title: Overview of common inherited metabolic diseases in a Southern Chinese population of Hong Kong.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Joint metabolic clinic at the Prince of Wales Hospital was established in January 1997 to provide a comprehensive multi-disciplinary care to patients with inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs). Patients are referred from both within and outside our hospital. Until July, 2000, more than 40 patients and families with 20 different biochemical diagnoses attend the clinic for regular follow up. A pattern of more common IMDs among Hong Kong Chinese emerged from our case registry. In order to advance the understanding of Chinese metabolic diseases, we examined the molecular basis of those diseases with unique features in Chinese or were locally prevalent. Mutations were found in patients with primary carnitine deficiency, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, glutaric aciduria type I, and galactosemia. We also analyzed the mutations in multiple carboxylase deficiency and Niemann-pick type C on four families.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although IMDs are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity among pediatric patients, with a better understanding of the molecular genetics of these diseases, prenatal diagnosis of these common IMDs will be facilitated, which is currently the most effective way of controlling IMDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, SAR, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. nelsontang@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vreken
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wanders
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Fok
mesh_terms: D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids