Hypomorphic citrullinaemia due to mutated ASS1 with episodic ataxia

Children with citrullinaemia commonly present in the neonatal period with life-threatening hyperammonaemia and progressive encephalopathy. Less often, 'hypomorphic' or mild late-onset childhood or adult-onset forms may be seen with intermittent neurological symptoms or acute crisis in pregnancy. We describe an 11-year-old boy with late-onset citrullinaemia manifesting as brief episodes of ataxia triggered by minor febrile illnesses, significant citrullinaemia, mild hyperammonaemia, normal neurological examination and mild cerebellar atrophy. Targeted gene sequencing showed a homozygous, missense mutation c.815G>A (p.R272H) in exon 12 of ASS1 gene resulting in the amino acid substitution of histidine for arginine at codon 272. Our case highlights the importance of recognising urea cycle defects as a cause of intermittent neurological symptoms such as ataxia. Type-1 citrullinaemia may remain hypomorphic and needs a high index of suspicion.

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