[citation needed] Long-term complications can include intellectual disability, autism,[8] chronic kidney disease,[9] cardiomyopathy, and prolonged QTc interval.

[citation needed] In many cases, propionic acidemia can damage the brain, heart, kidney, liver, cause seizures and delays to normal development such as walking or talking.

[citation needed] PCC is required for the normal breakdown of the essential amino acids valine, isoleucine, threonine, and methionine, as well as certain odd-chained fatty-acids.

In addition to a protein mixture that is devoid of methionine, threonine, valine, and isoleucine, the patient should also receive L-carnitine treatment and should be given antibiotics 10 days per month in order to remove the intestinal propiogenic flora.

[citation needed] Propionic acidemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern and is found in about 1 in 35,000[11] live births in the United States.

[15] In 1957, a male child was born with poor mental development, repeated attacks of acidosis, and high levels of ketones and glycine in the blood.

Upon dietary testing, Dr. Barton Childs discovered that his symptoms worsened when given the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, and threonine.