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Disease Profile
Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.
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Age of onset
Infancy
ICD-10
E71.3
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant A pathogenic variant in only one gene copy in each cell is sufficient to cause an autosomal dominant disease.
Autosomal recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of each gene of the chromosome are needed to cause an autosomal recessive disease and observe the mutant phenotype.
X-linked
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.
X-linked
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.
Mitochondrial or multigenic Mitochondrial genetic disorders can be caused by changes (mutations) in either the mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA that lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria and inadequate production of energy.
Multigenic or multifactor Inheritance involving many factors, of which at least one is genetic but none is of overwhelming importance, as in the causation of a disease by multiple genetic and environmental factors.
Not applicable
Categories
Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Heart Diseases; Metabolic disorders;
Summary
Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) deficiency is a disease that prevents the body from converting certain fats called long-chain fatty acids into energy, particularly during periods without food (fasting). Carnitine, a natural substance acquired mostly through the diet, is used by
There are two forms of carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. The most common type is severe and happens in newborns. A milder, less common type happens in older infants and children.[2] Most patients with CACT deficiency have a severe disease presenting within the first 48 hours of life as
Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency is a type of fatty acid oxidation disorder.
Symptoms
Other signs that are often present include:[1][4]
- Excess ammonia in the blood (hyperammonemia)
- Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
- Heart abnormalities (
cardiomyopathy ) and abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias) - Muscle weakness
- Neurological problems
- Seizures
Developmental delay
In some severe cases of CACT deficiency, infants may present with sudden infant death.[1]
Children with the mild type of CACT deficiency usually start having symptoms before age three and present with episodes of hypoketotic hypoglycemia and hyperammonemia often brought on by fasting and/or by being sick.[2]
This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.
Medical Terms | Other Names |
Learn More:
HPO ID
|
---|---|---|
80%-99% of people have these symptoms | ||
Cardiomyopathy |
Disease of the heart muscle
|
0001638 |
Decreased plasma carnitine | 0003234 | |
Dicarboxylic aciduria | 0003215 | |
Elevated creatine kinase after exercise | 0008331 | |
Elevated hepatic transaminase |
High liver enzymes
|
0002910 |
Elevated plasma acylcarnitine levels | 0045045 | |
0001298 | ||
Fasting hypoglycemia |
Low blood sugar when fasting
|
0003162 |
Global developmental delay | 0001263 | |
Hepatomegaly |
Enlarged liver
|
0002240 |
Hyperammonemia |
High blood ammonia levels
|
0001987 |
Hypoketotic hypoglycemia | 0001985 | |
Hypotension |
Low blood pressure
|
0002615 |
Irritability |
Irritable
|
0000737 |
Lethargy | 0001254 | |
Muscle weakness |
Muscular weakness
|
0001324 |
Respiratory insufficiency |
Respiratory impairment
|
0002093 |
Rhabdomyolysis |
Breakdown of skeletal muscle
|
0003201 |
Ventricular tachycardia | 0004756 | |
5%-29% of people have these symptoms | ||
Coma | 0001259 | |
Cyanosis |
Blue discoloration of the skin
|
0000961 |
Hepatic failure |
Liver failure
|
0001399 |
Hypothermia |
Abnormally low body temperature
|
0002045 |
Abnormally small skull
Decreased circumference of cranium
Decreased size of skull
Reduced head circumference
Small head circumference
[ more ] |
0000252 | |
Involuntary, rapid, rhythmic eye movements
|
0000639 | |
Oliguria | 0100520 | |
Preeclampsia | 0100602 | |
Seizure | 0001250 | |
Sudden episodic apnea | 0002882 | |
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO | ||
Atrioventricular block |
Interruption of electrical communication between upper and lower chambers of heart
|
0001678 |
0000007 | ||
Bradycardia |
Slow heartbeats
|
0001662 |
Cardiorespiratory arrest | 0006543 | |
Elevated serum creatine kinase |
Elevated blood creatine phosphokinase
Elevated circulating creatine phosphokinase
Elevated creatine kinase
Elevated serum CPK
Elevated serum creatine phosphokinase
High serum creatine kinase
Increased CPK
Increased creatine kinase
Increased creatine phosphokinase
Increased serum CK
Increased serum creatine kinase
Increased serum creatine phosphokinase
[ more ] |
0003236 |
Generalized |
Decreased muscle tone
Low muscle tone
[ more ] |
0001290 |
Hypoglycemia |
Low blood sugar
|
0001943 |
Ventricular extrasystoles |
Extra heart beat
|
0006682 |
Ventricular hypertrophy | 0001714 |
Cause
Energy from fat keeps us going whenever our bodies run low of their main source of energy, a type of sugar called glucose. Our bodies rely on fat for energy when we do not eat for a stretch of time like when we miss a meal or when we sleep.[2]
The mutations result in missed or non-functional CACT (CACT deficiency).When the CACT normal enzyme is missing or not working well, the body cannot use fat for energy, and must rely solely on glucose. Although glucose is a good source of energy, there is a limited amount available in the body. Once the glucose has been used up, the body tries to use fat without success. This leads to
To better understand these concepts, you may benefit from visiting the Elmhurst College website which offers a virtual animation that explains how fatty acids are transferred from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria.
Diagnosis
Testing Resources
- The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.
