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Educated Hand Publishing LLC 
“The Science Behind the Art” 
Volume 7 - No. 7 2019 

 Anesthesia eJournal - Online
ISSN 2333-2611

Page 19

Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1A (CPT1A) Deficiency, The Arctic Variant

Amber L. M. Patson, BSN, SRNA

Affiliation:
Texas Christian University

Abstract
Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1A (CPT1A) is a crucial enzyme needed for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation 
and is fundamental for appropriate metabolic responses to prolonged fasting. Under normal conditions, the 
human body guarantees a constant energy supply by metabolizing glucose for energy in the short term, and by 
oxidizing fatty acids into ketones during long term fasting or starvation. Fasting induces the breakdown of hepat-
ic glycogen supply into glucose. Continued fasting eventually leads to glycogen depletion followed by a decrease 
in serum glucose and insulin levels. This decrease then activates hormone-sensitive lipases located in adipose 
tissues and causes the release of free fatty acids into the blood. Normally these free fatty acids would undergo 
beta-oxidation and the Krebs cycle to produce energy; however, CPT1A deficiency results in about an 80% de-
creased activity of the CPT1A enzyme. This decreased CPT1A activity causes an inability to utilize fatty acids as 
energy and leads to a significant hepatic glycogen depletion during periods of fasting. 
Preoperative fasting in these patients may result in vomiting, lethargy, hypoketotic hypoglycemia, seizures, liver 
failure, and an increased risk for respiratory illnesses that place this population at increased perioperative risk. 
Interventions include, but are not limited to, parent education and prevention techniques, early recognition of 
symptoms, prompt treatment with glucose, and even surgery cancellation. CPT1A deficiency is found in cir-
cum-arctic populations such as Alaskan Inupiat and Yupik, Canadian and Greenland Inuit, and Siberian Yupik 
and is also known as the “Arctic Variant” of CPT1A. Once thought of as a rare disorder, the introduction of tandem 
mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to Alaska newborn screenings in 2003 revealed that the polymorphism c.1436C>T 
variant in the CPT1A gene has an incidence as high as 80% in specific regions of Alaska. As of 2011, an estimated 
700 Alaska Native Infants born each year are homozygous for the c.1436C>T Arctic Variant. To safely care for this 
patient population throughout the perioperative period it is important for anesthesia professionals, in Alaska and 
other arctic regions, to understand what the Arctic Variant of CPT1A is, who it affects, the anesthetic implications, 
and the recommended interventions for treating and preventing symptoms.

AEJ



P o w e rP o in t  T e m p la te  © 2 0 0 9  T e x a s  C h r is t ia n  U n iv e rs it y ,  C e n te r  fo r  In s t ru c t io n a l S e rv ic e s .  F o r  E d u c a t io n a l U s e  O n ly .  C o n te n t  is th e  p ro p e r ty  o f  th e  p re s e n te r  a n d  th e ir  r e s o u rc e s .

Introduction:
• CPT1 is a mitochondrial enzyme responsible for the first step in 

fatty acid oxidation. 
• CPT1A is the isoform of CPT1 found in the liver.1
• CPT1A catalyzes the rate limiting step that imports long chain 

fatty acids into the mitochondrion, allowing for the production of 
ketones and subsequent ATP energy from the breakdown of fat.2

• CPT1A Arctic Variant is an inherited autosomal recessive variant 
resulting in 80% decreased activity of the CPT1A enzyme.3

• The c.1436C>T variant occurs in 26% - 80% of Arctic populations 
including Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Siberia.4,5 

Background Physiology:
• Normally, during periods of fasting, the body initially breaks down 

the hepatic glycogen supply into glucose.4 Once glycogen is 
depleted, the decrease in serum glucose and insulin levels activate 
hormone-sensitive lipases, located in adipose tissues, triggering 
the release of free fatty acids.4 

• Free fatty acids enter cells but cannot enter the mitochondria until 
converted by Acyl-CoA synthetase into fatty acyl-CoA.

