Identification of new mutations in the ETHE1 gene in a cohort of 14 patients presenting with ethylmalonic encephalopathy.

Background: Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterised by progressive encephalopathy, recurrent petechiae, acrocyanosis and chronic diarrhoea, with a fatal outcome in early in life.

Methods: 14 patients with EE were investigated for mutations in the ETHE1 gene.

Results: Of the 14 patients, 5 were found to carry novel mutations.

Conclusions: This work expands our knowledge of the causative mutations of EE.