Combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria, cblC type. I. Clinical presentations, diagnosis and management

J Inherit Metab Dis. 2012 Jan;35(1):91-102. doi: 10.1007/s10545-011-9364-y. Epub 2011 Jul 12.

Abstract

Combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria, cblC type, is an inborn error of intracellular cobalamin metabolism with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that is stated to be the most common inherited disorder of cobalamin metabolism. This metabolic disease is caused by mutations in the MMACHC gene and results in impaired intracellular synthesis of adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin, cofactors for the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase enzymes. Elevated methylmalonic acid and homocysteine with decreased methionine production are the biochemical hallmarks of this disorder. Awareness of the diverse clinical presentations associated with cblC disease is necessary to provide a timely diagnosis, to guide management of affected individuals and to establish a framework for the future treatment of individuals detected through expanded newborn screening. This article reviews the biochemistry, clinical presentations, genotype-phenotype correlations, diagnosis and management of cblC disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / diagnosis*
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Homocystinuria / diagnosis*
  • Homocystinuria / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Methionine / metabolism
  • Methylmalonic Acid / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Genetic
  • Mutation*
  • Neonatal Screening / methods
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis
  • Vitamin B 12 / metabolism*
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / congenital

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Methylmalonic Acid
  • Methionine
  • MMACHC protein, human
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Vitamin B 12

Supplementary concepts

  • Methylmalonic acidemia with homocystinuria

Associated data

  • OMIM/277400