Journal
JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE
Volume 38, Issue 5, Pages 905-914Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1007/s10545-015-9836-6
Keywords
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Funding
- BMBF funded German Network for Mitochondrial Disorders (mitoNET) [01GM1113C]
- E-Rare project GENOMIT [01GM1207]
- GENOMIT FWF [01GM1207, I 920-B13]
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research [906919 Z/11/Z]
- Lily Foundation
- UK NHS Highly Specialised Commissioners funds the Rare Mitochondrial Disorders of Adults and Children Diagnostic Service in Newcastle upon Tyne
- Graduate Academy of the University of Heidelberg
- Young Investigator Award Program at Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine
- Daimler and Benz Foundation (Daimler und Benz Stiftung, Ladenburg, Germany)
- Reinhard-Frank Foundation (Reinhard-Frank-Stiftung, Hamburg, Germany)
- Austrian Science Fund (FWF) [I 920] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [MR/K000608/1, G0800674] Funding Source: researchfish
- MRC [G0800674, MR/K000608/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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FBXL4 deficiency is a recently described disorder of mitochondrial maintenance associated with a loss of mitochondrial DNA in cells. To date, the genetic diagnosis of FBXL4 deficiency has been established in 28 individuals. This paper retrospectively reviews proxy-reported clinical and biochemical findings and evaluates brain imaging, morphological and genetic data in 21 of those patients. Neonatal/early-onset severe lactic acidosis, muscular hypotonia, feeding problems and failure to thrive is the characteristic pattern at first presentation. Facial dysmorphic features are present in 67 % of cases. Seven children died (mean age 37 months); 11 children were alive (mean age at follow-up 46 months), three children were lost to follow-up. All survivors developed severe psychomotor retardation. Brain imaging was non-specific in neonates but a later-onset, rapidly progressive brain atrophy was noted. Elevated blood lactate and metabolic acidosis were observed in all individuals; creatine kinase was elevated in 45 % of measurements. Diagnostic workup in patient tissues and cells revealed a severe combined respiratory chain defect with a general decrease of enzymes associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism and a relative depletion of mitochondrial DNA content. Mutations were detected throughout the FBXL4 gene albeit with no clear delineation of a genotype-phenotype correlation. Treatment with mitochondrial medications did not prove effective. In conclusion, a clinical pattern of early-onset encephalopathy, persistent lactic acidosis, profound muscular hypotonia and typical facial dysmorphism should prompt initiation of molecular genetic analysis of FBXL4. Establishment of the diagnosis permits genetic counselling, prevents patients undergoing unhelpful diagnostic procedures and allows for accurate prognosis.
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