A male case with CDKL5-associated encephalopathy manifesting transient methylmalonic acidemia

Eur J Med Genet. 2018 Aug;61(8):451-454. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Mar 3.

Abstract

Mutations in the X-linked gene CDKL5 cause early-onset epileptic encephalopathy and severe developmental delay. Because this disorder predominantly affects females, the full clinical spectrum of male patients remains elusive. We herein report a 16-year-old boy, who suffered from intractable seizures 20 days after birth. Serial electroencephalograms detected recurrent focal epileptiform discharges from age 4 months, which evolved to hypsarrhythmia later in infancy. Mass-spectrometric analyses revealed increase in urinary excretion of methylmalonic acid without perturbed concentrations of propionic acid, homocystein and methionine. Whole-exome sequencing identified a de novo, truncating mutation in CDKL5 (NM_003159.2:c.419dupA, p.Asn140Lysfs*8). Targeted sequencing excluded concomitant mutations in methylmalonic academia-associated genes. No methylmalonic acidemia has been reported in children with CDKL5 disorder. Extensive analyses on organic acid metabolism for males with CDKL5 mutations will gain more insight into their biochemical profiles in infancy.

Keywords: CDKL5; De novo mutation; Early-onset epileptic encephalopathy; Methylmalonic acidemia; Whole-exome sequencing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics*
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / genetics*
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methionine / urine
  • Methylmalonic Acid / urine
  • Propionates / urine
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Propionates
  • Methylmalonic Acid
  • Methionine
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • CDKL5 protein, human
  • propionic acid

Supplementary concepts

  • Methylmalonic acidemia