Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0018799 (heart disease)
 34,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cyanosis is a physical finding that can occur at any age but presents the greatest challenge when it occurs in the newborn. The cause is multiple, and it usually represents an ominous sign, especially when it occurs in association with neonatal sepsis, cyanotic congenital heart disease, and airway abnormalities. Cyanosis caused by abnormal forms of hemoglobin can also be life-threatening, and early recognition is mandatory to prevent unnecessary investigations and delay in management. Abnormal hemoglobin, such as hemoglobin M, is traditionally discovered by electrophoresis, so the newborn screen, which is mandatory in several states, is a useful tool for the diagnosis. Although acquired methemoglobinemia, caused by environmental oxidizing agents, is common, congenital deficiency of the innate reducing enzyme is so rare that only a few cases are documented in the medical literature around the world. We present a neonate with cyanosis as a result of congenital deficiency of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-cytochrome b5 reductase enzyme. This infant was found to be blue at a routine newborn follow-up visit. Sepsis, structural congenital heart disease, prenatal administration, and ingestion of oxidant dyes were excluded as a cause of the cyanosis by history and appropriate tests. Chocolate discoloration of arterial blood provided a clue to the diagnosis. A normal newborn screen and hemoglobin electrophoresis made the diagnosis of hemoglobin M unlikely as the cause of the methemoglobinemia (Hb A 59.4%, A2 1.8%, and F 38.8%). Red blood cell enzyme activity and DNA analysis revealed a homozygous form of the cytochrome b5 reductase enzyme deficiency. He responded very well to daily methylene blue and ascorbic acid administration, and he has normal growth and developmental parameters, although he shows an exaggerated increase in his methemoglobin level with minor oxidant stress such as diarrhea.
 ...
PMID:Congenital methemoglobinemia: a rare cause of cyanosis in the newborn--a case report. 1289 22

The development of cyanosis at birth, the so-called blue baby syndrome, alerts paediatricians to the presence of congenital heart disease. In rare cases where the arterial blood gas analysis is normal the cyanosis is a consequence of methaemoglobinaemia. There are three distinct origins of methaemoglobinaemia; the presence of a haemoglobin variant, environmental toxicity and deficiency of cytochrome b5 reductase (cb(5)r). Two children born to two sets of first-degree related parents were cyanotic from birth. Differential diagnosis eliminated cardiac and pulmonary abnormalities. Measurement of methaemoglobin levels confirmed recessive congenital methaemoglobinaemia (RCM) and treatment with ascorbic acid was commenced. In the absence of neurological defects, type I disease was diagnosed. Sequence analysis of CYB5R3 revealed two different missense mutations (one which is novel, Ile85Ser) in the two families. Neither of the mutations was located in the FAD or the NADH binding sites of cb(5)r, thus supporting a diagnosis of type I disease.
 ...
PMID:NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase in a Turkish family with recessive congenital methaemoglobinaemia type I. 1882 99

Congenital methemoglobinemia is a rare condition caused by cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency, cytochrome b5 deficiency, or hemoglobin M disease. Newborn pulse oximetry screening was developed for the early detection of critical congenital heart disease; however, it also enables the early identification of other hypoxemic conditions. We present the case of a term neonate who was admitted to the neonatal unit after a failed pulse oximetry screening at 3 hours of age. Oxygen saturations remained between 89% and 92% despite an increase in oxygen therapy. Chest radiograph and echocardiogram results were normal. A capillary blood gas test had normal results except for a raised methemoglobin level of 16%. Improvement was seen on the administration of methylene blue, which also resulted in an increase in oxygen saturations to within normal limits. Further investigation revealed evidence of type I hereditary cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency as a result of a CYB5R3 gene mutation with 2 pathogenic variants involving guanine-to-adenine substitutions. Although mild cyanosis is generally the only symptom of type I disease, patients may later develop associated symptoms, such as fatigue and shortness of breath. If an early diagnosis is missed, these patients are likely to present later with a diagnostic conundrum and be subject to extensive investigation. This case represents the success of pulse oximetry screening in the early identification of subclinical hypoxemia in this infant. After the exclusion of other pathologies, a routine investigation of capillary blood gas provided the information that led to a diagnosis, which allowed for early and effective management.
 ...
PMID:Congenital Methemoglobinemia Identified by Pulse Oximetry Screening. 3073 39