Clinical improvements after treatment with a low-valine and low-fat diet in a pediatric patient with enoyl-CoA hydratase, short chain 1 (ECHS1) deficiency

Enoyl-CoA hydratase, short-chain 1 (ECHS1), EC 4.2.1.17, is also known as SCEH. It is a protein encoded by gene ID 1892, which is located on chromosome 10. The gene product is a member of the hydratase/isomerase superfamily that localizes to the mitochondrial matrix. It is broadly expressed in the liver, kidney, and adipose tissue, and its expression in 22 other tissues, including the whole gastrointestinal tract, brain, and numerous secretory glands, has been reported. Transcript variants utilizing alternative transcription initiation sites have been described [1].

ECHS1 catalyzes the hydration of the double bond between the second and third carbons of 2-trans-enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) intermediates to L-3-hydroxy-acyl-CoAs [2, 3]. It catalyzes several metabolic pathways. In particular, this crotonase catalyzes the second step of beta-oxidation of fatty acids [4] and plays a key role in valine catabolism. Furthermore, it takes part in the fourth step of this metabolic pathway by catalyzing the hydration of methacrylyl-CoA to 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA and the conversion of acryloyl-CoA to 3-hydroxypropyl-CoA [5, 6]. ECHS1 is also involved in the metabolism of isoleucine in the transformation of tiglyl-CoA to 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA (Fig. 1).

Mutations in the ECHS1 gene (OMIM* 602292) result in ECHS1 deficiency, which is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that was first reported by Peters et al. [7] as a cause of Leigh syndrome (OMIM* 256000). Both the age at onset and clinical manifestations vary greatly from patient to patient. Masnada et al. [8] distinguished four phenotypes of ECHS1 deficiency based on clinical and neurological features. The first is of severe neonatal onset with a rapidly fatal course and white matter changes. The second is a severe infantile presentation with slower neurological deterioration and deep gray nuclei degeneration, developmental delay, pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, feeding difficulties, and optic atrophy. The third phenotype is another slowly progressive juvenile form that is similar to the previous one but with less severity and mainly basal ganglia involvement. The fourth phenotype is a less common form of presentation that is based on paroxysmal exercise-induced dystonia with a normal neurological examination between these attacks and isolated degeneration of the pallidum on magnetic resonance imaging [8]. A characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern of basal ganglia lesions has been reported, with small cysts in the putamen and pallidum [9]. Cardiac involvement [4] and cutis laxa are also clinical features of this disease [10].

Deficiency of ECHS1 usually leads to the accumulation of methacrylyl-CoA and acryloyl-CoA. These harmful substrates are highly reactive with sulfhydryl groups and tend to form adducts with cysteine or cysteamine [6, 7, 11]. High concentrations of these intermediate metabolites seem to cause dysfunction in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and the mitochondrial respiratory chain, resulting in cellular damage [12]. Additionally, increased excretion of 2-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyric acid in urine is frequently observed [13]. S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine, S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteamine and N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine have also been proposed as useful diagnostic markers [2, 14]. Other patients present with increased plasma levels of lactate and pyruvate in a conserved ratio [15] (Fig. 1).

Over 50 patients from more than 35 families have been reported to date [9, 16]. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) has increased the recognition of pathogenic variants in ECHS1. Most of these variants are missense variants [3], suggesting that entire loss-of-function mutations may be incompatible with life [17].

The majority of patients with ECHS1 deficiency are initially diagnosed by their clinical features and do not undergo molecular diagnosis until later in life. They usually receive standard treatments that are used for other mitochondrial diseases. Anecdotal reports of treatment with N-acetylcysteine to detoxify the reactive metabolites of methacrylyl-CoA and acryloyl-CoA have been published [18]. A valine-restricted diet is a rational biochemical approach. Recently, a valine-restricted diet appeared to be beneficial for five patients with ECHS1 defects, improving the biochemical and clinical manifestations of these disorders [19]. The administration of cofactors, i.e., coenzyme Q10, vitamins C and E, riboflavin, creatine monohydrate and other antioxidants, that are used in mitochondrial disorders with limited evidence of benefit has also been considered [18, 20, 21]. Furthermore, restricting the consumption of specific fatty acids has been tested in several FAO disorders [22]; this approach aims to reduce the synthesis of toxic intermediates [23]. In addition, although high-fat, reduced-carbohydrate ketogenic diets have been used in some cases of moderate ECHS1 deficiency, they have been ineffective in improving the symptoms in severe cases of the disease [24, 25].

