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Test ID CMMPP Cobalamin, Methionine, and Methylmalonic Acid Pathways, Plasma


Necessary Information


Patient's age and sex are required.



Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Lavender top (EDTA)

Acceptable: Green top (sodium or lithium heparin)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Immediately place specimen on ice.

2. Within 4 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot plasma into plastic vial.

3. If blood cannot be placed on wet ice immediately, centrifuge and aliquot plasma into plastic vial within 1 hour of collection.

4. A refrigerated centrifuge is not required if the above time restrictions are met.


Useful For

Screening and monitoring patients suspected of or confirmed with an inherited disorder of methionine, cobalamin, or propionate metabolism using plasma specimens

 

Evaluating individuals with suspected deficiency of vitamin B12

Disease States

  • Homocystinuria

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reporting Name

CMMP, P

Specimen Type

Plasma

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Plasma Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  309 days
  Ambient  28 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Clinical Information

Homocysteine, methylmalonic acid (MMA), methylcitric acid, methionine, cysteine, and cystathionine can be used to evaluate patients for inborn errors of methionine, cobalamin, and propionate metabolism. Homocysteine is an intermediary in the sulfur-amino acid metabolism pathways, linking the methionine cycle to the folate cycle.

 

Inborn errors of metabolism that lead to homocysteinemia or homocystinuria include cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency (homocystinuria) and various defects of methionine remethylation.

 

Homocystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase. The incidence of homocystinuria is approximately 1 in 200,000 to 335,000 live births. Classical homocystinuria is characterized by a normal presentation at birth followed by failure to thrive and developmental delay. Untreated homocystinuria can lead to ophthalmological problems, developmental delay, seizures, thromboembolic episodes, and skeletal abnormalities. The biochemical phenotype is characterized by increased plasma concentrations of methionine and homocysteine along with decreased concentrations of cystine.

 

Elevated levels of MMA result from inherited defects of enzymes involved in MMA metabolism or inherited or acquired deficiencies of vitamin B12.

 

Enzymatic deficiencies of propionyl-CoA carboxylase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase are associated with propionic academia (PA) and methylmalonic acidemia mut(0/-) type (MMAmut), respectively. The clinical phenotype includes vomiting, hypotonia, lethargy, apnea, hypothermia, and coma. The biochemical phenotype for MMAmut includes elevations of propionyl carnitine, methylmalonic acid, and methylcitric acid. Patients with PA will have elevations of propionyl carnitine and methylcitric acid with normal MMA concentrations as the enzymatic defect is upstream of methylmalonic-CoA mutase.

 

Inherited conditions of cobalamin (Cbl) absorption and transport are caused by variants in several genes encoding Cbl binding factors and transmembrane transporters and receptors. In addition, inside the cell, Cbl undergoes several steps of modification until it reaches a divergent point beyond which 2 separate paths lead to the formation of the 2 active components of this cofactor: adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), a cofactor for methylmalonyl-CoA mutase; and methylcobalamin (MeCbl), a cofactor for methionine synthase, remethylating homocysteine to methionine.

 

Defects of AdoCbl and MeCbl metabolism after the point where the synthetic pathways separate lead to isolated deficiencies of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (elevations of propionyl carnitine, MMA, and methylcitric acid) or methionine synthase (elevated homocysteine with low/low normal methionine) respectively. Defects prior to this point are associated with deficiencies of both enzymes and lead to elevation of all markers (propionyl carnitine, MMA, methylcitric acid, and homocysteine).

 

Acquired cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency can be a result of pernicious anemia, vegan diet, malabsorption, and decreased intrinsic factor excretion (secondary to gastrectomy) and can be distinguished from most inherited defects (particularly intracellular deficiencies) with the identification of decreased levels of vitamin B12. Older adult patients with acquired cobalamin deficiency may present with megaloblastic anemia, peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, loss of position and vibration senses, memory impairment, depression, and dementia in the absence of anemia. Other conditions such as kidney insufficiency, hypovolemia, and bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine also contribute to the possible causes of mild methylmalonic acidemia and aciduria. Additional testing with homocysteine and MMA determinations may help distinguish between vitamin B12 and folate deficiency states.

