# Successful Pregnancy Management of a Woman With Severe Methylmalonic Acidemia

**Authors:** M. Woidy, K. Tsiakas, M. Mahmud, G. Eich, S. Loos, J. Lisfeld, S. Schultz, A. C. Tallarek, K. Hecher, T. B. Huber, A. C. Muntau, G. Gramer

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/jmd2.70009 · JIMD Reports · 2025-05-12

## TL;DR

A woman with severe methylmalonic acidemia and kidney disease successfully had a baby with careful medical management.

## Contribution

First reported case of a successful pregnancy in a woman with severe mut0 deficiency and end-stage renal disease.

## Key findings

- The patient remained metabolically stable until delivery despite advanced kidney disease and fetal growth restriction.
- The newborn had mild physical and neurological abnormalities but did not require immediate intervention.
- Both mother and child were doing well three months postpartum with no further complications.

## Abstract

Isolated methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders resulting from a deficiency of the enzyme methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase (MMUT), defects in the metabolism of its cofactor, adenosylcobalamin, or deficiency of the enzyme methylmalonyl‐CoA epimerase. With improved awareness, earlier diagnosis, and advances in care, women with MMA are increasingly reaching childbearing age, and successful pregnancies have been documented in patients with milder forms of the disease. This report details, for the first time, the management and outcomes of pregnancy in a woman with severe mut0 deficiency and concomitant advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) progressing to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring initiation of hemodialysis at 21 weeks' gestation. At 20 weeks, fetal ultrasound revealed fetal growth restriction (FGR), necessitating close monitoring and dietary adjustments to meet the patient's increased nutritional needs. Despite these challenges, she remained metabolically stable until delivery. At 35 weeks, she delivered a 1.64 kg male SGA newborn via cesarean section. The newborn presented with mild retrognathia, a soft palate cleft, mild hypospadias, mild ventriculomegaly, and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and cerebellum without the need for immediate intervention. The mother experienced a mild metabolic decompensation on the fifth postpartum day, which was promptly managed by additional renal replacement therapy. At 3 months postpartum, both mother and child were doing well, with no further metabolic complications observed. This case report demonstrates that pregnancy in patients with severe mut0 deficiency is challenging and requires a close interdisciplinary management but can be carried out with a favorable outcome.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** methylmalonic acidemia (MONDO:0002012), chronic kidney disease (MONDO:0005300), end-stage renal disease (MONDO:0004375), fetal growth restriction (MONDO:0005030)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MMUT (methylmalonyl-CoA mutase) [NCBI Gene 4594] {aka MCM, MUT}, MCEE (methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase) [NCBI Gene 84693] {aka GLOD2, MCE, MMCE}
- **Diseases:** metabolic decompensation (MESH:D006333), hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and cerebellum (MESH:D061085), retrognathia (MESH:D063173), mut0 deficiency (MESH:D007153), soft palate cleft (MESH:C562950), CKD (MESH:D051436), ventriculomegaly (MESH:D006849), hypospadias (MESH:D007021), ESRD (MESH:D007676), FGR (MESH:D005317), metabolic (MESH:D008659), MMA (MESH:C537358)
- **Chemicals:** adenosylcobalamin (MESH:C000913)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12069855/full.md

## References

11 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12069855/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12069855