• Mitochondrial porins then allow fatty acyl-CoA through the outer 
membrane and into the intermembrane space where CPT1 
catalyzes the acyl group of fatty acyl-CoA to L-carnitine, forming 
acyl-carnitine and recycling the CoA to be used again.6, 7

• The acyl-carnitine then crosses into the mitochondrial matrix via 
the transporter carnitine-acyl-carnitine translocase (CACT).6, 7

• Once in the mitochondrial matrix, CPT2, located on the inner 
mitochondrial membrane, will catalyze the conversion of acyl-
carnitine back into a fatty acyl-CoA.6, 7

• The fatty acyl-CoA undergoes beta oxidation to form acetyl-CoA 
and enters the Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs) where electrons are 
removed and transported to the Electron Transport Chain in order 
to produce ATP.7,8

Consequences of the Arctic Variant 
• This loss of activity may impair fasting ketogenesis and 

gluconeogenesis under certain conditions1,2,4,9,10 by limiting the 
amount of fatty acids that can be transported into the liver’s 
mitochondria to undergo beta oxidation.

• Symptoms are often triggered by fasting, especially if an illness or 
extreme stress is co-existing. Symptoms may include: vomiting,1 

lethargy,3 hypoketotic hypoglycemia,3,11 seizures,11 jitteriness, and 
poor feedings.3

• In 2003, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was utilized to 
identify the c.1436C>T variant on newborn screening.9 However, 
due to only a 10% detection with MS/MS, all newborns in Alaska 
now undergo universal DNA testing for the Arctic Variant.2,10

Who it affects?
• The Arctic Variant is the most common allele of CPT1A among 

Yupik and Inupiat Alaska Native people, Canadian and Greenland 
Inuit, and indigenous people of Eastern Siberia.10 

• Evidence suggest that the Arctic Variant underwent positive 
selection among circum-arctic populations.5,10 

• The Arctic Variant is thought to be mostly a concern in newborns, 
infants, young children and the elderly, as they potentially are 
unable to tolerate fasting in the presence of an illness or extreme 
stress. 

Prevalence in Alaska Natives 
• Data is from newborn screenings from July 2016 to present
• All babies from Alaska: 26% homozygous and 35% heterozygous2, 3

• Northern (Inupiat) and Western (Yupik) Alaska: 51% homozygous 
and 47% heterozygous2, 3

• Allele frequency: 0.72,3

• Approximately 51% of Alaska Native infants born in Western and 
Northern Alaska are homozygous for the CPT1A Arctic Variant, this 
equals around 700 babies every year.10

• Some regions were found to have an incidence as high as 80% of 
Native individuals being homozygous for the Arctic variant.4

Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase, Type 1A Arctic Variant 
(CPT1A Arctic Variant)

Amber L. M. Patson, BSN, RN, SRNA, Texas Christian University

References
1) Hirschfeld, M. The arctic variant of CPT-1A. Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. Retrieved from: https://yk-health.org/images/3/36/Arctic-Variant-CPT-1.pdf Accessed February 1, 2019.
2) Koeller, D. Use of dried blood spots to study the arctic variant of CPT1A. Newborn Screening Translational Research Network. Retrieved from: https://nbstrn.org/sites/default/files/Koeller.pdf 

Published April 25, 2013. Accessed January 27, 2019.
3) Gessner BD, Gillingham MB, Johnson MA, et al. Prevalence and distribution of the c.1436C-->T sequence variant of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A among Alaska Native infants. J Pediatr. 

2011;158(1):124-129. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.07.031.
4) Gillingham MB, Hirschfeld M, Lowe S, et al. Impaired fasting tolerance among Alaska Native children with a common carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A sequence variant. Mol Genet Metab. 

2011;104(3):261-264. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2011.06.017.
5) Clemente FJ, Cardona A, Inchley CE, et al. A selective sweep on a deleterious mutation in CPT1A in Arctic populations. Am J Hum Genet. 2014;95(5):584-589. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.09.016. 
6) Adeva-Andany MM, Calvo-Castro I, Fernandez-Fernandez C, Donapetry-Garcia C, Pedre-Pineiro AM. Significance of l-carnitine for human health. IUBMB Life. 2017;69(8):578-594. 

doi:10.1002/iub.1646.PMID:28653367.
7) Rufer AC, Thoma R, Hennig M. Structural insight into function and regulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2009;66(15):2489-2501. doi:10.1007/s00018-009-0035-1.
8) Guyton, A. C, & Hall, J. E. (2016). Textbook of medical physiology-13th edition. Chapter 68 and 69. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
9) Gessner BD, Wood T, Johnson MA, Richards CS, Koeller DM. Evidence for an association between infant mortality and homozygosity for the arctic variant of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A. 