Reference Values

Age

Total homocysteine
(nmol/mL)

Methylmalonic acid (nmol/mL)

2-Methylcitric
acid (nmol/mL)

Total cysteine
(nmol/mL)

Methionine (nmol/mL)

Cystathionine
(nmol/mL)

Female

Male

Female

Male

0-11 months

3.1-8.3

3.2-9.7

0.08-0.32

0.02-0.35

142.8-258.8

14.7-43.1

14.5-42.3

0.07-0.38

12-23 months

3.2-8.3

3.3-9.6

0.08-0.31

0.02-0.35

143.7-258.7

14.7-43.1

14.5-42.2

0.07-0.38

24-35 months

3.2-8.2

3.3-9.6

0.08-0.31

0.02-0.35

144.8-258.6

14.7-43.0

14.5-42.1

0.07-0.38

3 years

3.2-8.2

3.3-9.6

0.08-0.31

0.02-0.35

146.0-258.5

14.7-43.0

14.5-42.0

0.07-0.38

4 years

3.3-8.2

3.4-9.5

0.08-0.30

0.02-0.35

148.2-258.4

14.7-42.8

14.5-41.8

0.07-0.38

5 years

3.4-8.1

3.5-9.4

0.08-0.30

0.02-0.35

150.6-258.3

14.8-42.7

14.5-41.6

0.07-0.38

6 years

3.5-8.1

3.6-9.4

0.08-0.29

0.02-0.35

153.2-258.3

14.8-42.5

14.5-41.4

0.07-0.38

7 years

3.5-8.1

3.7-9.4

0.08-0.29

0.02-0.35

155.8-258.4

14.8-42.2

14.5-41.1

0.07-0.38

8 years

3.6-8.2

3.8-9.3

0.08-0.28

0.02-0.35

158.5-258.7

14.9-42.0

14.6-40.9

0.07-0.37

9 years

3.7-8.2

3.9-9.4

0.09-0.28

0.02-0.35

161.0-259.1

14.9-41.7

14.6-40.7

0.07-0.37

10 years

3.8-8.3

4.1-9.4

0.09-0.28

0.02-0.35

163.5-259.7

15.0-41.4

14.7-40.6

0.07-0.37

11 years

3.9-8.4

4.3-9.4

0.09-0.28

0.02-0.35

165.9-260.5

15.1-41.0

14.8-40.4

0.07-0.37

12 years

3.9-8.6

4.4-9.5

0.09-0.27

0.02-0.35

168.4-261.4

15.1-40.7

14.9-40.3

0.07-0.37

13 years

4.0-8.7

4.6-9.6

0.09-0.27

0.02-0.35

170.9-262.4

15.2-40.3

15.1-40.1

0.07-0.36

14 years

4.1-8.8

4.8-9.7

0.09-0.27

0.02-0.35

173.6-263.6

15.3-39.9

15.3-40.0

0.07-0.36

15 years

4.2-8.9

5.0-9.8

0.09-0.27

0.02-0.35

176.4-264.7

15.4-39.5

15.5-39.9

0.07-0.36

16 years

4.2-9.1

5.2-9.9

0.09-0.27

0.02-0.35

179.3-265.9

15.5-39.1

15.8-39.7

0.07-0.35

17 years

4.3-9.2

5.4-10.0

0.09-0.27

0.02-0.35

182.2-267.1

15.6-38.7

16.1-39.6

0.07-0.35

18 years

4.3-9.3

5.6-10.1

0.08-0.27

0.02-0.35

184.9-268.3

15.7-38.2

16.4-39.4

0.07-0.35

19 years

4.4-9.5

5.7-10.3

0.08-0.26

0.02-0.35

187.4-269.4

15.7-37.8

16.7-39.3

0.07-0.34

20 years

4.4-9.6

5.9-10.5

0.08-0.26

0.02-0.35

189.5-270.5

15.8-37.3

17.0-39.1

0.07-0.34

21 years

4.4-9.8

6.0-10.6

0.08-0.26

0.02-0.35

191.2-271.7

15.9-36.8

17.3-38.9

0.07-0.33

22 years

4.4-9.9

6.1-10.8

0.08-0.27

0.02-0.35

192.5-272.8

15.9-36.3

17.6-38.7

0.07-0.33

23 years

4.4-10.1

6.2-11.0

0.08-0.27

0.02-0.35

193.5-274.1

15.9-35.8

17.9-38.5

0.07-0.33

24 years

4.4-10.3

6.2-11.1

0.08-0.27

0.02-0.35

194.2-275.4

15.9-35.3

18.1-38.3

0.07-0.32

25 years

4.4-10.4

6.3-11.3

0.08-0.28

0.02-0.35

194.8-277.0

15.9-34.8

18.2-38.1

0.07-0.32

26 years

4.4-10.6

6.3-11.4

0.08-0.28

0.02-0.35

195.3-278.6

15.9-34.3

18.4-37.9

0.07-0.32

27 years

4.3-10.8

6.4-11.6

0.08-0.28

0.02-0.35

196.0-280.5

16.0-33.8

18.5-37.7

0.07-0.31

28 years

4.3-11.0

