Skip Navigation
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/     A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine®

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome

Reviewed February 2009

What is thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome is a rare condition characterized by hearing loss, diabetes, and a blood disorder called megaloblastic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia occurs when a person has a low number of red blood cells (anemia), and the remaining red blood cells are larger than normal (megaloblastic). The symptoms of this blood disorder may include decreased appetite, lack of energy, headaches, pale skin, diarrhea, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Individuals with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome begin to show symptoms of megaloblastic anemia between infancy and adolescence. This syndrome is called "thiamine-responsive" because the anemia can be treated with high doses of vitamin B1 (thiamine).

People with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome develop hearing loss caused by abnormalities of the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss) during early childhood. It remains unclear whether thiamine treatment can improve hearing or prevent hearing loss.

Diabetes becomes apparent in affected individuals sometime between infancy and adolescence. Although these individuals develop diabetes during childhood, they do not have the form of the disease that develops most often in children, called type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes. People with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome usually require insulin to treat their diabetes. In some cases, treatment with thiamine can reduce the amount of insulin a person needs.

Some individuals with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome develop optic atrophy, which is the degeneration (atrophy) of the nerves that carry information from the eyes to the brain. Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) problems such as heart rhythm abnormalities and heart defects have also been reported in some people with this syndrome.

How common is thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome has been reported in approximately 30 families worldwide. Its prevalence is unknown.

What genes are related to thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

Mutations in the SLC19A2 gene cause thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome. This gene provides instructions for making a protein called thiamine transporter 1, which transports thiamine into cells. Thiamine is found in many different foods and is important for numerous body functions.

Most mutations in the SLC19A2 gene lead to the production of an abnormally short, nonfunctional thiamine transporter 1. Other mutations change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in this protein. All of these mutations prevent thiamine transporter 1 from bringing thiamine into the cell. It remains unclear how the absence of this protein leads to the seemingly unrelated symptoms of megaloblastic anemia, diabetes, and hearing loss. Research suggests that an alternative method for transporting thiamine is present in all the cells of the body, except where blood cells and insulin are formed (in the bone marrow and pancreas, respectively) and cells in the inner ear.

How do people inherit thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Where can I find information about treatment for thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

You may find information on treatment or management of thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome or some of its symptoms in the links below, particularly the links for Gene Reviews, MedlinePlus Encyclopedia, Educational resources, and Patient support.

Where can I find additional information about thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

You may find the following resources about thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome helpful. These materials are written for the general public.

  • MedlinePlus - Health information
    • Encyclopedia: Megaloblastic anemia (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000567.htm)
    • Encyclopedia: Optic nerve atrophy (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001622.htm)
    • Encyclopedia: Thiamine (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002401.htm)
    • Health Topic: Anemia (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anemia.html)
    • Health Topic: Diabetes (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html)
    • Health Topic: Hearing Problems in Children (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hearingproblemsinchildren.html)
  • Educational resources - Information pages
    • Kids Health: Diabetes Center (http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/endocrine/diabetes_center.html)
    • March of Dimes: Hearing Impairment (http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1232.asp)
    • Orphanet (http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=EN&Expert=49827)
  • Patient support - For patients and families
    • Anemia Institute for Research and Education (http://www.anemiainstitute.org)
    • Family Village: Deaf/Hard of Hearing (http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_deaf.htm)
    • Family Village: Diabetes (http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_diab.htm)
    • National Organization for Rare Disorders: Megaloblastic Anemia (http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdbdetail_abstract.html?disname=Anemia%2C+Megaloblastic)
    • Resource list from the University of Kansas Medical Center: Diabetes (http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/diabetes.html)
    • Resource list from the University of Kansas Medical Center: Hard of Hearing/Deafness (http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/hearing.html)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.

  • Gene Reviews - Clinical summary (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=trma)
  • Gene Tests - DNA tests ordered by healthcare professionals (http://www.genetests.org/query?testid=56913)
  • PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=PubMed&term=(Anemia,+Megaloblastic[MAJR])+AND+((thiamine-responsive+megaloblastic+anemia+syndrome[TIAB])+OR+(thiamine-responsive[TIAB]+AND+megaloblastic+anemia[TIAB]+AND+syndrome[TIAB])+OR+(rogers+syndrome[TIAB])+OR+(trma[TIAB])+OR+(thiamine-responsive+myelodysplasia[TIAB]))+AND+english[la]+AND+human[mh]&orig_db=PubMed&filters=ON&pmfilter_EDatLimit=3600+Days)
  • OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=249270)

What other names do people use for thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

  • Rogers syndrome
  • Thiamine-responsive myelodysplasia
  • TRMA

See How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.

What if I still have specific questions about thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

  • See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.
  • Ask the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/).
  • Submit your question to Ask the Geneticist (http://www.askthegen.org/).

What glossary definitions help with understanding thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome?

acids ; amino acid ; anemia ; atrophy ; autoimmune ; autosomal ; autosomal recessive ; bone marrow ; cardiovascular ; cell ; diabetes ; gene ; insulin ; megaloblastic anemia ; mutation ; optic atrophy ; pancreas ; prevalence ; protein ; recessive ; red blood cell ; sensorineural ; sensorineural hearing loss ; sign ; symptom ; syndrome ; thiamine ; vitamin B1 ; vitamins

You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary).

References
  • Baron D, Assaraf YG, Cohen N, Aronheim A. Lack of plasma membrane targeting of a G172D mutant thiamine transporter derived from Rogers syndrome family. Mol Med. 2002 Aug;8(8):462-74. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12435857)
  • Diaz GA, Banikazemi M, Oishi K, Desnick RJ, Gelb BD. Mutations in a new gene encoding a thiamine transporter cause thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia syndrome. Nat Genet. 1999 Jul;22(3):309-12. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10391223)
  • Gene Review: Thiamine-Responsive Megaloblastic Anemia Syndrome (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=trma)
  • Liberman MC, Tartaglini E, Fleming JC, Neufeld EJ. Deletion of SLC19A2, the high affinity thiamine transporter, causes selective inner hair cell loss and an auditory neuropathy phenotype. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2006 Sep;7(3):211-7. Epub 2006 Apr 27. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16642288)
  • Lorber A, Gazit AZ, Khoury A, Schwartz Y, Mandel H. Cardiac manifestations in thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome. Pediatr Cardiol. 2003 Sep-Oct;24(5):476-81. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14627317)
  • Olsen BS, Hahnemann JM, Schwartz M, Østergaard E. Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia: a cause of syndromic diabetes in childhood. Pediatr Diabetes. 2007 Aug;8(4):239-41. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17659067)
  • Ricketts CJ, Minton JA, Samuel J, Ariyawansa I, Wales JK, Lo IF, Barrett TG. Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia syndrome: long-term follow-up and mutation analysis of seven families. Acta Paediatr. 2006 Jan;95(1):99-104. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16373304)

 

The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.

 
Reviewed: February 2009
Published: August 21, 2009