Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation disorders presenting in neonates: clinical manifestations and enzymatic and...

The goals were to examine the frequency of perinatal manifestations of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation disorders within a population-based cohort, to characterize these manifestations, to identify a possible association between these manifestations and diagnoses at a later age, and to identify possible associations between perinatal complications and specific disorders.

We conducted a retrospective review of clinical and laboratory records for all patients with definitive oxidative phosphorylation disorders who were diagnosed and treated at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne between 1975 and 2006 (N = 107; male/female ratio: 1.41).

Neonatal presentation was recorded for 32 of 107 patients (male/female ratio: 1:1), including 19 who presented on day 1 of life. Prematurity (gestational age of <37 weeks) was noted for 12.6% of the 107 patients. Of the 85 infants with known birth weights, 24 were in the G mutation.

Oxidative phosphorylation disorders present commonly in the neonatal period. The combination of nonspecific manifestations such as prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation with early postnatal decompensation or poor feeding or vomiting and persistent lactic acidosis should suggest the possibility of an oxidative phosphorylation disorder.