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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/methylmalonic-acidemia/

Methylmalonic acidemia

Description

Methylmalonic acidemia is a group of inherited disorders that prevent the body from breaking down proteins and fats (lipids) properly. The effects of methylmalonic acidemia, which usually appear in early infancy, vary from mild to life-threatening. Affected infants can experience vomiting, dehydration, weak muscle tone (hypotonia), developmental delays, excessive tiredness (lethargy), an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly), and failure to gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive). Long-term complications can include feeding problems, intellectual disabilities, movement problems, chronic kidney disease, and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). People with methylmalonic acidemia can have frequent episodes of excess acid in the blood (metabolic acidosis) that cause serious health complications. Without treatment, this disorder can lead to coma and death in some cases.

Frequency

Methylmalonic acidemia occurs in an estimated 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 people.

Causes

Variants (also called mutations) in the MMUT, MMAA, MMAB, MMADHC, and MCEE genes cause methylmalonic acidemia. The long-term effects of methylmalonic acidemia depend on which gene is altered and the severity of the variant.

About 60 percent of individuals with methylmalonic acidemia have variants in the MMUT gene. This gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. This enzyme works with vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin) to break down several protein building blocks (amino acids), certain lipids, and cholesterol. Variants in the MMUT gene alter the enzyme's structure or reduce the amount of the enzyme, which prevents these molecules from being broken down properly. As a result, a substance called methylmalonic acid and other potentially toxic compounds can accumulate in the body's organs and tissues, causing the signs and symptoms of methylmalonic acidemia.

Variants in the MMUT gene that prevent the production of any functional methylmalonyl-CoA mutase result in a form of the condition designated mut0.  Mut0 is the most severe form of methylmalonic acidemia and has the poorest outcomes. Variants that change the structure of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase but do not eliminate its activity cause a form of the condition designated mut-.  The mut- form is typically less severe, with more variable symptoms than the mut0 form.

Some cases of methylmalonic acidemia are caused by variants in the MMAA, MMAB, or MMADHC gene. Proteins produced from the MMAA, MMAB, and MMADHC genes are required for the proper function of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Specifically, these proteins help produce and regulate vitamin B12, which methylmalonyl-CoA mutase needs to function. Variants that affect proteins produced from these three genes can impair the activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, leading to methylmalonic acidemia.

A few other cases of methylmalonic acidemia are caused by variants in the MCEE gene. This gene provides instructions for producing an enzyme called methylmalonyl CoA epimerase. Like methylmalonyl CoA mutase, this enzyme also plays a role in the breakdown of amino acids, certain lipids, and cholesterol. Disruption in the function of methylmalonyl CoA epimerase leads to a form of methylmalonic acidemia with varied signs and symptoms.

Because variants in these genes only cause elevations in the levels of  methylmalonic acid, this condition is sometimes referred to as isolated methylmalonic acidemia. This helps distinguish it from related conditions, such as methylmalonic acidemia with homocystinuria. 

It is possible that variants in other, unidentified genes also cause methylmalonic acidemia.

Learn more about the genes associated with Methylmalonic acidemia

Inheritance

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the MMUT, MMAA, MMAB, MMADHC, or MCEE gene in each cell must have a variant to cause the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the altered gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Other Names for This Condition

  • Isolated methylmalonic acidemia
  • Methylmalonic aciduria
  • MMA

Additional Information & Resources

Genetic Testing Information

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

Clinical Trials

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Scientific Articles on PubMed

References

  • Almasi T, Guey LT, Lukacs C, Csetneki K, Voko Z, Zelei T. Systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the epidemiology of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) with a focus on MMA caused by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (mut) deficiency. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019 Apr 25;14(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s13023-019-1063-z. Citation on PubMed
  • Chandler RJ, Venditti CP. Gene Therapy for Methylmalonic Acidemia: Past, Present, and Future. Hum Gene Ther. 2019 Oct;30(10):1236-1244. doi: 10.1089/hum.2019.113. Epub 2019 Aug 16. Citation on PubMed
  • Forny P, Horster F, Ballhausen D, Chakrapani A, Chapman KA, Dionisi-Vici C, Dixon M, Grunert SC, Grunewald S, Haliloglu G, Hochuli M, Honzik T, Karall D, Martinelli D, Molema F, Sass JO, Scholl-Burgi S, Tal G, Williams M, Huemer M, Baumgartner MR. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of methylmalonic acidaemia and propionic acidaemia: First revision. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2021 May;44(3):566-592. doi: 10.1002/jimd.12370. Epub 2021 Mar 9. Erratum In: J Inherit Metab Dis. 2022 Jul;45(4):862. doi: 10.1002/jimd.12535. Citation on PubMed
  • Fraser JL, Venditti CP. Methylmalonic and propionic acidemias: clinical management update. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2016 Dec;28(6):682-693. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000422. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Haijes HA, Jans JJM, Tas SY, Verhoeven-Duif NM, van Hasselt PM. Pathophysiology of propionic and methylmalonic acidemias. Part 1: Complications. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2019 Sep;42(5):730-744. doi: 10.1002/jimd.12129. Epub 2019 Aug 7. Citation on PubMed
  • Haijes HA, van Hasselt PM, Jans JJM, Verhoeven-Duif NM. Pathophysiology of propionic and methylmalonic acidemias. Part 2: Treatment strategies. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2019 Sep;42(5):745-761. doi: 10.1002/jimd.12128. Epub 2019 Jul 9. Citation on PubMed
  • Horster F, Baumgartner MR, Viardot C, Suormala T, Burgard P, Fowler B, Hoffmann GF, Garbade SF, Kolker S, Baumgartner ER. Long-term outcome in methylmalonic acidurias is influenced by the underlying defect (mut0, mut-, cblA, cblB). Pediatr Res. 2007 Aug;62(2):225-30. doi: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e3180a0325f. Citation on PubMed
  • Manoli I, Sloan JL, Venditti CP. Isolated Methylmalonic Acidemia. 2005 Aug 16 [updated 2022 Sep 8]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1231/ Citation on PubMed

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