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Disease Profile

Congenital bile acid synthesis defect, type 2

Prevalence
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.

Unknown

US Estimated

Europe Estimated

Age of onset

Infancy

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ICD-10

K76.8

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant A pathogenic variant in only one gene copy in each cell is sufficient to cause an autosomal dominant disease.

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Autosomal recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of each gene of the chromosome are needed to cause an autosomal recessive disease and observe the mutant phenotype.

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X-linked
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.

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X-linked
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.

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Mitochondrial or multigenic Mitochondrial genetic disorders can be caused by changes (mutations) in either the mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA that lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria and inadequate production of energy.

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Multigenic or multifactor Inheritance involving many factors, of which at least one is genetic but none is of overwhelming importance, as in the causation of a disease by multiple genetic and environmental factors.

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Not applicable

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Other names (AKA)

CBAS2; Cholestasis with delta(4)-3-oxosteroid 5-beta-reductase deficiency

Categories

Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Digestive Diseases; Metabolic disorders

Summary

The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 79303

Definition
Congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2 (BAS defect type 2) is an anomaly of bile acid synthesis (see this term) characterized by severe and rapidly progressive cholestatic liver disease, and malabsorption of fat and fat-soluble vitamins.

Epidemiology
Prevalence is unknown. This condition is clearly rare but is the second most common anomaly of BAS on screening infants with cholestasis.

Clinical description
Patients present with neonatal cholestasis and rapid progression to cirrhosis and death in infancy without intervention. The clinical presentation resembles that of congenital BAS defect type 1 (see this term) with hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption, and steatorrhea. However, the average age at diagnosis is lower, in infancy, and disease progression is more rapid and severe. Liver function tests present elevated serum transaminases (AST, ALT) and gamma-GT, markedly elevated conjugated bilirubinemia and coagulopathy.

Etiology
BAS defect type 2 is caused by a mutation in the delta(4)-3-oxosteroid 5-beta-reductase gene (AKR1D1, 7q32-q33). Transmission is autosomal recessive. Liver injury is thought to be caused by diminished primary bile acid synthesis and hepatotoxicity of accumulated atypical bile acids (delta(4)-3-oxo bile acids).

Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis is based on urine analysis using liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). LSIMS urine analysis reveals elevated amounts of delta(4)-3-oxo bile acids including 3-oxo-7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholenoic and 3-oxo-7alpha, 12alpha-dihydroxy-4-cholenoic acids. Increased production of delta4-3-oxo bile acids occurs in infants during the first few weeks of life and in patients with end-stage liver disease of other causes. It is important to perform repeat LSIMS urine analysis as, on rare occasions, a resolution of the liver disease occurs with disappearance of atypical bile acids.

Differential diagnosis
Differential diagnoses include progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, diseases that present with neonatal cholestasis, which includes alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (ZZ phenotype), tyrosinemia type 1, biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, cystic fibrosis, Alagille syndrome, galactosemia and hereditary fructose intolerance or diseases that present with growth failure (panhypopituitarism) (see these terms).

Antenatal diagnosis
Antenatal diagnosis can be established by analysis of embryonic tissue when there has been a previously identified sibling. Urine LSIMS on siblings of affected patients may be performed in the first neonatal days and therapy begun before serious morbidity develops.

Management and treatment
Treatment is based on oral bile acid therapy, which leads to gradual resolution of biochemical and histologic abnormalities and prevents progression of the disease. Cholic acid therapy creates a pool of bile acids which stimulates bile flow and facilitates fat soluble vitamin absorption and suppresses atypical bile acid synthesis thereby reducing the production of toxic bile acid metabolic intermediates. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may be used but is not the therapy of choice because UDCA does not suppress atypical bile acid synthesis and the toxic metabolites that may injure the liver continue to be produced.

Prognosis
With early treatment, the long-term prognosis is excellent. If a patient is identified with advanced liver disease, cholic acid therapy may not be effective and liver transplantation may be required. Without treatment, the condition is generally fatal.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.

Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Biliary tract abnormality
0001080
Elevated hepatic transaminase
High liver enzymes
0002910
Hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver
0002240
Jaundice
Yellow skin
Yellowing of the skin

[ more ]

0000952
Malabsorption
Intestinal malabsorption
0002024
Neonatal cholestatic liver disease
0006566
Splenomegaly
Increased spleen size
0001744
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal bleeding
Bleeding tendency
0001892
Chronic hepatic failure
Chronic liver failure
0100626
Cirrhosis
Scar tissue replaces healthy tissue in the liver
0001394
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Osteoporosis
0000939
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormality of the coagulation cascade
0003256
Autosomal recessive inheritance
0000007
Diarrhea
Watery stool
0002014
Elevated alkaline phosphatase
Greatly elevated alkaline phosphatase
High serum alkaline phosphatase
Increased alkaline phosphatase
Increased serum alkaline phosphatase

[ more ]

0003155
Failure to thrive
Faltering weight
Weight faltering

[ more ]

0001508
Hepatic failure
Liver failure
0001399
Hyperbilirubinemia
High blood bilirubin levels
0002904
Intrahepatic cholestasis
0001406
Neonatal onset
0003623
Steatorrhea
Fat in feces
0002570

Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Treatment

FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

  • cholic acid(Brand name: Cholbam) Manufactured by Asklepion Pharmaceuticals, LLC
    FDA-approved indication: Treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects and as adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat soluble vitamin absorption.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal

Learn more

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Congenital bile acid synthesis defect, type 2. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Congenital bile acid synthesis defect, type 2. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.