Genet Med. 2016;18(9):933-939. doi:10.1038/gim.2015.197.
10) Koeller, D. Diet and the CPT1A arctic variant: impact on the health of Alaska Native children. Newborn Screening Translational Research Network. Retrieved from:

https://www.nbstrn.org/sites/default/files/nbstrn_6.1.17_koeller.pdf Published June 14, 2017. Accessed January 28, 2019.
11) Gessner BD, Gillingham MB, Wood T, Koeller DM. Association of a genetic variant of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A with infections in Alaska Native children. J Pediatr. 2013;163(6):1716-

1721. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.07.010.
12) Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders: Carnitine palmitoyl transferase, type 1A arctic variant. Screening, Technology and Research in Genetics (STAR-G), Expanded Newborn Screening Using New 

Technologies. Financial, Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (FELSI). Retrieved from:  https://www.newbornscreening.info/Parents/fattyaciddisorders/CPT1AV.html#5 Updated December 18, 
2014. Accessed March 2, 2019.

13) Jardine, B, Hirschfeld, M, Schumacher, A. Alaska Native Medical Center. Pocket guide to Alaska Native pediatric diagnoses: review of diagnoses rarely seen in other populations.  Retrieved 
from: http://anmc.org/files/Pocket-Guide-to-Alaska-Native-Pediatric-Diagnoses_web-1.pdf Published Spring 2016. Accessed February 26, 2019.

14) Syed, F, Turner, H, Alghamdi, F, Tumin, D, Tobias, J, Wani, T. Anesthetic management of a patient with carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. N Am J 
Med Case. doi:https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3044w

15) Lemas DJ, Wiener HW, O'Brien DM, et al. Genetic polymorphisms in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A gene are associated with variation in body composition and fasting lipid traits in Yup’ik 
Eskimos. Journal of lipid research. 2012;53(1):175-184. doi:10.1194/jlr.P018952.PMID:22045927. 

Anesthesia Discussion/Recommendations:
Pre-operatively:
• It is important to know when a AV-CPT1A child last ate as they 

have different metabolic needs. Parents should be instructed to 
have the child drink breastmilk or clear liquids such as apple 
juice about 4 to 6 hours prior to surgery.12

• Children may receive midazolam accompanied with juice, 
serving dual purpose of anxiolysis and glucose. 

• Note child’s mental status and behavior. If showing symptoms 
of hypoglycemia, check blood sugar.

• If the child is hypoglycemic, surgery may need to be cancelled. 
The child may need hospital admission to correct metabolic 
status by receiving intravenous (IV) or nasogastric (NG) 
administration of glucose.13 A standard maintenance rate of 
dextrose containing IV fluids is usually sufficient.13 

Intra-operatively:
• Blood glucose levels should be checked and maintained.14

• Inpatient AV- CPT1A children should continue glucose-
containing IV fluids intra-operatively.

• Concerns of malignant hyperthermia are valid with 
mitochondrial enzymatic defects however, the use of volatile 
agents was found to be safe in this population.14 

• Propofol provides a large lipid load and may impair 
mitochondrial electron transport leading to development of 
Propofol-infusion syndrome and severe metabolic acidosis.14 It 
is prudent to limit the use of propofol and then use a volatile 
agent for the maintenance of anesthesia.14

Post-operatively:
• A dextrose infusion should be considered for deterioration in 

neurologic status during the postoperative period (vomiting, 
lethargy, or change in mental status).14

Theories supporting the evolutionary selective sweep of 
the arctic variant

• The arctic variant in CPT1A causes decreased inhibitory effect 
of malonyl-CoA on fatty-acid beta-oxidation, compensating for 
decreased ketogenesis.5

• Lemas et al, suggested that the Arctic Variant c.1435C>T 
polymorphism may exert a cardioprotective role in the Alaska 
Yup’ik population by increasing high-density lipoproteins 
(HDL) cholesterol, and reducing adiposity.9,15

• The large amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) 
found in arctic populations diet, increases the activity of 
CPT1A.9 Selecting for the c.1436C>T mutation and a decrease 
in CPT1A activity may provide protection against the 
overproduction of ketone bodies4 and deadly ketoacidosis.

