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Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an inherited condition caused by a faulty gene. Children with MMA lack a protein that the body needs to break down fats and cholesterol inside cells. As a result, these substances build up in cells, causing damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, and other organs that gets worse over time. Symptoms of MMA may include vomiting, “floppy” muscles, and excessive fatigue. Children with MMA do not gain weight and grow as they would be expected to.
Chief of Medical Genetics Dr. Vockley is an international leader in treatment and research in medical genetics and the field of inborn errors of metabolism. He is also a founder of the North American Metabolic Academy.
If your child has been diagnosed with MMA, we want you to know that you are not alone – the Center for Rare Disease Therapy is here to help. Here’s what you can expect when you come to us for a consultation.
At the Center for Rare Disease Therapy, a doctor specializing in genetic diseases can usually see a new patient within 1 to 2 weeks. To make an appointment, please call Jodie Vento at 412-692-7273 or send an email to rarecare@chp.edu.
You can expect your first visit to take from 4 to 6 hours. Your child will receive a complete evaluation and may be seen by several doctors and other health care professionals.
Your child will receive a complete evaluation to establish or confirm a precise diagnosis and determine how much the disease has affected the child. Because we work as a team at the Center for Rare Disease Therapy, during your visit, your child may be seen by several doctors and other health care professionals, including a neurologist, a heart specialist, a surgeon, a nutritionist, a genetic counselor, a psychologist, and a specialist in child development. We understand that the whole family is affected when a child has a rare disease. We see each family as our partner in caring for their child. We think the best approach to caring for a child with a rare disease emerges when we combine our depth of experience in rare diseases with your expertise in what’s best for your child. We will talk with you about what we think is likely to happen with your child in the near future and about options we can suggest for treating and caring for your child. If surgery is an option, we will help you understand what the surgery entails and what you may need to do to prepare for it. We will also talk with you about what you can do at home to care for your child and improve his or her quality of life. Please feel free to ask our specialists any questions you have about your child’s disease, treating and caring for your child, or anything else that is on your mind. By the end of your visit, you will have a care plan tailored to your child’s needs and an appointment for a follow-up visit in 3 months. You will be introduced to our clinical nurse practitioner, who is available by phone or video conference to help you with any concerns you have between now and your next appointment.
Depending upon the types of tests that the doctors order, you can expect to receive a phone call within 2 weeks to explain test results and discuss recommended next steps. Test results are also made available on Children's patient portal, myCHP, which is provided at no cost to patients, parents, and guardians.
Learn how families are finding help and hope through the expertise of the Center for Rare Disease Therapy at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. View patient stories>>
At the Center for Rare Disease Therapy, every child diagnosed with a rare disease receives an individualized treatment plan and family-centered care. For an appointment, consultation, or patient referral with an expert at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC for a child diagnosed with MMA, please contact: Jodie Vento, MGC, LCGC Phone: 412-692-7273 Email: RareCare@chp.edu
Clinical Studies
Inborn Errors of Metabolism Information System (IBEM-IS)
Study of hLB-001 Gene Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Methylmalonic Acidemia Characterized by MMUT Mutations
A First-in-human, Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of BBP-671 in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Propionic Acidemia or Methylmalonic Acidemia
Methylmalonic and Propionic Acidemias Treatment with HSTS5040: The HERO Study – Phase II
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With myCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
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