Myoadenylate deaminase (AMPD) deficiency

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Background    Histopathology & Immunohistochemistry    Reference

BACKGROUND AND CLINICAL INFORMATION: Head  

Incidence: This is the most common enzyme deficiency being found in muscle biopsies. The prevalence is (2-3 %).

Clinical features: In general, it is heterogeneous. The primary form is resulted from mutation of the AMPD1 gene and the symptomatology is not impressive. The significance of isolated AMPD deficiencyThe secondary or acquired form is probably the carrier form of this disease. Impressive clinical manifestations may be triggered by an associated myopathy such as McArdle’s disease and carnitine palmitoyltranferase deficiency.

During exercise, MAD catalyses the deamination of AMP into IMP and ammonia. IMP can subsequently be re-aminated to AMP.

Biochemistry: Myoadenylate deaminase is the muscle-specific isoform of adenylate deaminase.  In cases of MAD deficiency, muscle biopsies are histologically normal but no myoadenylate deaminase can be demonstrated by staining. IMP formation is strongly diminished, and consequently the purine nucleotide cycle is disrupted, which affects muscle metabolism during exercise.

Molecular pathology: Most of the MAD deficiency is caused by a common homozygous point mutation (C34T) in the second exon of the AMPD1 gene. This mutation generates a stop codon and lead to the production of a truncated protein.

HISTOPATHOLOGY AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY: Head  

Histology of the muscle is histologically normal but no myoadenylate deaminase can be demonstrated by staining.

REFERENCES: Head

Fishbein WN et al., Science 1978 May 5;200(4341):545-8

Sabina RL. Neurol Clin 2000 Feb;18(1):185-94

Fishbein WN. Ann Neurol 1999 Apr;45(4):547-8

Verzijl HT et al., Ann Neurol 1998 Jul;44(1):140-3

Vladutiu GD. Muscle Nerve 2000 Aug;23(8):1157-9