Glutaric acidemia type I. Report of a case and literature review

Abstract

Glutaric acidemia type I (GA-1) is a neurological disease of metabolic ethiology. Although considered rare, it is one of the most frequent inborn errors of metabolism in Colombia. GA-1 is caused by alterations in lysine, hydroxylysine and tryptophan metabolism, resulting in the accumulation of glutaric and 3-hydroxyglutaric acids in body fluids. Clinically, it is characterized by macrocephaly, progressive cerebral atrophy, and dystonia secondary to striatal degeneration. Due to its chronic evolution, it is usually under-diagnosed, so that several years may pass before suggestive symptoms or brain imaging findings are discovered. In some patients, the disease may appear acutely triggered by an infection between 6 and 18 months of age. Due to the availability of nutritional treatment, it is necessary to make an early diagnosis and to start treatment, in order to prevent or improve complications and associated diseases. It is important to consider GA-1 in the differential diagnosis of patients with spastic or dyskinetic cerebral palsy without a clear history of hypoxic events, as well as in patients with regression in neurological development. We report a case with acute presentation to exemplify the natural history of the disease and the diagnostic approach to it.

Keywords

• Inborn Errors of Metabolism
• Macrocephaly
• Movement Disorders