Frontiers in Neuroscience (Jan 2023)

Methylmalonic acidemia: Neurodevelopment and neuroimaging

  • Tao Chen,
  • Yian Gao,
  • Shengdong Zhang,
  • Yuanyuan Wang,
  • Chaofan Sui,
  • Linfeng Yang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1110942
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17

Abstract

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Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a genetic disease of abnormal organic acid metabolism, which is one of the important factors affecting the survival rate and quality of life of newborns or infants. Early detection and diagnosis are particularly important. The diagnosis of MMA mainly depends on clinical symptoms, newborn screening, biochemical detection, gene sequencing and neuroimaging diagnosis. The accumulation of methylmalonic acid and other metabolites in the body of patients causes brain tissue damage, which can manifest as various degrees of intellectual disability and severe neurological dysfunction. Neuroimaging examination has important clinical significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of MMA. This review mainly reviews the etiology, pathogenesis, and nervous system development, especially the neuroimaging features of MMA.

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