Metabolic Consequences of CPT1A Deficiency in Alaska Native Children

With the advent of enhanced screening (via tandem mass spectroscopy, MS/MS), the Northwest Regional Newborn Screening Program (NWRNSP) has identified a high incidence of carnitine palmitoyl transferase type 1A (CPT1A) deficiency in Alaska Native infants. Since October of 2003 approximately 80 Alaska Native infants have been identified with this condition; previously only 30 published cases were known worldwide. All of the infants are homozygous for a c.1436C-T sequence variant in the CPT1A gene, which results in the substitution of a leucine for proline at amino acid position 479 (P479L), and an approximately 80% reduction of CPT1A activity (non-classic CPT1A deficiency) (7). The clinical implications of this very restricted level of enzyme activity are not known. However, patients with more severe reductions of CPT1A activity (as the result of other mutations) are known to be at high risk for hypoketotic hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction, and sudden unexplained death (1). Hepatomegaly with micro- and macro-vesicular steatosis is also common (16). Currently the treatment of Alaska Native infants and children with CPT1A deficiency is based on data from patients with more severe forms of CPT1A deficiency and other fatty acid oxidation (FAO) disorders. Our ultimate goal is to establish evidence-based guidelines for treatment of the form of CPT1A deficiency prevalent in the Alaska Native population. This pilot study addresses two specific questions and will provide the first glimpse of the physiologic effects of homozygosity for the c.1436C-T sequence variant in the CPT1A gene. These data will aid in the development of strategies for clinical management that can be evaluated in future prospective studies, and provide preliminary data required for applications for NIH funding for more in-depth characterization of the clinical consequences of this condition.