Abstract

Fumarase deficiency (or fumaric aciduria), also known as "Polygamist Down's", is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder in krebs cycle characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme fumarate hydratase, which causes a buildup of fumaric acid in the urine, and a deficiency of malate.

Presentation

Fumarase deficiency causes encephalopathy, severe mental retardation, unusual facial features, brain malformation, and epileptic seizures due to an abnormally low amount of fumarase in cells. It can initially present with polyhydramnios on prenatal ultrasound. Affected neonates may demonstrate nonspecific signs of poor feeding and hypotonia. Laboratory findings in neonates may indicate polycythemia, leukopenia, or neutropenia. As they age, neurological deficits begin to manifest with seizures, dystonias, and severe developmental delay.

Pathophysiology

Fumarase deficiency is caused by a mutation in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene in humans, which encodes the enzyme that converts fumarate to malate in the mitochondria. Other mutant alleles of the FH gene, located on human Chromosome 1 at position 1q42.1, cause multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomata, hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer. Fumarase deficiency is one of the few known deficiencies of the Krebs cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle, the main enzymatic pathway of cellular aerobic respiration.

The condition is an autosomal recessive disorder, and it is therefore usually necessary for an affected individual to receive the mutant allele from both parents. A number of children diagnosed with the disorder have been born to parents who were first cousins. It can also be associated with uniparental isodisomy.

Treatment

There is a deficiency of malate in patients because fumarase enzyme can't convert fumarate into it therefore treatment is with oral malic acid which will allow the krebs cycle to continue, and eventually make ATP.

Epidemiology

Fumarase deficiency is extremely rare - until around 1990 there had only been 13 diagnosed and identified cases worldwide.

A cluster of 20 cases has since been documented in the twin towns of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah among an inbred community of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.