Clinical, biochemical and molecular findings of propionic acidemia

Abstract

Propionic acidemia is an infrequent disorder with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern caused by the deficiency of the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase that converts propionyl-CoA to D-methylmalonyl- CoA. We present the case of a male newborn who showed signs of respiratory distress, vomiting and tiredness during feeding. He presented metabolic acidosis, positive serum and urine ketone bodies, hyperammonemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoproteinemia. The biochemical study by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in a urine sample was suggestive of propionic acidemia. The molecular study in the PCCA gene found the mutations c.893A>G (p.K298R) in the father and c.937C> T (p.R313X) in the mother. There is a need to establish the diagnosis of this infrequent entity to implement the therapeutic measures available and provide the appropriate genetic counseling.