Persistent NKH with transient or absent symptoms and a homozygous GLDC mutation

Ann Neurol. 2004 Jul;56(1):139-43. doi: 10.1002/ana.20159.

Abstract

Three of four nonketotic hyperglycinemia patients homozygous for a novel GLDC mutation (A802V) were treated by assisted respiration and/or sodium benzoate with or without ketamine and had transient neonatal or absent symptoms and normal developmental outcome, despite persisting biochemical evidence of nonketotic hyperglycinemia. This exceptional outcome may be related to the high residual activity of the mutant protein (32% of wild type) and therapeutic intervention during a critical period of heightened brain exposure and sensitivity to glycine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Glycine / metabolism
  • Glycine Dehydrogenase (Decarboxylating)
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycinemia, Nonketotic / diagnosis
  • Hyperglycinemia, Nonketotic / genetics*
  • Hyperglycinemia, Nonketotic / physiopathology*
  • Hyperglycinemia, Nonketotic / therapy
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Ketamine / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Point Mutation*
  • Prognosis
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Sodium Benzoate / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Ketamine
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases
  • Glycine Dehydrogenase (Decarboxylating)
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Glycine