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Classification & external resources
ICD-10 E72.5
ICD-9 270.8
OMIM 239500
DiseasesDB 29674

Hypeprolinemia, also referred to as prolinemia or prolinuria, is a condition which occurs when the amino acid proline is not broken down properly by the enzymes proline oxidase or pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogense, causing a build up of proline in the body.

Additional recommended knowledge



Hyperprolinemia type I

It is difficult to determine the prevalence of hyperprolinemia type I, as many people with the condition are asymptomatic.[1] People with hyperprolinemia type I have proline levels in their blood between 3 and 10 times the normal level. Some individuals with type I exhibit seizures, mental retardation or other neurological problems.[1]

Hyperprolinemia type II

Hyperprolinemia type II results in proline levels in the blood between 10 and 15 times higher than normal, and high levels of a related compound called pyrroline-5-carboxylate. This rare form of the disorder may appear benign at times,[2] but often involves seizures, convulsions, and mental retardation.[1]

Hyperprolinemia can also occur with other conditions, such as malnutrition or liver disease. In particular, individuals with conditions that cause elevated levels of lactic acid in the blood, such as lactic acidemia, are likely to have elevated proline levels, because lactic acid inhibits the breakdown of proline.[1]



Mutations in the ALDH4A1 and PRODH genes cause hyperprolinemia.[1]

Hyperprolinemia type I is caused by a mutation in the PRODH gene, which codes for the enzyme proline oxidase. This enzyme begins the process of degrading proline by starting the reaction that converts it to pyrroline-5-carboxylate.

Hyperprolinemia type II is caused by a mutation in the ALDH4A1 gene, for the enzyme pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase. This enzyme helps to break down the pyrroline-5-carboxylate produced in the previous reaction, converting it to the amino acid glutamine. The conversion between proline and glutamine, and the reverse reaction controlled by different enzymes, are important factors required to maintain proper metabolism and protein production.


Hyperprolinemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means two copies of the gene in each cell are altered. Most often, the parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder are heteroygous carriers, having only one copy of the altered gene, without having signs and symptoms of the disorder.

In about one-third of cases of hyperprolinemia, individuals carrying one copy of an altered PRODH gene have moderately elevated levels of proline in their blood, but these levels do not cause any health problems.[1] Individuals with one altered ALDH4A1 gene have normal levels of proline in their blood.

See also


  1. ^ a b c d e f
    Genetics Home Reference - Hyperprolinemia
  2. ^ Onenli-Mungan N, Yuksel B, Elkay M, Topaloglu AK, Bakal T, Ozer G (2004). "Type II hyperprolinemia: a case study". Turk J Pediatr. 46 (2): 167-169. PMID 15214748.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hyperprolinemia". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.