Abstract

BARRETO ESPINOZA, Lorena Esperanza; TINEO RAMOS, Nahilse Alejandra; ROMERO TORO, José Antonio  and  MACUARISMA LEZAMA, Pedro. Metabolic encephalopathy in isovaleric academia: Case report. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2013, vol.76, n.4, pp.159-161. ISSN 0004-0649.

Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of leucine metabolism (prevalence 1/105) caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial enzyme isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase resulting in the accumulation of derivatives of isovaleryl-CoA, the diminished activity of this enzyme leads to toxic accumulation of isovaleric acid in the plasma and an increase in urinary concentration of isovalerylglycine. There have been reported three clinical forms: acute neonatal form, a chronic intermittent form and a slowly progressive form which may be asymptomatic. Case report: We report the case of a 3 years old female with vomiting and drowsiness, sensorineural depression without motor deficit, no meningeal signs, CSF cytochemical normal, fast deep breathing and a "particular smell”, the presence of severe metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia, hematologic and hepatic dysfunction motivated a metabolic study, showing in urine isovalerylglycine 38.290 mmol / molcreatinine, 3 OH isovaleric present, 3 OH butyric 3.530 mmol / molcreatinine, guiding the diagnosis to Isovaleric acidemia. The diagnosis of Isovaleric acidemia must be considered in the presence of vomiting, progressive neurological deterioration and / or family history of sudden infant death. The possibility of avoiding early mortality and improve neurocognitive outcome for diagnosis and early treatment promotes pre-symptomatic diagnosis and reinforces that IVA is included in the neonatal screening program in Venezuela.

Keywords : Inborn error of metabolism; isovaleric acidemia; hyperammonemia; metabolic encephalopathy.

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