Medium Chain Acyl CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Medium Chain Acyl CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Dicarboxylicaciduria due to defect in Beta-Oxidation of Fatty Acids
Carnitine Deficiency Secondary to MCAD Deficiency
Dicarboxylicaciduria due to MCADH Deficiency
MCAD Deficiency
ACADM Deficiency
Nonketotic Hypoglycemia and Carnitine Deficiency due to MCAD Deficiency

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency is a rare genetic metabolic disorder characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. This enzyme is found to be most active in the liver, certain white blood cells (leukocytes), and certain connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) and is necessary for the breakdown (oxidation) of certain fats (medium chain fatty acids). Failure to break down these fats can lead to the abnormal accumulation of fatty acids in the liver and the brain. Abnormally low levels of the MCAD enzyme may also hamper or interrupt other processes associated with the metabolism of fatty acids.

In infants with MCAD deficiency, symptoms may include recurrent episodes of unusually low levels of a certain sugar (glucose) in the blood (hypoglycemia), lack of energy (lethargy), vomiting, and/or liver malfunction. These symptoms are most frequently triggered when an affected infant does not eat for an extended period of time (fasting). In some cases, a viral illness (e.g., upper respiratory infection) that limits food intake may cause the symptoms to occur. MCAD deficiency is the most common disease in a group of disorders that involve abnormalities of fatty acid metabolism (fatty acid oxidation disorders [FODs]). MCAD deficiency is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

Resources

CLIMB (Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases)
Climb Building
176 Nantwich Road
Crewe, Intl CW2 6BG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 870 7700 325
Fax: +44 870 7700 327
Email: info@climb.org.uk
Internet: http://www.CLIMB.org.uk

United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
8085 Saltsburg Road
Suite 201
Pittsburgh, PA 15239
United States
Tel: 4127938077
Fax: 4127936477
Email: info@umdf.org
Internet: http://www.umdf.org

Lactic Acidosis Support Trust
1A Whitley Close
Middlewich
Cheshire, CW10 0NQ
United Kingdom
Tel: 0160683719
Fax: 01606837198

Organic Acidemia Association
13210 35th Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55441
USA
Tel: 7635591797
Fax: 7636940017
Email: OAANews@aol.com
Internet: http://www.oaanews.org

Organic Acidaemias UK
5 Saxon Road
Ashford
Middlesex, Intl TW15 1QL
United Kingdom
Tel: 44-1784-245989
Email: davidpriddy@bigfoot.com

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Endocrine Diseases Metabolic Diseases Branch
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Tel: (301)654-3810
Fax: (301)496-7422
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niddk.nih.gov

FOD (Fatty Oxidation Disorders) Family Support Group
2041 Tomahawk
Okemos, MI 48864
USA
Tel: 5173811940
Email: deb@fodsupport.org
Internet: http://www.fodsupport.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/11/2008
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2005 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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