A 25-year-old Japanese woman with a history of repeated episodes of rhabdomyolysis since the age of 12 presented with rhabdomyolysis caused by hyperemesis gravidarum. Blood tests showed an elevated serum CK level (11,755 IU/l; normal: 30-180 IU/l). Carnitine fractionation analysis revealed low levels of total carnitine (18.3 μmol/l; normal: 45-91 μmol/l), free carnitine (13.1 μmol/l; normal: 36-74 μmol/l), and acylcarnitine (5.2 μmol/l; normal: 6-23 μmol/l). Tandem mass spectrometry showed high levels of C14:1 acylcarnitine (0.84 nmol/ml: normal: <0.4 nmol/ml) and a high C14:1/C2 ratio of 0.253 (normal: <0.013), indicating a potential diagnosis of very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency. Enzyme activity measurement in the patient's peripheral blood lymphocytes confirmed the diagnosis of VLCAD deficiency, with low palmitoyl-CoA dehydrogenase levels (6.5% of normal control value). With the patient's informed consent, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase very long-chain (ACADVL) gene analysis revealed compound heterozygous mutations of c.1332G>A in exon 13 and c.1349G>A (p.R450H) in exon 14. In Japan, neonatal mass screening is performed to detect congenital metabolic diseases. With the introduction of tandem mass screening in 2014, fatty acid metabolism disorders, including VLCAD deficiency, are being detected before the onset of symptoms. However, it is important to note that mass screening cannot detect all cases of this disease. For patients with recurrent rhabdomyolysis, it is essential to consider congenital diseases, including fatty acid metabolism disorders, as a potential diagnosis.
Keywords: carnitine; hypercreatine kinasemia; hyperemesis gravidarum; rhabdomyolysis; very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.