AMNIOTIC-FLUID ODD-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS ARE INCREASED IN PROPIONIC ACIDEMIA

Odd-chain (C-15 and C-17) fatty acids have been reported to accumulate in tissues and body fluids of patients with propionic and methylmalon ic acidaemia. We investigated the occurrence of these substances in am niotic fluid samples. The odd-chain fatty acid levels (expressed as th e percentage of total C-12-C-20 fatty acids) in eight control samples ranged from 3.7 to 12.5 per cent. Three samples from affected propioni c acidaemia pregnancies had values of 15.3-22.9 per cent; one methylma lonic acidaemia sample had a normal level of 9.3 per cent. These resul ts supply further evidence of the prenatal accumulation of odd-chain f atty acids in propionic acidaemia.