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Living with Hyperprolinemia type 2

An inherited condition with high proline in the blood, and for some people seizures or mild intellectual disability.

Understanding Hyperprolinemia type 2

Hyperprolinemia type 2 is an inherited condition with an excess of the amino acid proline in the blood.

Proline is 10 to 15 times higher than normal, and a related compound called pyrroline-5-carboxylate is also high. Some people develop mild intellectual disability and seizures. Severity varies. It can appear at any time in life.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Seizures
  • Intellectual disability
  • Global developmental delay
  • Delayed speech and language
  • Sleep problems
  • Unsteady walking

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in ALDH4A1 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
Expert care
Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Epilepsy Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
How can seizures be managed?
What therapies could help development?
Would genetic testing for ALDH4A1 help our family?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startany time in life
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesALDH4A1

Changes in the ALDH4A1 gene cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurologicalInherited Metabolic

Also known as: 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity disease; 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase deficiency; aldh4a1 hyperprolinemia; deficiency of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase; delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase deficiency; delta'-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase deficiency

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Hyperprolinemia type 2GARD ID 6710 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Hyperprolinemia type 2.

Explore the Hyperprolinemia type 2 blog

Explore research for Hyperprolinemia type 2

Explore actively recruiting Hyperprolinemia type 2 studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Hyperprolinemia type 2 with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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