et al.. "Amish Microcephaly: Long-term Survival and Biochemical Characterization" American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Vol. 152A Iss. 7 (2010) p. 1747 - 1751
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/narayan-prasad/1/