Glycerol kinase deficiency: follow-up during 20 years, genetics, biochemistry and prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To follow two children with isolated glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD) with severe symptoms into adulthood.


METHODS
The patients were followed during approximately 20 y and interviewed about symptoms, diet and physical activity. Fasting provocations, bicycle ergometer tests, dietary registrations, enzyme and mutation analysis were performed by standard protocols.


RESULTS
The activity of glycerol kinase (GK) in fibroblasts was <10% of reference. One case had a deletion of exon 17, the other a mutation in exon 7 of the GK gene (601 A-->G). Both mothers were heterozygotes. Two maternal male cousins in one of the families were hemizygotes without symptoms. Tests performed in childhood documented pronounced sensitivity to fasting and physical exercise, whereas such tests at 23 and 31 y of age were essentially normal but with pronounced ketonaemia. After puberty, the boys had no hypoglycaemic symptoms and now report no problems with their condition; thus, their phenotype has changed over time.


CONCLUSIONS
The greater importance of glycerol as a gluconeogenetic substrate in children than in adults may explain the episodes in young patients with GKD, often elicited by catabolic stress. With meals at frequent intervals, access to glucose and avoidance of strenuous sports, the prognosis is good for a normal adult life of a young child with isolated GKD and symptoms of hypoglycaemia.
Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden. Christina.Hellerud@clinchem.gu.se
C
C
Hellerud
N
N
Wramner
A
A
Erikson
A
A
Johansson
G
G
Samuelson
S
S
Lindstedt
D000090:Acetoacetates / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D005991:Glycerol Kinase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis
D000090:Acetoacetates; C016635:acetoacetic acid; D005991:Glycerol Kinase; D005990:Glycerol