Mitochondrial Short-Chain Enoyl-CoA Hydratase 1 Deficiency

Background and History: 

This is a recently reported hereditary disorder that alters the function of some energy producing reactions in cells leading to severe neurological disease.

Clinical Correlations: 

Infants are born with poor muscle tone (hypotonia).  Prominent early signs include a weak sucking reflex and sometimes long periods between breaths (apnea).  Most infants do not achieve normal milestones such as speech and sitting alone.  Erratic, roving eyes (nystagmus) has been noted.  Brain imaging reveals degenerative changes in critical brain centers.  Blood and cerebrospinal fluids contain increased levels of a compound known as lactic acid.

Only a few patients have been reported and the full clinical syndrome has not been established.  Several infants have lived to the age of 4 years but another died of respiratory failure before one year of age.

Genetics: 

This is an autosomal recessive condition as the result of mutations in both copies of a specific gene.  Parents with one copy seem to be clinically normal but the children born to two such parents each have a 25% risk of developing this disorder.

Diagnosis and Prognosis: 

Developmental problems may be evident to pediatricians and neurologists soon after birth.  No treatment is known and death may occur in early childhood.

Additional Information
Inheritance/Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive