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Published on: December 20, 2017
[Glutaric aciduria type 1: phenotypic variability. Report of 6 patients]
E B Casella1, A U Bresolin, M Valente
1Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínica (HC), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Brasil. erasmobc-icr.hcnet.usp.br
Insights
Glutaric aciduria type 1 presents with varied neurological symptoms, even within families. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing this rare metabolic disorder.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Neurology
Context:
- Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder.
- It results from deficiency of the glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase enzyme.
- GA1 is characterized by accumulation of glutaric acid and 3-hydroxyglutaric acid.
Purpose:
- To describe the clinical variability and neuroimaging findings in six patients with GA1.
- To highlight the challenges in diagnosing GA1 due to its diverse presentation.
Summary:
- Six patients from four families with GA1 exhibited significant clinical heterogeneity.
- Presentations ranged from normal development to severe intellectual disability and movement disorders.
- Macrocephaly and characteristic CT findings (enlarged CSF spaces, sulcal widening) were observed in all patients.
Impact:
- This study underscores the importance of considering GA1 in patients with unexplained neurological symptoms.
- Early recognition and biochemical testing are vital for timely management and improved outcomes in GA1.
Abstract:
We report six patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 in four families. The patients had marked clinical variability, even within families. Three of the patients studied were normal until the onset of neurologic abnormalities, that presented as an encephalitis-like illness in the first year of age. One patient had an early and important developmental delay, but never suffered an encephalopathic crisis. Two patients have intellectual preservation; one of them has a mild tremor and choreoathetosis since the first year of age, and the other had only two afebrile seizures in infancy and no other neurologic signs. Three patients are severely handicapped, with a severe dystonic-dyskinetic disorder and unable to even sit. All the six patients have macrocephaly and in all the computed tomography showed enlarged CSF spaces and sulcal separation over the frontal and temporal lobes. Urine organic acids study of all patients showed large quantities of glutaric acid.
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