Based on the previous background, here, we report the case of an ECHS1-deficient child and how the use of a valine- and fat-restricted diet partially improved his condition.

After two years of this treatment, the child exhibited better stability. He required minimal support to walk or stand, which enhanced his autonomy at school and improved his hygiene and personal care routines. He had no adverse effects and had a good nutritional profile and growth.

After three years of treatment, his current weight is 29.5 kg (percentile 4), his height is 144 cm (percentile 10), his body mass index (BMI) is 14.04 with a prepubertal status. The family continues to perform dietary calculations as expected, complying with what was prescribed. Clinical evaluation and neurological tests are carried out every 6 months. Gross motor function has improved, and his GMFCS classification was reduced from level IV to level III. The child now shows greater stability. He requires less support when walking or standing, his language speed has increased, and he has more autonomy (i.e., he is now able to get dressed and shower alone). Minor hyperlordosis and kyphoscoliosis and fewer dystonic positions were observed, improving the ability of the patient to walk. He is even able to walk upright for 1 h a day. He turns with less difficulty, and he now has better fine motor skills and minor tremors. For example, he is now able to eat a yogurt. He has a better understanding and is conscientious of the concepts of his interest. His family seeks social integration. He is adapting to his high-school class, where he usually moves autonomously with a tricycle. On the BFMDRS, the disability score after 3 years improved from 18/30 to 9/30. His quality of life and motivation to continue this treatment have greatly increased. After treatment, there was no significant progression as evaluated by neuroimaging. In fact, MRI showed more marked hyperintensities in both the caudate and putamen nuclei, suggesting increased cavitation (Fig. 2, Panels C and D).

A video with images of the patient immediately after diagnosis and 3 years after treatment is included in the Additional file 1: Video.

Regarding the biochemical features, Table 2 shows the plasma concentrations of valine, leucine, and isoleucine at the time of diagnosis and after 1.5 and 3 years of follow-up. Valine was decreased during the clinical course compared with the baseline level, while isoleucine and leucine remained fairly constant. In the last analysis, the excretion of 2-methyl-2,3-hydroxybutyric acid was 1 nmol/mol creatinine, remaining within the normal values (< 2 nmol/mol creatinine). Additionally, no urinary methacrylyl-glycine was detected. In addition, the S-(2-carboxypropyl) cysteine concentration was 0.18 mmol/mol creatinine (normal value < 0.39) and that of S-(2-carboxyethyl)-cysteine was 0.23 mmol/mol creatinine (normal value < 0.15). However, N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxyethyl)-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine and S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine carnitine were undetectable. In addition, the plasma levels of acylcarnitines were within the range of normality, and the levels of C4-OH [3-OH-butyryl/3-OH-isobutyryl-carnitine] (0.03 µmol/L) were also within the range of normality (0.01–0.06 µmol/L).

The main finding of the present study was that treatment of male child with an ECHS1 deficiency with a valine- and fat-restricted diet resulted in an improvement in his quality of life and the amelioration of clinical features. In fact, after three years of treatment, the patient showed greater stability, required less support when walking or standing, had improved language skills, and was more autonomous.

In our patient, at the time of diagnosis, MRI detected T2 hyperintensity in the caudate and putamen nuclei. However, no brain atrophy or white matter involvement was observed. In addition, our patient exhibited bilateral optic atrophy soon after the diagnosis. In ECHS1 deficiency patients, microcephaly and impaired vision are usually detected by physical examination [9]. These patients also have difficulty fixing or following objects, nystagmus, and optic nerve atrophy, which could explain vision problems [26]. In addition, they show difficulties in speech. However, they are aware of their surroundings and communicate in other ways, such as by sounds or smiling. These patients have poor head control, so they are unable to sit up or ambulate. This symptom occurred in our patient.

