A rare cause of mental motor retardation: recessive congenital methemoglobinemia type II

Turk J Pediatr. 2009 Mar-Apr;51(2):187-9.

Abstract

Recessive congenital methemoglobinemia (RCM) is a very rare disorder caused by NADH- cytochrome b5 reductase (cytb5r) deficiency. It has been classified into four types. Type I presents with mild cyanosis due to a significant deficiency of cytb5r in erythrocytes only. In type II, the deficiency occurs in all tissues and causes growth and mental retardation and other neurological impairments. RCM types I and II are caused by a defect in a single gene, which is located on chromosome 22 (locus DIA 1: q 13.31-qter). Prenatal diagnosis is possible. Cyanosis can be well treated by 200-500 mg of ascorbic acid daily; there is no effective therapy for the progressive neurological impairments. This report presents two siblings with central cyanosis, growth retardation, mental retardation, microcephaly, dystonia and hypertonia diagnosed as RCM type II.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ascorbic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Consanguinity
  • Genes, Recessive
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnosis
  • Intellectual Disability / drug therapy
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Methemoglobinemia / congenital*
  • Methemoglobinemia / diagnosis
  • Methemoglobinemia / drug therapy
  • Methemoglobinemia / genetics*
  • Siblings
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Ascorbic Acid