The following information may help to address your question:
What is glycine encephalopathy?
Glycine encephalopathy is an
inherited metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high levels of an
amino acid called glycine. Glycine is a chemical messenger that transmits signals in the brain.
[1][2] According to the symptoms the disease onset, glycine encephalopathy may be divided in:
[3][2]
- Classical neonatal form (most common): Symptoms start within a few days of life and may include poor feeding, lack of energy (lethargy), weak muscle tone (hypotonia), hiccups, breathing problems, seizures, hiccups, and coma.
- Infantile form: Symptoms start only after 6 months of age, as intellectual disability, abnormal movements, and behavioral problems
- Late onset: Symptoms include tightness or stiffness of the legs or arms (spastic diplegia), and vision loss due to a damage of the eye nerve (optic atrophy).
- Transient form: Symptoms are similar to the classic form, but glycine levels decrease and the symptoms may improve within time.
Glycine encephalopathy is caused by changes (
mutations) in the
AMT, GLDC or
GCSH genes which result in a deficiency of the
enzyme that break-up the glycine. Diagnosis is based in the symptoms, the high glycine levels and the enzyme deficiency, as well as
genetic testing. Inheritance is
autosomal recessive.
[2][1] Treatment may include sodium benzoate to reduce the levels of glycine, N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor site antagonists, anti-seizure drugs and ketogenic diet.
[1] About half of the babies with the classic form, die within a few weeks of life and the survivors may have motor delay, very small head, seizures and stiffness. In the transient form symptoms may improve with time.
[3]
Last updated: 11/18/2017
How is glycine encephalopathy inherited?
Glycine encephalopathy is inherited in an
autosomal recessive pattern, which means in an affected individual, both copies of the
gene that cause this condition have
mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene and are referred to as
carriers. Carriers typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
[4] When two carriers of an autosomal recessive condition have children, each child has a 25% (1 in 4) risk to have the condition, a 50% (1 in 2) risk to be a carrier like each of the parents, and a 25% chance to not have the condition and not be a carrier.
Last updated: 10/28/2011
What is the chance my next child will have glycine encephalopathy if he has a different father?
In autosomal recessive conditions, the chance of the same parents having another affected child is 1 in 4 (25%) with each pregancy. If one of the parents has a child with a different partner, the chance of having another affected child depends on whether the partner is a carrier of the same condition.
We suggest that you consult with a genetics professional to learn more about your chance of having another child with glycine encephalopathy.
Last updated: 6/2/2016
How can I find a genetics professional in my area?
Last updated: 8/23/2016
We hope this information is helpful. We strongly recommend you discuss this information with your doctor. If you still have questions, please
contact us.
Warm regards,
GARD Information Specialist
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