Purpose Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1), a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder, results in a complex movement disorder (MD) with predominant dystonia if untreated. Implementation into newborn screening (NBS) programs and adherence to recommended therapy are thought to improve the neurological outcome. Methods Systematic literature search for articles published from 2000 to 2019 was performed using the PRISMA protocol. Studies reporting on more than one individual identified by NBS were included. We investigated effects of interventional and noninterventional variables on neurological outcome. Results Fifteen publications reporting on 647 GA1 patients were included. In the NBS group (n = 261 patients), 195 patients remained asymptomatic (74.7%), while 66 patients (25.3%) developed a MD. Compared with the NBS group, a much higher proportion of patients (349/386; 90.4%; p < 0.0001) diagnosed after the manifestation of neurologic symptoms had a MD and an abnormal motor development (285/349; 81.7%; p < 0.0001). For NBS patients, deviations from the recommended diet increased the risk of insidious onset MD, while delayed start of emergency treatment increased the risk of acute onset MD. Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrates that NBS programs for GA1 have an overall positive effect on the neurological outcome of affected individuals but their success critically depends on the quality of therapy.

Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is a rare neurometabolic disorder, caused by inherited deficiency of glutaryl‐CoA dehydrogenase, mostly affecting the brain. Early identification by newborn screening (NBS) significantly improves neurologic outcome. It has remained unclear whether recommended therapy, particular low lysine diet, is safe or negatively affects anthropometric long‐term outcome. This national prospective, observational, multi‐centre study included 79 patients identified by NBS and investigated effects of interventional and non‐interventional parameters on body weight, body length, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference as well as neurological parameters. Adherence to recommended maintenance and emergency treatment (ET) had a positive impact on neurologic outcome and allowed normal anthropometric development until adulthood. In contrast, non‐adherence to ET, resulting in increased risk of dystonia, had a negative impact on body weight (mean SDS −1.07; P = .023) and body length (mean SDS −1.34; P = −.016). Consistently, longitudinal analysis showed a negative influence of severe dystonia on weight and length development over time (P < .001). Macrocephaly was more often found in female (mean SDS 0.56) than in male patients (mean SDS −0.20; P = .049), and also in individuals with high excreter phenotype (mean SDS 0.44) compared to low excreter patients (mean SDS −0.68; P = .016). In GA1, recommended long‐term treatment is effective and allows for normal anthropometric long‐term development up to adolescence, with gender‐ and excreter type‐specific variations. Delayed ET and severe movement disorder result in poor anthropometric outcome.

Glutaric aciduria type 1 is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder of lysine metabolism caused by pathogenic gene variations in GCDH (cytogenic location: 19p13.13), resulting in deficiency of mitochondrial glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) and, consequently, accumulation of glutaric acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, glutaconic acid and glutarylcarnitine detectable by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (organic acids) and tandem mass spectrometry (acylcarnitines). Depending on residual GCDH activity, biochemical high and low excreting phenotypes have been defined. Most untreated individuals present with acute onset of striatal damage before age 3 (to 6) years, precipitated by infectious diseases, fever or surgery, resulting in irreversible, mostly dystonic movement disorder with limited life expectancy. In some patients, striatal damage develops insidiously. In recent years, the clinical phenotype has been extended by the finding of extrastriatal abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction, preferably in the high excreter group, as well as chronic kidney failure. Newborn screening is the prerequisite for pre-symptomatic start of metabolic treatment with low lysine diet, carnitine supplementation and For affiliation refer to page 29