Impaired energy metabolism and abnormal muscle histology in mut – methylmalonic aciduria

The authors report a 27-year-old man with B12-responsive mut- methylmalonic aciduria associated with pure muscle symptoms. Two mutations were found in the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase gene. An exercise test showed a reduced maximal workload and reduced oxygen uptake, and a muscle biopsy showed subsarcolemmal accumulation of mitochondria and normal respiratory chain enzyme activities. These findings may be caused by inhibition of mitochondrial energy metabolism by methylmalonate or its metabolites.