Brain-lung-thyroid syndrome in a neonate with argininosuccinate lyase deficiency

Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder. The severe neonatal-onset form is characterised by hyperammonaemia in the first days of life and manifests with a variety of severe symptoms. However, an index of suspicion for additional or alternative diagnoses must be maintained when the patient's presentation is out of keeping with expected manifestations and course. We present a case of a neonate with ASL deficiency and concomitant hypotonia, severe respiratory distress, pulmonary hypertension, systemic hypotension and congenital hypothyroidism. The patient was investigated and subsequently diagnosed with brain-lung-thyroid syndrome, caused by a mutation in the NKX2-1 gene.