title: Survival and psychomotor development with early betaine treatment in patients with severe methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of betaine treatment on outcome in patients with severe methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency is presently unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of betaine treatment on development and survival in patients with severe MTHFR deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases between January 1960 and December 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies that described patients with severe MTHFR deficiency who received betaine treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 15 case reports and case series, totaling 36 patients. Data included the following: (1) families with 2 or more patients with severe MTHFR deficiency, of whom at least 1 received betaine, or (2) single patients with severe MTHFR deficiency treated with betaine. To define severe MTHFR deficiency, methionine, homocysteine, MTHFR enzyme activity in fibroblasts, or mutations (in the MTHFR gene) had to be described as well as the effect of treatment (survival and/or psychomotor development). We compared the outcome in treated vs untreated patients and early- vs late-treated patients. Sensitivity analysis was performed to address definition of early treatment. To further assess the impact of treatment on mortality, we performed a subanalysis in families with at least 1 untreated deceased patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survival and psychomotor development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of 36 patients (31%) died. All deaths occurred in patients who did not receive treatment or in patients in whom treatment was delayed. In contrast, all 5 early-treated patients survived. Subgroup analysis of patients with deceased siblings-their genotypically identical controls-revealed that betaine treatment prevented mortality (P = .002). In addition, psychomotor development in surviving patients treated with betaine was normal in all 5 early-treated patients but in none of the 19 surviving patients with delayed treatment (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early betaine treatment prevents mortality and allows normal psychomotor development in patients with severe MTHFR deficiency, highlighting the importance of timely recognition through newborn screening.
authors: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Eugene F
authors: EF
authors: Diekman
authors: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: Tom J
authors: TJ
authors: de Koning
authors: Department of Metabolic Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Nanda M
authors: NM
authors: Verhoeven-Duif
authors: Julius Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands5Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and HTA, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors: Maroeska M
authors: MM
authors: Rovers
authors: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: van Hasselt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006712:Homocystinuria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000172:deficiency*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001622:Betaine; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)