Although clinical and biochemical features could suggest ECHS1 deficiency, the diagnosis of this condition is mostly established by the identification of biallelic pathogenic variants in the ECHS1 gene by molecular genetic testing. In the present case report, the first variant in the ECHS1 gene, c.123_124del p. (Gly42Glufs*3), alters the reading frame at codon 42. The new reading frame ends 2 positions later in a stop codon. It is classified as likely pathogenic (class 2) according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommendations. The second variant in the ECHS1 gene, c.830C > T p.(Thr277Ile), causes an amino acid change from threonine to isoleucine at position 277. In ClinVar, this variant is listed as likely pathogenic but does not provide evidence supporting its pathogenicity (clinical studies, ID: 397,546). Therefore, it is classified as a variant of uncertain significance (class 3) according to ACMG recommendations.

Urinary excretion of 2-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyric acid and other metabolites, such as S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine, S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteamine, and N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine, is useful to diagnose ECHS1 deficiency. These compounds have been proposed as helpful biomarkers for initial screening processes [6]. Despite these observations, neither 2-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyric acid nor abnormal fatty acylcarnitines and organic acids in the urine were detected in our patient. Moreover, lactate levels in the plasma were not significantly elevated (1.10 mmol/L), adding evidence to the relatively mild activity of the PDC.

A definitive cure for the ECHS1 disorder has not yet been discovered. Despite the encouraging results that some studies have reported about clinical improvement in adapting patients’ diets, there is scarce literature about dietary treatment. Loupatty et al. [27] first suggested that treating patients with frequent carbohydrate-rich meals, in which the main source of energy is carbohydrates and protein intake is restricted, could be a good therapeutic option for 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase (HIBCH) deficiency. HIBCH deficiency is a mitochondrial disease that is similar to ECHS1 deficiency. Later, Soler-Alfonso et al. [28] showed that a HIBCH-deficient child clinically responded to a valine-restricted diet using a targeted formula for maple syrup urine disease. Given the clinical and pathophysiological similarities between HIBCH and ECHS1 deficiencies, it was thought that the same restricted dietary treatment could be potentially beneficial in ECHS1 subjects. According to what had been assumed, some studies demonstrated improvement in clinical outcomes after a valine-restricted diet with N-acetylcysteine supplementation [29, 30]. Recently, Abdenur et al. [19] showed enhancement in both clinical and biochemical manifestations, with a decrease in S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine in patients with either HIBCH or ECHS1 deficiencies.

In the present case, dietary treatment was initiated after several tolerance tests using an available formula that was designed for patients with methylmalonic and propionic acidemia (MMA/PA). This MMA/PA cooler 15 is a ready-to-drink methionine-free, threonine-free, valine-free and low isoleucine medical food, and it was given in different amounts during the day. In addition, the patient’s diet was restricted to animal proteins, legumes, and defatted or skimmed products. However, the intake of natural proteins and carbohydrates had to be ensured. We set the consumption limit for high-biological value proteins at 1 g/kg/day. Plasma amino acids were monitored during treatment, and the family to was asked to adjust the diet when low levels were detected.

In our case, the aim of specifically restricting valine was focused on reducing neurotoxicity due to enzymatic blockade and the accumulation of metabolites in the catabolic pathway.

Mitochondria play a key role in the consumption of energy in eukaryotic cells by oxidizing fatty acids and sugars to generate ATP. Mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) are two key pathways involved in this process, and ECHS1 is a key enzyme involved in mitochondrial FAO. For the very-long-chain and long-chain fatty acid (C14–24) fatty acyl-CoA esters, the second, third and fourth steps of β-FAO are performed by the multidomain mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP). However, medium-(C8–C12) and short-chain (C4–C6) fatty acyl-CoA esters are metabolized via a different set of enzymes that perform hydration (step 2; ECHS1).

Disruption of FAO can cause human disease. However, patients with deficiencies in the FAO enzyme ECHS1 are typically diagnosed with Leigh syndrome, which is normally associated with OXPHOS dysfunction [31]. In our patient, the result of the muscle biopsy study showed a deficit of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I (level 8.03, pathological value < 10) together with signs of mitochondrial proliferation, such as a citrate synthase value of 1352.98 (reference value 200–900). For PDC activity, we only have qualitative data that supports mild activity. Interestingly, there may be a correlation between the ECHS1 phenotypic severity and PDC activity [31]. Patients with low PDC activity also have high lactate levels. Several of these patients present with a more severe prognosis [4, 7, 32], including death within 48 h of birth [2, 33]. In contrast, milder cases of ECHS1 deficiency do not show reduced PDC activity or lactic acidosis [6, 12, 34, 35].

