Abstract
Background
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism
that causes lactic acidosis and neurodevelopmental changes. Five causative genes have
been identified: PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, DLD, and PDHX. Four neurological phenotypes have been reported: neonatal encephalopathy with lactic
acidosis, non-progressive infantile encephalopathy, Leigh syndrome, and relapsing
ataxia. Of these, neonatal encephalopathy has the worst mortality and morbidity and
there is no effective treatment.
Subjects and methods
We studied two girls who were clinically diagnosed with PDHC deficiency as neonates;
they were subsequently found to have PDHA1 mutations. The clinical diagnosis was based on white matter loss and a lateral ventricular
septum on fetal MRI, spasticity of the lower extremities, and lactic acidosis worsening
after birth. Intravenous ketogenic diets were started within 24 h after birth. The
ketogenic ratio was increased until the blood lactate level was controlled, while
monitoring for side effects.
Results
In both cases, the lactic acidosis improved immediately with no apparent side effects.
Both children had better developmental outcomes than previously reported cases; neither
exhibited epilepsy.
Conclusions
Intravenous ketogenic diet therapy is a treatment option for neonatal-onset PDHC deficiency.
Further studies are needed to optimize this therapy.
Abbreviations:
PDHC (Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex), L/P ratio (lactate-pyruvate ratio)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 01, 2021
Accepted:
November 17,
2021
Received in revised form:
November 3,
2021
Received:
August 29,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
