MRI and clinical features of maple syrup urine disease: preliminary results in 10 cases.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical features of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).

METHODS

This retrospective study consisted of 10 MSUD patients confirmed by genetic testing. All patients underwent brain MRI. Phenotype, genotype, and areas of brain injury on MRI were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Six patients (60%) had the classic form of MSUD with BCKDHB mutation, three patients (30%) had the intermittent form (two with BCKDHA mutations and one with DBT mutation), and one patient (10%) had the thiamine-responsive form with DBT mutation. On diffusion-weighted imaging, nine cases presented restricted diffusion in myelinated areas, and one intermittent case with DBT mutation was normal. The classic form of MSUD involved the basal ganglia in six cases; the cerebellum, mesencephalon, pons, and supratentorial area in five cases; and the thalamus in four cases, respectively. The intermittent form involved the cerebellum, pons, and supratentorial area in two cases. The thiamine-responsive form involved the basal ganglia and supratentorial area.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary results indicate that patients with MSUD presented more commonly in classic form with BCKDHB mutation and displayed extensive brain injury on MRI.