• Interaction between high n-3 PUFA diet and homozygosity for 
the arctic variant is basis for the “healthy obesity” phenotype in 
the Yup'ik and Inuit populations on traditional diets.9
oThis includes low triglyceride levels, reduced C-reactive 
protein, and high circulating HDL-cholesterol.9

Care of children with CPT1A Arctic Variant:
Avoid prolonged periods without food12

• Recommended no more than 6-8 hours without eating12

• A baby/infant may need to be woken up to nurse/eat12

If the child is sick:
•Children with CPT1A arctic variant who are sick need to drink fluids 
with glucose, even if they do not feel hungry:12

• Juice
• Sports drinks such as Gatorade 
• Oral electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte

Parents/guardians should call a health care provider if:
• their child is sick and unable to eat or drink glucose-containing 

fluids for greater than 6-8 hours12,13

• their baby/child seems sleepier than normal harder to wake up, 
seems confused, or is excessively irritable12

• The child has any of these symptoms:12

• poor appetite
• low energy or excessive sleepiness
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• an infection
• a fever

•The child may require intravenous (IV) infusion, or nasogastric (NG) 
administration of a glucose containing solution.13

Case Description:
• A 5-year-old, 19.5 kg, 105 cm, male was scheduled for dental 
restoration
• PMH: Negative, except a diagnosis of CPT1A Arctic Variant
• No known drug allergies
• PSH: Circumcision without complications 
• Vital signs were unremarkable
• No pre-operative labs were ordered 
• Anesthesia Plan: 10 mg of oral midazolam (versed) and 250mg of 
oral acetaminophen (Tylenol) followed by 30-60 mLs of apple juice, 
general endotracheal anesthesia 

Anesthetic Management
• On arrival to the operating room (OR), the staff utilized storytelling 
and distraction techniques to place monitors
• Inhaled induction with nitrous oxide 1.5 L/min with oxygen 3.5 
L/min and sevoflurane 8% at a flow rate of 10 L/min. A 22-gauge 
peripheral intravenous catheter was placed 
• General anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 10 mcg, propofol 50 
mg, and dexmedetomidine 2 mcg 
• Oxymetazoline and water-based lubricant applied to both nares, 
#4.5 nasal RAE cuffed endotracheal tube was placed easily in the 
patients right nare 
• Maintained using sevoflurane 2% end-tidal concentration in a 
mixture of nitrous oxide 1.5 L/min with oxygen 3.5 L/min
• Spontaneous respirations returned quickly and placed on pressure 
support ventilation 
• Dexamethasone 4 mg was administered
• Blood glucose level checked and resulted: 112 mg/dL 
• Dexmedetomidine 2 mcg IV administered three additional times 
during anesthesia maintenance for a case total dose of 8 mcg
• Ondansetron 2 mg was administered intravenously at end of case
• Extubation successful and transferred to the post anesthesia care 
unit (PACU)
• PACU stay uneventful, VSS, patient woke up crying, after about 20 
minutes was transferred to Stage 2 recovery area to be with parents 
• Parents educated by staff about providing a source of glucose to the 
child after discharge, monitoring behavior for hypoglycemia, and when 
to bring the child back to the hospital

Alaskool.org. Online materials about Alaska Native history, education, languages, and cultures. Alaskool central: languages. 
Retrieved from: http://www.alaskool.org/language/languageindex.htm Accessed February 28, 2019.

This project did not require IRB review per 45 CFR part 46.

Anesthesia eJournal                         www.anesthesiaejournal.com
Volume 7 - No.7 2019 Page 20


