The relationship between beta-ureidopropionase deficiency due to UPB1 variants and human phenotypes is uncertain

Beta-ureidopropionase deficiency, caused by variants in UPB1, has been reported in association with various neurodevelopmental phenotypes including intellectual disability, seizures and autism.

We aimed to reassess the relationship between variants in UPB1 and a clinical phenotype.

Literature review, calculation of carrier frequencies from population databases, long-term follow-up of a previously published case and reporting of additional cases.

Fifty-three published cases were identified, and two additional cases are reported here. Of these, 14 were asymptomatic and four had transient neurological features; clinical features in the remainder were variable and included non-neurological presentations. Several of the variants previously reported as pathogenic are present in population databases at frequencies higher than expected for a rare condition. In particular, the variant most frequently reported as pathogenic, p.Arg326Gln, is very common among East Asians, with a carrier frequency of 1 in 19 and 1 in 907 being homozygous for the variant in gnomAD v2.1.1.

Pending the availability of further evidence, UPB1 should be considered a 'gene of uncertain clinical significance'. Caution should be used in ascribing clinical significance to biochemical features of beta-ureidopropionase deficiency and/or UPB1 variants in patients with neurodevelopmental phenotypes. UPB1 is not currently suitable for inclusion in gene panels for reproductive genetic carrier screening.

The relationship between beta-ureidopropionase deficiency due to UPB1 variants and clinical phenotypes is uncertain.