Newborn Screening
- An ACTion (ACT) sheet is available for this condition that describes the short-term actions a health professional should follow when an infant has a positive
newborn screening result. ACT sheets were developed by experts in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics. - An Algorithm flowchart is available for this condition for determining the final diagnosis in an infant with a positive newborn
screening result. Algorithms are developed by experts in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics. - Baby's First Test is the nation's newborn screening education center for families and providers. This site provides information and resources about screening at the local, state, and national levels and serves as the Clearinghouse for newborn screening information.
- The Screening, Technology, and Research in Genetics (STAR-G) Project was a multi-state collaborative effort to obtain research data, identify strategies, and develop written materials for addressing the financial, ethical, legal and social issues surrounding the use of tandem mass spectrometry for newborn screening. As part of the STAR-G Project, fact sheets on newborn screening disorders have been developed for parents. To view the fact sheet on carnitine acylcarnitine translocase deficiency (CAT), visit the STAR-G link.
- The Newborn Screening Coding and Terminology Guide has information on the standard codes used for newborn screening tests. Using these standards helps compare data across different laboratories. This resource was created by the National Library of Medicine.
- National Newborn Screening and Global Resource Center (NNSGRC) provides information and resources in the area of newborn screening and genetics to benefit health professionals, the public health community, consumers and government officials.
Treatment
- Strict avoidance of fasting: Infants and young children with carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) deficiency need to eat frequently to prevent a metabolic crisis. In general, it is often suggested that infants be fed every four to six hours, although some babies need to eat even more frequently than this (every 3 hours). It is important that infants be fed during the night. They may need to be woken up to eat if they do not wake up on their own.
- A low long-chain fat diet and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) supplementation: The MCT formula should be as low as possible in C10 and C12 fatty acids because high dietary intake of these can lead to a metabolic crisis. Medium Chain Triglyceride oil (MCT oil) is sometimes used as part of the food plan for people with CACT deficiency.
- Administration of a high carbohydrate diet: Carbohydrates give the body many types of sugar that can be used as energy. In fact, for children needing this treatment, most food in the diet should be carbohydrates (bread, pasta, fruit, vegetables, etc.) and
protein (lean meat and low-fat dairy food). - Supplementation with L-carnitin: A safe and natural substance that helps body
cells make energy and get rid of harmful wastes. However, its benefits are not yet determined. - Administration of intravenous glucose: In cases of
hypoglycemia , hyperammonemia, and for the prevention of lipolysis (the breakdown of fat stored in fat cells) in the newborn, which may be lifesaving.
Other treatment options for milder cases with some residual CACT activity may be the administration of statins and fibrates that have been shown to increase the amount of CACT.[4]
When children get sick, parents should call the doctor. Children with CACT deficiency need to eat extra starchy food and drink more fluids during any illness (even if they may not feel hungry) or they could develop a metabolic crisis.[2]
Management Guidelines
- Orphanet Emergency Guidelines is an article which is expert-authored and peer-reviewed that is intended to guide health care professionals in emergency situations involving this condition.
Related diseases
Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.
Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
|
---|
The neonatal and severe infantile forms of carnitine palmitoyl transferase II (CPT II) deficiency (see this term) need to be excluded as they have an identical acylcarnitine profile to CACT. Clinically these two disorders are virtually indistinguishable, although congenital abnormalities are not reported in CACT and only sometimes in CPT II.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.
|
Organizations
Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.
Organizations Supporting this Disease
-
FOD (Fatty Oxidation Disorder) Family Support Group
P.O. Box 54
Okemos, MI 48805-0054
Telephone: +1-517-381-1940 [8am 8pm EST every day]
Fax: +1-866-290-5206
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://fodsupport.org/ -
Metabolic Support UK
5 Hilliards Court
Sandpiper Way
Chester Business Park
Chester, CH4 9QP United Kingdom
Toll-free: 0800 652 3181
Telephone: 0845 241 2173
E-mail: https://www.metabolicsupportuk.org/contact-us
Website: https://www.metabolicsupportuk.org
Organizations Providing General Support
-
MitoAction
PO Box 310
Novi, MI 48376
Toll-free: 888-648-6228
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.mitoaction.org/ -
United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
8085 Saltsburg Road, Suite 201
Pittsburgh, PA 15239
Toll-free: 1-888-317-8633
Telephone: +1-412-793-8077
Fax: +1-412-793-6477
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.umdf.org
Learn more
These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.
Where to Start
- Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
- The Screening, Technology And Research in Genetics (STAR-G) Project has a fact sheet on this condition, which was written specifically for families that have received a diagnosis as a result of newborn screening. This fact sheet provides general information about the condition and answers questions that are of particular concern to parents.
In-Depth Information
- The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
- Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
References
- Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. Genetics Home Reference. November, 2015; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=carnitineacylcarnitinetranslocasedeficiency.
- Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. Screening, Technology and Research in Genetics. 2016; https://www.newbornscreening.info/Parents/fattyaciddisorders/CAT.html.
- Vitoria I, Martín-Hernández E, Peña-Quintana L, et al. Carnitine-Acylcarnitine Translocase Deficiency: Experience with Four Cases in Spain and Review of the Literature. JIMD Reports. 2015; 20:11-20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4375124/.
- Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. Orphanet. 2014; https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/Disease_Search.php?lng=EN&data_id=3343.
- SLC25A20 gene. Genetics Home Reference. 2017; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/SLC25A20.
- Copeland S, Tuerck J, Paradise L. Carnitine-Acylcarnitine Translocase Deficiency. Oregon Department of Human Services Newborn Screening. https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/nbs/docs/carnitinetranslocase.pdf. Accessed 4/4/2008.
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