HOLOCARBOXYLASE SYNTHETASE DEFICIENCY - A TREATABLE METABOLIC DISORDER MASQUERADING AS CEREBRAL-PALSY

A 20-month-old boy of Jewish-Turkish origin presented with severe meta bolic acidosis. He was born prematurely and had bacteremia during the neonatal period. Scaly skin eruption, developmental delay, generalized muscular hypertonia, and mild ventriculornegaly were noted during the lst year. Holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency was diagnosed, and bi otin and carnitine were administered. The skin rash and the organic ac iduria resolved within several days, and at 30 months, his psychomotor development was appropriate for age. Metabolic evaluation should be p erformed in patients with combined neurologic and dermatologic symptom s even when medical history suggests a nonmetabolic etiology.