6.4-11.7

0.08-0.29

0.02-0.35

196.7-282.4

16.0-33.4

18.7-37.5

0.07-0.31

29 years

4.3-11.2

6.4-11.8

0.08-0.29

0.02-0.35

197.7-284.3

16.0-33.0

18.8-37.3

0.07-0.31

30 years

4.3-11.4

6.4-11.9

0.08-0.30

0.02-0.35

198.8-286.3

16.1- 32.6

18.9-37.1

0.07-0.30

31 years

4.4-11.6

6.4-12.1

0.08-0.30

0.02-0.35

200.2-288.2

16.1-32.2

19.0-36.9

0.07-0.30

32 years

4.4-11.8

6.4-12.2

0.08-0.31

0.02-0.35

201.7-290.0

16.1-31.8

19.1-36.7

0.07-0.30

33 years

4.4-11.9

6.4-12.3

0.08-0.31

0.02-0.35

203.4-291.5

16.1-31.5

19.2-36.5

0.07-0.29

34 years

4.5-12.1

6.4-12.4

0.08-0.31

0.02-0.35

205.2-292.9

16.1-31.2

19.3-36.3

0.07-0.29

35 years

4.5-12.2

6.4-12.6

0.08-0.32

0.02-0.35

207.2-294.1

16.1-30.8

19.4-36.1

0.07-0.28

36 years

4.6-12.4

6.4-12.8

0.08-0.32

0.02-0.35

209.3-295.1

16.1-30.5

19.5-35.9

0.07-0.28

37 years

4.6-12.5

6.4-12.9

0.08-0.33

0.02-0.35

211.5-296.0

16.1-30.2

19.6-35.6

0.07-0.27

38 years

4.7-12.7

6.4-13.1

0.08-0.33

0.02-0.35

213.8-296.9

16.1-29.9

19.7-35.4

0.07-0.27

39 years

4.7-12.8

6.4-13.2

0.08-0.34

0.02-0.35

216.3-297.7

16.1-29.7

19.8-35.2

0.07-0.27

40 years

4.8-13.0

6.5-13.4

0.08-0.34

0.02-0.35

218.9-298.7

16.1-29.4

19.9-35.0

0.07-0.27

41 years

4.8-13.2

6.5-13.5

0.08-0.35

0.02-0.35

221.6-299.7

16.1-29.2

20.0-34.8

0.07-0.27

42 years

4.8-13.4

6.5-13.7

0.08-0.36

0.02-0.35

224.3-300.8

16.2-29.0

20.1-34.6

0.07-0.26

43 years

4.9-13.5

6.6-13.9

0.08-0.36

0.02-0.35

227.0-302.0

16.2-28.8

20.2-34.4

0.07-0.26

44 years

4.9-13.7

6.6-14.0

0.08-0.37

0.02-0.35

229.8-303.5

16.3-28.6

20.3-34.2

0.07-0.26

45 years

4.9-13.9

6.6-14.2

0.08-0.38

0.02-0.35

232.6-305.2

16.3-28.5

20.3-34.0

0.07-0.26

46 years

4.9-14.0

6.7-14.4

0.08-0.38

0.02-0.35

235.3-307.3

16.4-28.4

20.4-33.8

0.07-0.26

47 years

4.9-14.2

6.7-14.5

0.08-0.39

0.02-0.35

238.0-309.7

16.4-28.2

20.4-33.6

0.07-0.26

48 years

5.0-14.3

6.8-14.7

0.08-0.39

0.02-0.35

240.8-312.6

16.5-28.1

20.5-33.3

0.07-0.26

49 years

5.0-14.4

6.8-14.9

0.08-0.40

0.02-0.35

243.5-315.9

16.5-28.0

20.5-33.1

0.07-0.26

50 years

5.0-14.5

6.8-15.0

0.08-0.40

0.02-0.35

246.2-319.7

16.5-27.9

20.6-32.8

0.07-0.26

51 years

5.1-14.6

6.8-15.2

0.08-0.41

0.02-0.35

248.9-323.8

16.5-27.8

20.6-32.5

0.07-0.26

52 years

5.1-14.7

6.9-15.4

0.08-0.41

0.02-0.35

251.5-328.1

16.5-27.6

20.7-32.3

0.07-0.26

53 years

5.1-14.8

6.9-15.5

0.08-0.42

0.02-0.35

254.0-332.4

16.5-27.5

20.8-32.1

0.07-0.26

54 years

5.2-14.9

6.9-15.6

0.08-0.42

0.02-0.35

256.4-336.5

16.5-27.4

21.0-31.9

0.07-0.25

55 years

5.2-15.0

6.9-15.7

0.08-0.43

0.02-0.35

258.6-340.2

16.5-27.3

21.1-31.7

0.07-0.25

56 years

5.3-15.0

6.9-15.8

0.08-0.43

0.02-0.35

260.6-343.6

16.6-27.2

21.2-31.5

0.07-0.25

57 years

5.3-15.1

6.9-15.9

0.08-0.44

0.02-0.35

262.5-346.5

16.6-27.1

21.2-31.3

0.07-0.25

58 years

5.3-15.2

6.9-16.0

0.08-0.44

0.02-0.35

264.3-349.0

16.6-27.1

21.3-31.0

0.07-0.25

59 years

5.4-15.2

6.9-16.0

0.08-0.44

0.02-0.35

266.2-351.1

16.7-27.1

21.3-30.8

0.07-0.25

60 years

5.4-15.3

6.9-16.1

0.08-0.45

0.02-0.35

268.3-353.1

16.8-27.1

21.3-30.6

0.07-0.25

61 years

5.4-15.4

7.0-16.2

0.09-0.45

0.02-0.35

270.8-355.1

16.9-27.2

21.3-30.3

0.07-0.25

62 years

5.5-15.4

7.0-16.2

0.09-0.46

0.02-0.35

273.8-357.3

17.0-27.2

21.2-30.0

0.08-0.25

63 years

5.5-15.5

7.0-16.3

0.09-0.46

0.02-0.35

277.5-359.7

17.1-27.3

21.2-29.8

0.08-0.25

64 years

5.6-15.5

7.1-16.3

0.09-0.46

0.02-0.35

281.9-362.3

17.2-27.4

21.1-29.5

0.08-0.25

65 years

5.6-15.6

7.1-16.3

0.09-0.47

0.02-0.35

286.9-365.2

17.3-27.6

21.1-29.2

0.08-0.25

66 years

5.7-15.6

7.1-16.3

0.09-0.47

0.02-0.35

292.4-368.3

17.4-27.7

21.1-29.0

0.08-0.25

67 years

5.7-15.7

7.2-16.3

0.09-0.47

0.02-0.35

298.1-371.6

17.5-27.8

21.0-28.7

0.09-0.25

68 years

5.8-15.7

7.2-16.3

0.09-0.47

0.02-0.35

303.6-374.8

17.7-27.9

21.0-28.5

0.09-0.25

69 years

5.9-15.7

7.2-16.3

0.09-0.47

0.02-0.35

308.7-377.8

17.8-28.0

21.0-28.4

0.09-0.25

70 years

6.0-15.8

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

313.1-380.7

18.0-28.1

21.0-28.3

0.09-0.25

71 years

6.1-15.8

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

316.5-383.2

18.1-28.2

20.9-28.2

0.09-0.25

72 years

6.2-15.8

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

318.9-385.3

18.3-28.3

20.9-28.0

0.09-0.25

73 years

6.3-15.9

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

320.1-387.0

18.5-28.4

20.8-27.9

0.10-0.26

74 years

6.4-15.9

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

320.6-388.3

18.8-28.5

20.8-27.8

0.10-0.26

75 years

6.5-15.9

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

320.3-389.3

19.1-28.5

20.8-27.7

0.10-0.26

76 years

6.6-15.9

7.3-16.3

0.09-0.48

0.02-0.35

319.6-389.9

19.3-28.6

20.8-27.5

0.10-0.26

77 years

6.7-16.0

7.4-16.3

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

319.1-390.2

19.6-28.6

20.9-27.4

0.10-0.26

78 years

6.8-16.0

7.4-16.3

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

318.5-390.5

20.0-28.7

20.9-27.2

0.11-0.26

79 years

6.9-16.0

7.5-16.3

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

80 years

7.0-16.0

7.5-16.3

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

81 years

7.1-16.0

7.7-16.2

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

82 years

7.2-16.0

7.8-16.2

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

83 years

7.2-16.0

7.9-16.2

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

84 years

7.3-16.0

8.0-16.2

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

85 years

7.3-16.0

8.2-16.2

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

>85 years

7.4-16.0

8.3-16.2

0.10-0.48

0.02-0.35

317.9-390.6

20.3-28.7

21.0-27.1

0.11-0.26

 

 

Interpretation

An interpretive report will be provided.

 

When abnormal results are detected, a detailed interpretation is given, including an overview of the results and of their significance, a correlation to available clinical information, elements of differential diagnosis, recommendations for additional biochemical testing, and in vitro confirmatory studies (complementation studies, molecular analysis), and a phone number to reach one of the laboratory directors in case the referring physician has additional questions.

 

Abnormal results are not sufficient to conclusively establish a diagnosis of a particular disease. To verify a preliminary diagnosis based on the analysis, independent biochemical (eg, complementation studies) or molecular genetic analyses are required.

Cautions

Normal levels may be seen in patients undergoing treatment.

Clinical Reference

1. Turgeon CT, Magera MJ, Cuthbert CD, et al. Determination of total homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, and 2-methylcitric acid in dried blood spots by tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Chem. 2010;56(11):1686-1695

2. Tortorelli S, Turgeon CT, Lim JS, et al. Two-tier approach to the newborn screening of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency and other remethylation disorders with tandem mass spectrometry. J Pediatr. 2010;157(2):271-275

3. Huemer M, Diodato D, Schwahn B, et al. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of the cobalamin-related remethylation disorders cblC, cblD, cblE, cblF, cblG, cblJ and MTHFR deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2017;40(1):21-48

4. Baric I, Staufner C, Augoustides-Savvopoulou P, Chien YH, Dobbelaere D, Grunert SC. Consensus recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of inherited methylation disorders. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2017;40(1):5-20

5. Morris AA, Kozich V, Santra S, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2017;40(1):49-74

6. Sloan JS, Carrillo N, Adams D, Venditti CP. Disorders of intracellular cobalamin metabolism. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al, eds. GeneReviews [Internet]. University of Washington, Seattle; 2008. Updated December 16, 2021. Accessed November 29, 2024. Available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1328/

7. Langan RC, Goodbred AJ. Vitamin B12 deficiency: Recognition and management. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):384-389

Method Description

Total homocysteine, total cysteine, 2-methylcitric acid, methionine, cystathionine and methylmalonic acid are measured by stabile isotope dilution microflow liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.(Unpublished Mayo method)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

3 to 5 days

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

83090

83918

82136

82542 (if appropriate for government payers)

NY State Approved

Yes