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Leucinosis is a severe neonatal metabolic disease. It is the consequence of the genetically determined enzyme deficiency of the complex formed by decarboxylase-dihydrolipoyl transacylase and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, and of the subsequent accumulation of precursor metabolites, long branched-chain amino acids and their alpha ketoacids. They are powerful neurotoxins, responsible for the swift onset of oedema and diffuse cerebral demyelination. Delays in its diagnosis usually result in severe psychomotor sequelae or even death.We report the case of a newborn female patient with severe neonatal encephalopathy, epileptic seizures and an electroencephalogram (EEG) with certain special characteristics that guided the diagnosis towards that of possible leucinosis. Early diagnosis makes it possible to establish specific treatment and achieve a favourable patient outcome.An EEG in patients with suspected neonatal encephalopathy offers highly cost-effective functional information at a low cost, especially because it promotes early diagnoses and treatments. In cases of leucinosis, EEG presents peculiar signs that are easily recognisable in early periods in most patients, as occurred in the case reported here. We believe EEG should be included in screening for neonatal encephalopathies because it is a valuable, innocuous and generally accessible diagnostic technique. It is especially helpful in treatable metabolic diseases, such as leucinosis.Aportacion de la electroencefalografia en la deteccion temprana de leucinosis neonatal.Introduccion. La leucinosis es una metabolopatia neonatal grave. Es consecuencia del deficit enzimatico determinado geneticamente del complejo descarboxilasa-dihidrolipoil transacilasa y dihidrolipoil deshidrogenasa, y del acumulo consecuente de los metabolitos precursores, aminoacidos ramificados de cadena larga y sus alfa-cetoacidos. Son potentes neurotoxicos, responsables del rapido establecimiento de edema y desmielinizacion cerebral difusa. La demora en el diagnostico suele provocar graves secuelas psicomotoras o incluso la muerte. Caso clinico. Se presenta una paciente neonata con encefalopatia neonatal grave, crisis epilepticas y un electroencefalograma (EEG) con unas caracteristicas especiales que oriento el diagnostico hacia una posible leucinosis. El diagnostico temprano permitio instaurar rapidamente el tratamiento especifico y conseguir una evolucion favorable de la paciente. Conclusiones. El EEG en pacientes con sospecha de encefalopatia neonatal ofrece informacion funcional de alta rentabilidad con un bajo coste, en especial por promover diagnosticos y tratamientos tempranos. El EEG en la leucinosis presenta signos peculiares, reconocibles en periodos tempranos en la mayor parte de los afectados, como ocurrio en el caso descrito. Parece recomendable integrar el EEG en el cribado de encefalopatias neonatales por ser una tecnica diagnostica valiosa, inocua y, por lo general, accesible y especialmente de ayuda en metabolopatias tratables, como la leucinosis. |
