Liver transplantation for glycogen storage disease types I, III, and IV

Glycogen storage disease (GSD) types I, III, and IV can be associated with severe liver disease. The possible development of hepatocellular carcinoma and/or hepatic failure make these GSDs potential candidates for liver transplantation. Early diagnosis and initiation of effective dietary therapy have dramatically improved the outcome of GSD type I by reducing the incidence of liver adenoma and renal insufficiency. Nine type I and 3 type III patients have received liver transplants because of poor metabolic control, multiple liver adenomas, or progressive liver failure. Metabolic abnormalities were corrected in all GSD type I and type III patients, while catch-up growth was reported only in two patients. Whether liver transplantation results in reversal and/or prevention of renal disease remains unclear. Neutropenia persisted in both GSDIb patients post liver transplantation necessitating continuous granulocyte colony stimulating factor treatment. Thirteen GSD type IV patients were liver transplanted because of progressive liver cirrhosis and failure. All but one patient have not had neuromuscular or cardiac complications during follow-up periods for as long as 13 years. Four have died within a week and 5 years after transplantation. Caution should be taken in selecting GSD type IV candidates for liver transplantation because of the variable phenotype, which may include life-limiting extrahepatic manifestations. It remains to be evaluated, whether a genotype-phenotype correlation exists for GSD type IV, which may aid in the decision making. Conclusion Liver transplantation should be considered for patients with glycogen storage disease who have developed liver malignancy or hepatic failure, and for type IV patients with the classical and progressive hepatic form

Nephrolithiasis related to inborn metabolic diseases

Nephrolithiasis associated with inborn metabolic diseases is a very rare condition with some common characteristics: early onset of symptoms, family history, associated tubular impairment, bilateral, multiple and recurrent stones, and association with nephrocalcinosis. The prognosis of such diseases may lead to life threatening conditions, not only because of unabated kidney damage but also because of progressive extra-renal involvement, either in a systemic form (e.g. primary hyperoxaluria type 1, requiring combined liver and kidney transplantation), or in a neurological form (Lesch–Nyhan syndrome leading to auto-mutilation and disability, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase superactivity, which is associated with mental retardation). Patients with other inborn metabolic diseases present only with recurrent stone formation, such as cystinuria, adenine phosphoribosyl-transferase deficiency, xanthine deficiency. Finally, nephrolithiasis may be secondarily part of some other metabolic diseases, such as glycogen storage disease type 1 or inborn errors of metabolism leading to Fanconi syndrome (nephropathic cystinosis, tyrosinaemia type 1, fructose intolerance, Wilson disease, respiratory chain disorders, etc.). The diagnosis is based on highly specific investigations, including crystal identification, biochemical analyses and DNA study. The treatment of nephrolithiasis requires hydration as well as specific measures. Compliance is a major issue regarding the progression of renal damage, but the overall outcome mainly depends on extra-renal involvement in relation to the metabolic defect

THE LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH GLYCOGEN-STORAGE-DISEASE TYPE-IA

Forty-one patients (16 females and 25 males) over 10 years of age from five different European centres were studied retrospectively. Of those patients 19 were below the 3rd percentile for height. Hypoglycaemia was still reported in 6 patients. Hepatomegaly was present in 39 out of 40, while 11 out of 27 reported patients had marked hepatomegaly (> 10 cm below the costal margin in the midclavicular line). Adenomas were detected in 11 out of 39 patients, alpha-1-fetoprotein was reported to be within normal limits in a total of 22 patients of whom 6 had adenomas. Blood cholesterol concentration was elevated in 31 out of 38 patients, in 7 greater than 10.O mmol/l. Blood triglycerides were elevated in 29 out of 34 patients, in 8 patients greater than 4.O mmol/l. Blood uric acid concentration was elevated in 19 out of 35 patients, 12 of them being treated with allopurinol. Mental development was reported to be normal in 32 out of 37 patients. Since limited information on treatment was available no significant differences between treatment groups could be detected. In order to evaluate the effect of treatment, 20 patients (10 females and 10 males) of one centre were studied before and after at least 5 years of treatment. This treatment consisted of frequent feedings during the day together with nocturnal gastric drip feeding. Patients were divided into responders (n = 16) and non-responders (n = 4) depending on their (change in) SDS (standard deviation score) for height. Liver adenomas were detected in 3 patients, of which one was a non-responder. Alpha-fetoprotein was normal in all patients. With increasing age a gradual increase in blood lipids and some apolipoproteins could be detected, non-responders tending to have higher concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, Apo-CIII and Apo-E. Non-responders had significantly higher ''fasting'' blood lactate and nocturnal urinary lactate concentrations. Virtually all patients had abnormally elevated glomerular filtration rates, but no significant difference was found between responders and non-responders. Older patients may develop normochromic anaemia. Thrombocyte aggregation was abnormal in 4 out of 16 patients, of which one was a non-responder