[A form of late propionic acidemia]

Abstract

Report of 3 cases of propionic acidemia which concern one boy (O.M.) in whom a formed diagnosis of hyperglycemia with ketosis had been established, and two sisters (C.V. and K.V.) of another family. The activities of propionyl-CoA carboxylase in O.M. and C.V. fibroblasts were reduced to 4.5 and 2.5% of control. After two severe metabolic crisis, at 6 and 44 months of age, O.M. has at the present time (11yrs) a normal psychical development, and very few neurological disorders. Propionic acidemia was manifested only at 34 months of age in C.V. with a very severe crisis of acidoketosis with hypoglycemia, leading to neurological sequellae which are still important at 56 months of age. The disease was entirely latent in K.V. at 26 months, when the diagnosis was proven; it remains latent at 40 months. These case reports represent a special form of propionic acidemia with late clinical expression. Biological evolution does not seem to be affected by prolonged administration of biotine.