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  • Title: Fatal ataxic encephalopathy and carnitine acetyltransferase deficiency: a functional defect of pyruvate oxidation?
    Author: DiDonato S, Rimoldi M, Moise A, Bertagnoglio B, Uziel G.
    Journal: Neurology; 1979 Dec; 29(12):1578-83. PubMed ID: 574220.
    Abstract:
    A 3-year 8-month-old girl died after 14 months of illness characterized by episodes of intermittent ataxia associated with oculomotor palsy, hypotonia, mental confusion, and disturbances of consciousness. In the last 4 months of life, there were signs of liver dysfunction. Pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activities were normal in autopsy brain specimens and in cultured fibroblasts from the patient. Carnitine acetyltransferase was deficient in liver, brain, kidney, and cultured fibroblasts. Medium- and long-chain carnitine acyltransferase activities were normal. It is proposed that a functional defect of acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) utilization in brain mitochondria accompanies the carnitine acetyltransferase deficiency.
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