Congenital absence of insulin cells in a neonate with diabetes mellitus and mutase-deficient methylmalonic acidaemia

D. Blum, H. Dorchy, T. Mouraux, E. Vamos, Y. Mardens, A. Kumps, C. De Prez, P. Heimann, B. Fowler, R. Baumgartner, L. Bouwens, J. Van Gompel, G. Klöppel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report on a female neonate with diabetes mellitus and methylmalonic acidaemia, who died at age 16 days. Using immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and in situ hybridisation, we were unable to demonstrate any insulin cells in the pancreatic islets. Methylmalonic acidaemia was caused by a methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase apoenzyme defect. The metabolic crisis of the methylmalonic acidaemia aggravated the diabetes and may explain the failure of insulin therapy. Our results suggest that the infant suffered from a congenital absence of beta cells associated with a genetically transmitted mutase apoenzyme defect.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)352-357
Number of pages6
JournalDiabetologia
Volume36
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1993
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Congenital diabetes mellitus
  • absence of beta cells
  • methylmalonic acidaemia
  • mutase deficiency

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Congenital absence of insulin cells in a neonate with diabetes mellitus and mutase-deficient methylmalonic acidaemia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this