Megaloblastic anemia and immune abnormalities in a patient with methionine synthase deficiency

Acta Paediatr Scand. 1987 Nov;76(6):991-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1987.tb17284.x.

Abstract

We report a case of methionine synthase deficiency associated with cellular immune deficiency discovered in a 14-year-old boy. Principal findings were: developmental delay, recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections, megaloblastic anemia, discovered at 3 months of age, unresponsive to cyanocobalamin and poorly responsive to folinic acid. Biochemical studies showed: an abnormal deoxyuridine suppression test despite normal serum folate, cobalamin and transcobalamin levels; a normal intracellular uptake of these two coenzymes; and an absolute requirement of methionine for fibroblast growth, suggestive of defective methionine synthesis. An absence of methionine synthase activity in the patient's bone marrow and a profound depression of this activity in lymphocytes and liver were found. Hypergammaglobulinemia with variable lymphopenia, depressed lymphocyte transformation after lectin or recall-antigen stimulation, defective delayed-type hypersensitivity and decreased natural killer activity were noted as well. The patient died at the age of 14.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / deficiency*
  • 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Adolescent
  • Anemia, Macrocytic / enzymology*
  • Anemia, Megaloblastic / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Megaloblastic / enzymology*
  • Anemia, Megaloblastic / genetics
  • Child, Preschool
  • Deoxyuridine
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / enzymology*
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / genetics
  • Infant
  • Infections / etiology
  • Male
  • Methyltransferases / deficiency*

Substances

  • Methyltransferases
  • 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase
  • Deoxyuridine