Cerebral palsy associated with maple syrup urine disease

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare heritable enzyme defect associated with mental retardation. A diet deficient in the branched-chain amino acids is essential for survival. Patients with MSUD are at risk of ketoacidotic metabolic crises brought on by catabolic states, including simple infection or fasting. Delayed diagnosis and therapy can predispose these patients to loss of the gag reflex, lethargy, seizures, and feeding problems. Ultimately, this may result in aspiration and respiratory arrest, which, in turn, can cause cerebral palsy. Of seven cases of MSUD reviewed at The Hospital for Sick Children, two developed spastic diplegic cerebral palsy because of these sequelae. These two patients are similar to other patients with cerebral palsy. Despite special diet, healing of surgical wounds and fractures in patients with MSUD is normal. Simple precautions allow uncomplicated surgery and recovery, even though catabolic states can easily trigger acute ketoacidotic metabolic crises in these patients. The patients with MSUD discussed did not have an increased risk of infection.