HEREDITARY FRUCTOSE INTOLERANCE – CASE REPORT

• Main Authors: Jernej Brecelj, Gordana Logar-Car, Henrik Peče
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2002-03-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: hereditary fructose intolerance; hepatopathy; children; fructose tolerance test; liver biopsy
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1575
• ISSN: 1318-0347; 1581-0224

<p>Background. Hereditary fructose intolerance is a rare inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism that presents with hypoglicemia, metabolic acidosis and liver decompensation when the patient is exposed to fructose. Diagnosis was established by fructose tolerance test in the past and nowadays mostly by determination of deficient enzyme fructose-1phosphate aldolase (aldolase B) activity in hepatic tissue or by molecular genetic means if the mutation is known. Treatment involves elimination (in infants) or reduction of fructose and sucrose from the diet and results in improvement in the patient’s clinical status and liver disease.</p><p>Results. This article presents a patient with hereditary fructose intolerance who was diagnosed 18 years ago on the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ljubljana Children’s Hospital. At that time oral fructose tolerance test was used to diagnose the disorder. When she was 17 we performed liver biopsy. The enzyme determination showed the absence of aldolase B activity.</p><p>Conclusions. Only cooperation of different experts enables recognition of rare metabolic disorders which must be prompt to prevent further damage.</p>