Milder childhood form of very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in a 6-year-old Japanese boy.

UNLABELLED

We investigated the clinical and biochemical characteristics of a 6-year-old Japanese boy with very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency. He had hypoketotic hypoglycaemia, exercise- and fasting-induced lethargy, hepatomegaly and cardiomegaly. Significant laboratory findings included elevated plasma levels of creatine phosphokinase and acyl-carnitine and a fatty liver at biopsy suggesting a diagnosis of VLCAD deficiency.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency was supported by the results of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity for C8 and C16 fatty acids in skin fibroblasts from the patient. Treatment with medium chain triglycerides and L-carnitine in the diet improved his hepatomegaly and cardiomegaly.