J Genet Med.  2019 Dec;16(2):85-89. 10.5734/JGM.2019.16.2.85.

A neonate with hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome from a consanguineous Pakistani family

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Deajeon, Korea. ym4805@gmail.com
  • 2Medical Genetics Center, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder. HHH is caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial ornithine transporter protein, which is encoded by the solute carrier family 25, member 15 (SLC25A15) gene. Recently, government supported Korean newborn screening has been expanded to include a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurement of ornithine level. We report a case of a neonate with HHH syndrome showing a normal MS/MS measurement of ornithine level. A female newborn was admitted to neonatal intensive unit due to familial history of HHH syndrome. Her parents were consanguineous Parkistani couple. The subject's older sister was diagnosed with HHH syndrome at age of 30 months based on altered mental status and liver dysfunction. Even though the subject displayed normal ammonia and ornithine levels based on MS/MS analysis, a molecular test confirmed the diagnosis of HHH syndrome. At 1 month of age, amino acid analysis of blood and urine showed high levels of ornithine and homocitrulline. After 11 months of follow up, she showed normal growth and development, whereas affected sister showed progressive cognitive impairment despite no further hyperammonemia after protein restriction and standard therapy. Our report is in agreement with a previous Canadian study, which showed that neonatal samples from HHH syndrome patients demonstrate normal ornithine levels despite having known mutations. Considering the delayed rise of ornithine in affected patients, genetic testing, and repetitive metabolic testing is needed to prevent patient loss in high risk patients.

Keyword

Urea cycle disorders, inborn; Neonatal screening; HHH syndrome; Ornithine

MeSH Terms

Ammonia
Cognition Disorders
Diagnosis
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Genetic Testing
Growth and Development
Humans
Hyperammonemia
Infant, Newborn*
Liver Diseases
Mass Screening
Neonatal Screening
Ornithine
Parents
Siblings
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn
Ammonia
Ornithine
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