Neurologic presentation, diagnostics, and therapeutic insights in a severe case of adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency

J Child Neurol. 2012 May;27(5):645-9. doi: 10.1177/0883073811424465. Epub 2011 Dec 2.

Abstract

Epilepsy in adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency may be difficult to treat, and there is no standardized therapy. The authors describe a case of severe adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency resulting from a heterozygous mutation of the ADSL gene (p.D215H/p.I351T). The patient presented with tonic-clonic seizures, opisthotonus, tremor, and myoclonus in the 4th day of life. The seizures were refractory on various combinations of antiepileptic treatment. A ketogenic diet was introduced at the age of 2 resulting in a seizure-free period. The patient, however, developed a metabolic hyperchloremic acidosis with Fanconi syndrome, which disappeared a month after cessation of the diet at the age of 5. Since the withdrawal of the ketogenic diet, seizures have returned to a frequency of several times a day. In conclusion, a ketogenic diet could be considered a valid therapeutic option in patients with intractable seizures in a course of adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency; however, it requires a formal study.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenylosuccinate Lyase / deficiency
  • Adenylosuccinate Lyase / genetics
  • Autistic Disorder
  • Child
  • Diet, Ketogenic / methods*
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors / complications*
  • Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors / diagnosis*
  • Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors / diet therapy*
  • Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics

Substances

  • Adenylosuccinate Lyase

Supplementary concepts

  • Adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency