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IEMbase 0475: GALE-related galactose epimerase deficiency

Scope

Field Value
IEMbase ID 475
Nosology 3.1.02.02
Gene GALE
External IDs OMIM:230350; ORPHA:308487; ORPHA:308473
Generated mapping UNMAPPED; low candidate Galactosemia.yaml
Candidate DisMech targets Galactosemia.yaml#Epimerase Deficiency
Review date 2026-07-07

IEMbase phenotype signal

IEMbase represents autosomal recessive GALE-related galactose epimerase deficiency, also called galactosemia type 3. Biochemical rows include decreased UDP-galactose epimerase activity in red blood cells and low-to-normal liver activity, variably increased amino acids, transaminases, bilirubin, urine glucose, plasma and urine galactose, urine reducing substances, and erythrocyte galactose-1-phosphate, with decreased-to-normal coagulation factors. Clinical rows are classic-galactosemia-like but variable: anorexia/anorexia nervosa source label, cataract, early death, hepatomegaly, liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and vomiting. IEMbase records galactose-restricted and lactose-free diet as a nutritional treatment.

DisMech phenotype coverage

Galactosemia.yaml#Epimerase Deficiency is the correct local target. The local entry explicitly includes a GALE epimerase-deficiency subtype, GALE as the causal gene, decreased UDP-glucose 4-epimerase activity, disturbed galactose metabolism, and blood galactose-1-phosphate elevation. The broader Galactosemia file also models shared galactosemia mechanisms such as galactose metabolite accumulation, impaired glycosylation, galactitol-linked cataract, and acute hepatic dysfunction.

Concordance and completeness

Judgement: false negative; resolve IEMbase 475 to Galactosemia.yaml#Epimerase Deficiency.

The local target captures the disease entity, gene, enzyme activity, and shared galactosemia biochemical mechanism. IEMbase adds more granular GALE-specific prompts, especially the distinction between red-blood-cell and liver epimerase activity, variable systemic severity, diet treatment, and the classic-like hepatic/coagulation phenotype.

Curation actions

  • Map IEMbase 475 to Galactosemia.yaml#Epimerase Deficiency.
  • If importing IEMbase-derived prompts, verify the liver-versus-RBC enzyme activity distinction, galactose-restricted diet, coagulation-factor rows, hepatic rows, and the anorexia/anorexia-nervosa source label against source evidence.