Fatty-acid metabolism disorder
| Fatty-acid metabolism disorder | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Acyl-CoA, one of the compounds involved in fatty acid metabolism | |
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | endocrinology |
| ICD-10 | E71.3 |
| ICD-9-CM | 277.81-277.85 |
A broad classification for genetic disorders that result from an inability of the body to produce or utilize one enzyme that is required to oxidize fatty acids. The enzyme can be missing or improperly constructed, resulting in it not working. This leaves the body unable to produce energy within the liver and muscles from fatty acid sources.
The body's primary source of energy is glucose; however, when all the glucose in the body has been expended, a normal body digests fats. Individuals with a fatty-acid metabolism disorder are unable to metabolize this fat source for energy, halting bodily processes. Most individuals with a fatty-acid metabolism disorder are able to live a normal active life with simple adjustments to diet and medications.
If left undiagnosed many complications can arise. When in need of glucose the body of a person with a fatty-acid metabolism disorder will still send fats to the liver. The fats are broken down to fatty acids. The fatty acids are then transported to the target cells but are unable to be broken down, resulting in a build-up of fatty acids in the liver and other internal organs.
Fatty-acid metabolism disorders are sometimes classified with the lipid metabolism disorders, but in other contexts they are considered a distinct category.
Diagnosis of Fatty-acid metabolism disorder requires extensive lab testing. There are many labs that can be used for testing and diagnosing Fatty-acid metabolism disorders. E.g. http://genes-r-us.uthscsa.edu/parentpage.htm.uthscsa.edu/parentpage.htm
Normally, in cases of hypoglycaemia, triglycerides and fatty acids are metabolised to provide glucose/energy. However, in this process, ketones are also produced and ketotic hypoglycaemia is expected. However, in cases where fatty acid metabolism is impaired, a non-ketotic hypoglycaemia may be the result, due to a break in the metabolic pathways for fatty-acid metabolism.
Fatty-acid metabolism disorders result when both parents of the diagnosed subject are carriers of a defective gene. This is known as an autosomal recessive disorder. Two parts of a recessive gene are required to activate the disease. If only one part of the gene is present then the individual is only a carrier and shows no symptoms of the disease. If both mutated genes are present, the individual will be symptomatic. Like most autosomal recessive disorders, when both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance for each child to inherit the disease.
Incomplete list of various fatty-acid metabolism disorders.
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