GRACILE syndrome (OMIM #603358) is a rare lethal disorder of infants. The acronym GRACILE represents growth retardation, aminoaciduria, cholestasis, iron loading, and early death. This autosomal recessive disorder is caused by mutations of the BCS1 gene on chromosome 2q33. The human BCS1 gene encodes a homolog of S. cerevisiae bcs1 protein involved in the assembly of complex III (CIII) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. GRACILE syndrome was first reported from Finland where its estimated population frequency is 1 per 47,000 to 70,000 infants. GRACILE syndrome has been identified in other geographic regions, but population prevalence estimates are not available for most other countries. Other mutations of BCS1 result in clinical and laboratory phenotypes that differ from those of GRACILE syndrome.

Clinical manifestations

GRACILE syndrome has been identified by antenatal testing, but the disorder is readily apparent in neonates and worsens soon after birth (Table 32.1). Growth retardation is a characteristic finding among affected infants. In a study from Finland, the median weight of 17 infants with GRACILE syndrome was 4 SD lower than the median weight in a group of normal infants. All 17 infants had aminoaciduria and cholestasis. Plasma or serum concentrations of lactic acid were typically normal at birth; pH of umbilical cord blood was 7.3 or higher (reference <7.2). Fulminant lactic acidosis developed within 24 hours in all patients. Median lactate levels rose to 12 mmol/L (reference <1.8 mmol/L), and median blood pH values decreased to 7.00 (reference 7.35.45). None of the infants had hypotonia or seizures.