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Description
Ethylmalonic encephalopathy is an inherited disorder that affects several body systems, particularly the nervous system. Neurological signs and symptoms include delayed development and the loss of previously acquired skills (developmental regression), weak muscle tone (hypotonia), seizures, and abnormal movements. The body's network of blood vessels (the vascular system) is also affected. Children with this disorder often develop rashes of tiny red spots (petechiae) caused by bleeding under the skin and blue discoloration in the hands and feet due to reduced oxygen in the blood (acrocyanosis). Chronic diarrhea is another common feature of ethylmalonic encephalopathy.
The signs and symptoms of ethylmalonic encephalopathy are apparent at birth or begin in the first few months of life. Problems with the nervous system typically worsen over time, and most affected individuals survive only into early childhood.
Frequency
About 70 individuals with this condition have been identified worldwide, mostly in Mediterranean and Arab populations. Although ethylmalonic encephalopathy appears to be very rare, researchers suggest that some cases have been misdiagnosed as other neurological disorders.
Causes
Ethylmalonic encephalopathy results from mutations in the ETHE1 gene. This gene provides instructions for making an enzyme that is active in mitochondria, which are the energy-producing centers in cells. The ETHE1 enzyme is part of a pathway that breaks down sulfide (H2S), a molecule that is critical at very low levels for normal cell functioning but is toxic at high levels. Excess sulfide interferes with numerous cell activities, including mitochondrial energy production.
Mutations in the ETHE1 gene lead to the production of a nonfunctional version of the enzyme or prevent any enzyme from being made. A shortage of functional ETHE1 enzyme prevents sulfide from being broken down, allowing this molecule to accumulate in cells. The buildup of sulfide interferes with the ability of mitochondria to produce energy and damages tissues and organs throughout the body. Researchers believe that the effects of excess sulfide in the brain, muscles, blood vessels, and lining of the intestines underlie most of the major features of ethylmalonic encephalopathy.
Inheritance
This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
Other Names for This Condition
- Encephalopathy, petechiae, and ethylmalonic aciduria
- EPEMA syndrome
Additional Information & Resources
Genetic Testing Information
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
Patient Support and Advocacy Resources
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
Scientific Articles on PubMed
References
- Di Meo I, Fagiolari G, Prelle A, Viscomi C, Zeviani M, Tiranti V. Chronic exposure to sulfide causes accelerated degradation of cytochrome c oxidase in ethylmalonic encephalopathy. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011 Jul 15;15(2):353-62. doi: 10.1089/ars.2010.3520. Epub 2011 Feb 25. Citation on PubMed
- Drousiotou A, DiMeo I, Mineri R, Georgiou T, Stylianidou G, Tiranti V. Ethylmalonic encephalopathy: application of improved biochemical and molecular diagnostic approaches. Clin Genet. 2011 Apr;79(4):385-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2010.01457.x. Citation on PubMed
- Garcia-Silva MT, Ribes A, Campos Y, Garavaglia B, Arenas J. Syndrome of encephalopathy, petechiae, and ethylmalonic aciduria. Pediatr Neurol. 1997 Sep;17(2):165-70. doi: 10.1016/s0887-8994(97)00048-9. Citation on PubMed
- Tiranti V, Briem E, Lamantea E, Mineri R, Papaleo E, De Gioia L, Forlani F, Rinaldo P, Dickson P, Abu-Libdeh B, Cindro-Heberle L, Owaidha M, Jack RM, Christensen E, Burlina A, Zeviani M. ETHE1 mutations are specific to ethylmalonic encephalopathy. J Med Genet. 2006 Apr;43(4):340-6. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2005.036210. Epub 2005 Sep 23. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Tiranti V, D'Adamo P, Briem E, Ferrari G, Mineri R, Lamantea E, Mandel H, Balestri P, Garcia-Silva MT, Vollmer B, Rinaldo P, Hahn SH, Leonard J, Rahman S, Dionisi-Vici C, Garavaglia B, Gasparini P, Zeviani M. Ethylmalonic encephalopathy is caused by mutations in ETHE1, a gene encoding a mitochondrial matrix protein. Am J Hum Genet. 2004 Feb;74(2):239-52. doi: 10.1086/381653. Epub 2004 Jan 19. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Tiranti V, Viscomi C, Hildebrandt T, Di Meo I, Mineri R, Tiveron C, Levitt MD, Prelle A, Fagiolari G, Rimoldi M, Zeviani M. Loss of ETHE1, a mitochondrial dioxygenase, causes fatal sulfide toxicity in ethylmalonic encephalopathy. Nat Med. 2009 Feb;15(2):200-5. doi: 10.1038/nm.1907. Epub 2009 Jan 11. Erratum In: Nat Med. 2009 Feb;15(2):220. Citation on PubMed
- Tiranti V, Zeviani M. Altered sulfide (H(2)S) metabolism in ethylmalonic encephalopathy. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2013 Jan 1;5(1):a011437. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a011437. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
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