#229100 ICD+
  • SNOMEDCT: 59761008
SNOMEDCT: 59761008
FORMIMINOTRANSFERASE DEFICIENCY

Alternative titles; symbols
GLUTAMATE FORMIMINOTRANSFERASE DEFICIENCY
FORMIMINOGLUTAMIC ACIDURIA
FIGLU-URIA

Phenotype Gene Relationships
Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
Gene/Locus Gene/Locus
MIM number
21q22.3 Glutamate formiminotransferase deficiency 229100 FTCD 606806


TEXT
A number sign (#) is used with this entry because of evidence that the disorder is caused by mutations in the FTCD gene (606806).

Description
Glutamate formiminotransferase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder and the second most common inborn error of folate metabolism. Features of a severe phenotype include elevated levels of formiminoglutamate (FIGLU) in the urine in response to histidine administration, megaloblastic anemia, and mental retardation. Features of a mild phenotype include high urinary excretion of FIGLU in the absence of histidine administration, mild developmental delay, and no hematologic abnormalities.

Clinical Features
In the 2 related Japanese patients reported by Arakawa et al. (1965, 1966), mental retardation was the main clinical feature. The ferric chloride test was positive due to formiminoglutamic acid in the urine. Other features were marked physical retardation, anemia, megaloblastic bone marrow, and biochemical evidence of disturbed folic acid metabolism. Very large amounts of FIGLU were excreted in the urine. The level of folic acid in the blood was increased. Hyperfolicacidemia followed histidine loading. Arakawa et al. (1965) observed hypersegmentation of the nuclei of neutrophils in 1 case. This may have been fortuitous association of an independent trait, since the father and his sister and mother showed the same finding but were otherwise normal. See Undritz anomaly (191500). Erbe (1977) suggested that mental retardation is not generally a feature of this benign condition, having been included as a result of ascertainment bias in the original studies of Arakawa.

Heterogeneity in this category is suggested by the report by Niederwieser et al. (1974) of 2 sisters who had FIGLU in the urine with normal serum folic acid levels. They differed from reported cases of postulated formiminotransferase deficiency in a 10-fold increase in FIGLU excretion with histidine loading, normal hematologic findings, normal serum folic acid, and lack of mental retardation in one. In a further study of the affected Swiss sisters, Niederwieser et al. (1976) postulated 'a practically complete deficiency' of formimino-L-glutamate:tetrahydrofolate-5-formiminotransferase. Their patients did not respond to folic acid. Perry et al. (1975) described similar patients. Rosenblatt (1987) preferred to call this condition glutamate formiminotransferase deficiency.

See Also:
Arakawa et al. (1968); Arakawa et al. (1972); Arakawa et al. (1968); Duran et al. (1981); Erbe (1975); Hilton et al. (2003)

REFERENCES
1. Arakawa, T., Fujii, M., Ohara, K. Erythrocyte formiminotransferase activity in formiminotransferase deficiency syndrome. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 88: 195-202, 1966. [PubMed: 5956503, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

2. Arakawa, T., Tamura, T., Ohara, K., Narisawa, K., Tanno, K., Honda, Y., Higashi, O. Familial occurrence of formiminotransferase deficiency syndrome. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 96: 211-217, 1968. [PubMed: 5305027, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

3. Arakawa, T., Yoshida, T., Konno, T., Honda, Y. Defect of incorporation of glycine-1-(14)C into urinary uric acid in formiminotransferase deficiency syndrome. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 106: 213-218, 1972. [PubMed: 5038586, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

4. Arakawa, T. S., Ohara, K., Takahashi, Y., Ogasawara, J., Hayashi, T., Chiba, R., Wada, Y., Tada, K., Mizuno, T., Okamura, T., Yoshida, T. Formiminotransferase-deficiency syndrome: a new inborn error of folic acid metabolism. Ann. Paediat. 205: 1-11, 1965. [PubMed: 5897668, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

5. Arakawa, T. S., Tamura, T., Higashi, O., Ohara, K., Tanno, K., Honda, Y., Narisawa, K., Konno, T., Wada, Y., Sato, Y., Mizuno, T. Formiminotransferase deficiency syndrome associated with megaloblastic anemia responsive to pyridoxine or folic acid. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 94: 3-16, 1968. [PubMed: 5301410, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

6. Duran, M., Ketting, D., de Bree, P. K., van Sprang, F. J., Wadman, S. K., Penders, T. J., Wilms, R. H. H. A case of formiminoglutamic aciduria: clinical and biochemical studies. Europ. J. Pediat. 136: 319-323, 1981. [PubMed: 7262105, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

7. Erbe, R. W. Inborn errors of folate metabolism. New Eng. J. Med. 293: 753-757 and 807-812, 1975. [PubMed: 1099447, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon, Pubget]

8. Erbe, R. W. Personal Communication. Boston, Mass. 10/6/1977.

9. Hilton, J. F., Christensen, K. E., Watkins, D., Raby, B. A., Renaud, Y., de la Luna, S., Estivill, X., MacKenzie, R. E., Hudson, T. J., Rosenblatt, D. S. The molecular basis of glutamate formiminotransferase deficiency. Hum. Mutat. 22: 67-73, 2003. [PubMed: 12815595, related citations] [Full Text: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Pubget]

10. Niederwieser, A., Giliberti, P., Matasovic, A., Pluznik, S., Steinmann, B., Baerlocher, K. Folic acid non-dependent formiminoglutamic aciduria in two siblings. Clin. Chim. Acta 54: 293-316, 1974. [PubMed: 4413489, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

11. Niederwieser, A., Matasovic, A., Steinmann, B., Baerlocher, K., Kempken, B. Hydantoin-5-propionic aciduria in folic acid nondependent formiminoglutamic aciduria observed in two siblings. Pediat. Res. 10: 215-219, 1976. [PubMed: 1272625, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

12. Perry, T. L., Applegarth, D. A., Evans, M. E., Hansen, S., Jellum, E. Metabolic studies of a family with massive formiminoglutamic aciduria. Pediat. Res. 9: 117-122, 1975. [PubMed: 235753, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

13. Rosenblatt, D. S. Personal Communication. Montreal, Quebec, Canada 8/7/1987.

Contributors: Victor A. McKusick - updated : 8/18/2003
Creation Date: Victor A. McKusick : 6/3/1986
Edit History: wwang : 09/17/2009
wwang : 9/17/2009
terry : 4/20/2005
cwells : 8/22/2003
terry : 8/18/2003
terry : 4/18/1994
warfield : 4/15/1994
mimadm : 2/19/1994
carol : 10/11/1993
carol : 5/21/1993
supermim : 3/16/1992