Since ECHS1 deficiency is associated with severe acidosis and low ATP from impaired aerobic oxidation usually occurs, we hypothesized that a diet with a relatively low content of fat and a particularly low content of medium- and short-chain fatty acids might be beneficial for patients with impaired OXPHOS.

Restricting the consumption of specific fatty acids has been tested in several FAO disorders [22], aiming to reduce the synthesis of toxic intermediates [23]. In addition, although high-fat, reduced-carbohydrate ketogenic diets have been used in some cases of moderate ECHS1 deficiency, they have been ineffective in improving the symptoms of the disease in severe cases [24, 33].

Bovine milk lipids contain approximately 12 fatty acids in amounts greater than 1%. Butyric acid (4:0) and caproic acid (6:0) are the most important substrates for ECHS1, and they represent 11.8% and 4.6%, respectively, of the total triacylglycerol fatty acids. In addition, all of the 4:0, 83% of 6:0 and 63% of 8:0 are esterified at the sn-3 position and are easily digested by gastric and pancreatic lipases [36, 37]. These short and medium-chain fatty acids reach the systemic circulation and freely diffuse across the plasma membrane. They enter directly into mitochondria without the assistance of the carnitine shuttle system [38]. They are rapidly oxidized in the liver, muscle, and other peripheral tissues. Hence, reducing the amount of total fat, particularly dairy fat, in the diet could reduce the impact of FAO on the symptoms of mitochondrial ECHS1 deficiency.

A limitation of this study is that important biochemical markers, such as S-(2-carboxypropyl)-cysteine, S-(2-carboxyethyl)-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxyethyl)-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxypropil)-cysteine, and S-(carboxypropyl)-cysteine carnitine, were not measured at the beginning of dietary treatment, so we cannot compare them with current levels. Another limitation of our study is that the patient has a mild phenotype, as evidenced by low levels of altered metabolites as well as an improved clinical course. In only two years of treatment, the patient has progressed from great difficulty walking, severe dystonia and hypotonia with severe hyperlordosis and kyphoscoliosis to showing better stability, less dystonic positions, and much more autonomy in walking and daily routine. He has also demonstrated great social integration in school due to more fluent language and better understanding.

In this rare disease, clinical results should be considered with caution because there is no literature about how to perform a clinical follow-up and what tests could be performed to best carry out a specific evaluation to control its progression or improvement. The validated international tests used, BFMDRS and GMFCS, were applied to perform a neurological evaluation based on motor function and disability. The BFMDRS gives a disability score, and it is a universally applied instrument for the quantitative assessment of dystonia in both children and adults. It should be used longitudinally, as it was used for this patient, every 6 months, and the age of the patient should be considered. The GMFCS measures the changes in gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy or similar symptoms. Therefore, it is used both to describe a child’s current abilities and to quantify changes in function over time as a result of development, therapy, or training.

In addition, extensive biochemical evaluation, particularly those that are related to the metabolites associated with ECHS1 deficiency, was not performed by clinicians before treatment. This is because of difficulties in the hospital in carrying out specific biochemical analyses but also because of scarce knowledge about the biochemical pathways related to this ultrarare disease. Moreover, the direct effect of a low-valine and low-fat diet on those metabolites in the brain cannot be directly known, and perhaps these metabolites are found in different concentrations in the brain than in blood. Therefore, whether the diet resulted in biochemical amelioration, as it seems to have done to an extent, cannot be proven in the present case.

Indeed, the clinical improvements after 3 years on this low-valine, low-fat diet could be a fortuitous result, as we did not obtain clear biochemical evidence of improvement. However, the progression of the patient, prior to the genetic diagnosis, was evident, and clinical stabilization with some improvements would seem to be associated with our reasonable assumption of a direct effect of the diet. In the future, we hope to be able to provide new evidence related to the continuity of the diet in the long term since it does not cause adverse effects. Through these future studies, its effect can be confirmed.

There is still a substantial lack of knowledge about this rare disorder. especially knowledge of future effective treatments. The dietary approach of ECHS1 has shown benefits in multiple patients. However, the correct formulation between a valine-restricted diet or a combined valine-fat restriction will need additional patient information. Indeed, early diagnosis and the therapeutic use of a valine- and fat-restricted diet supported by a specific and longitudinal clinical evaluation and metabolite measurements could help to confirm its effects on clinical disease progression in patients with ECHS1 deficiency.