Combined primary carnitine deficiency with neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency in a Chinese newborn

Primary carnitine deficiency (PCD, OMIM #212140) is an autosomal recessive disorder of fatty acid oxidation caused by mutations in the SLC22A5 gene [1]. PCD is characterized by an estimated prevalence of 1:40,000–1:120,000 [2], with an extremely high frequency of 1:300 in the Faroe Islands [3]. Patients with PCD can suffer from skeletal or cardiac myopathy, muscle weakness, and hepatic encephalopathy [2]. Moreover, PCD patients have a lifetime risk of sudden death if left untreated [4]. PCD can be identified during newborn screening (NBS) by measuring free carnitine (C0) levels in dried blood spots [5]. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent metabolic decompensation and possible death.

Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD, #OMIM 605814) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by biallelic SLC25A13 mutations [6]. NICCD is a pan-ethnic disorder with a high prevalence in East Asian populations. The incidence of NICCD in Japan is estimated on the basis of a carrier ratio (1:65) and is equal to 1:17,000 [7]. Our previous study, combined with genetic screening, revealed that the frequency of NICCD in five Chinese NBS programs was 1:26403 [8]. Patients with NICCD are characterised by neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis, hyperbilirubinemia, hepatomegaly, and variable liver dysfunctions, including fatty liver disease [9]. With timely treatment, the onset of NICCD usually resolves spontaneously before 1 year of age. However, few patients may present with severe hyperammonemia, hepatic encephalopathy, and liver failure, even requiring liver transplantation [10]. The elevated citrulline levels characteristic of NICCD can be detected by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) during NBS. However, currently, such screening is not optimal due to the occurrence of false negatives [8, 11].

Here, we report a newborn who was initially suspected to have PCD based on the NBS results. Further investigations not only confirmed that the patient had PCD but also revealed the presence of NICCD. As a result, the biochemical, genetic, and clinical features of dual-inherited metabolic diseases were described in this patient.

This study examined a newborn with an extremely low C0 level at NBS indicating PCD. It is interesting that the subsequent tests not only confirmed the reduced level of C0 but also revealed the elevated levels of multiple amino acids, particularly citrulline. Further biochemical tests showed abnormal liver function and cholestasis, indicating the presence of a second inherited metabolic disease. Molecular genetic analysis confirmed that the patient was affected by both PCD and NICCD. Thus, this study highlighted the importance of further genetic testing in patients presenting with unusual metabolic screening findings.

The persistently low C0 levels accompanied by the reduction of multiple acylcarnitine levels in the newborn, increased significantly after L-carnitine supplementation. Notably, the amino acid profile was normal at the time of NBS, and markedly elevated citrulline levels were not observed until the recall phase. If the additional testing was not performed due to suspicion of PCD, the patient with NICCD would have been missed in routine NBS. As our previous study revealed, more than half of the NICCD patients were missed in the MS/MS-based NBS program [8]. Therefore, incorporating genetic screening into the current NBS program can greatly improve the diagnosis of NICCD. A previous study has shown that high tyrosine levels in NICCD patients are associated with poor prognosis [14], whereas the tyrosine levels of our patient were consistently normal. All detected mutations in SLC22A5 and SLC25A13 are known to occur at high frequency in the Chinese population. The c.760C > T (p.R254X) in SLC22A5 was previously reported as a founder mutation in the southern Chinese population [15], and IVS16ins3kb in SLC25A13 is the second most common mutation in China [16].

Although both PCD and NICCD have a relatively high incidence in the Chinese population [17], these disorders rarely coexist in the same individual. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of PCD and NICCD occurring in the same patient. Popek et al. reported a newborn diagnosed with glutaric aciduria type I combined with isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency; however, the latter is only a benign condition that does not require treatment [18]. By comparison, both of the diseases co-occurring in our patient were relatively serious. PCD is associated with cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmia [19], while NICCD is correlated with liver disease [20]. The combination of inherited metabolic diseases may aggravate the clinical phenotype of the patient. Fortunately, early medical intervention leads to the long-term favourable prognosis of PCD. Consistent with previous studies [21], the main clinical presentation of the patient in this study was neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis. In addition, the patient had VSD, one of the most common congenital cardiac diseases in infants [22]. VSD is considered to have a relatively benign clinical course; however, sudden death can also occur in some cases [23]. To our knowledge, VSD has not been reported in patients with PCD, and this association remains unclear. Therefore, a long-term follow-up including the assessment of heart and liver function is necessary.

In summary, this study reported the first patient with both PCD and NICCD. The patient had extremely low C0 levels accompanied by a normal amino acid profile during NBS. The subsequent tests revealed neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis and VSD. Such dual disorders in a newborn broaden our understanding of inherited metabolic diseases. Thus, a long-term follow-up on the case is essential and is currently being performed.