title: Inherited metabolic diseases in the Southern Chinese population: spectrum of diseases and estimated incidence from recurrent mutations.
abstract: Inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) are a large group of rare genetic diseases. The spectrum and incidences of IMDs differ among populations, which has been well characterised in Caucasians but much less so in Chinese. In a setting of a University Hospital Metabolic Clinic in Hong Kong, over 100 patients with IMDs have been seen during a period of 13 years (from 1997 to 2010). The data were used to define the spectrum of diseases in the Southern Chinese population. Comparison with other populations revealed a unique spectrum of common IMDs. Furthermore, the incidence of the common IMDs was estimated by using population carrier frequencies of known recurrent mutations. Locally common diseases (their estimated incidence) include (1) glutaric aciduria type 1 (∼1/60,000), (2) multiple carboxylase deficiency (∼1/60,000), (3) primary carnitine deficiency (∼1/60,000), (4) carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency (∼1/60,000), (5) glutaric aciduria type 2 (∼1/22,500), (6) citrin deficiency (∼1/17,000), (7) tetrahydrobiopterin-deficient hyperphenylalaninaemia due to 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase deficiency (∼1/60,000), (8) glycogen storage disease type 1 (∼1/150,000). In addition, ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy are common X-linked diseases. Findings of the disease spectrum and treatment outcome are summarised here which may be useful for clinical practice. In addition, data will also be useful for policy makers in planning of newborn screening programs and resource allocation.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatrics, and 2Joint Metabolic Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 3Department of Chemical Pathology, and 4Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 5Shenzhen Research Institute, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 6Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 7Department of Dietetics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 8Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong, China *these authors contributed equally.
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authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Nelson L S
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authors.lastname: Tang
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authors.forename: Lilian
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authors.lastname: Tsung
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authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fung
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authors.lastname: Cheung
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authors.lastname: Fok
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation