Case Report: A Variant Non-ketotic Hyperglycinemia With GLRX5 Mutations: Manifestation of Deficiency of Activities of the Respiratory Chain Enzymes

Objective: Variant non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia (NKH) is a rare disorder characterized by variable clinical, biochemical, and imaging features. The variant form of NKH is rare and characterized by variable clinical, biochemical and imaging features. Subjects: Herein, we report a girl with variant NKH with two mutations in glutaredoxin 5 (GLRX5), which has been described in only three patients. Results: The clinical and biochemical phenotypes of the patient are also described. She suffered from developmental regression associated with spasticity, developmental delay, anemia and optic atrophy. The mitochondrial leukoencephalopathy was used to designate these disorders. An increased T2 signal from the medulla oblongata to the C6 spinal region was also observed on spinal cord MRI. Tandem mass analysis of a dried blood sample revealed elevated levels of glycine. The patient has two compound heterozygous mutations (c.151_153 del AAG and c.196C>T) in the GLRX5 gene. The c.196C>T mutation led to a stop codon (p.Q66Ter). Activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complexes II+III in the patient's fibroblasts were abnormal. Conclusions: We present the case of a girl with variant NKH who manifested spasticity and bilateral cavitating leukoencephalopathy. The patient had a deficiency of a respiratory chain enzyme, and this is the first report. Genetic testing is important for physicians to evaluate suspected variant NKH patients and to provide proper genetic counseling.