Aspartylglucosaminuria: unique biochemical and ultrastructural characteristics.

The observation of vacuolated lymphocytes in a coarsely featured two year old female with hepatosplenomegaly, mitral insufficiency, and mild psychomotor retardation led to the first diagnosed case of aspartylglucosaminuria in the United States. Although physical characteristics and bone roentgenograms were consistent with a mucopolysaccharide disorder, analysis of the urine showed no mucopolysaccharide elevation. The chromatographic, enzymatic, and ultrastructural studies confirming the diagnosis are presented.

Prolidase deficiency: report of a second case with quantitation of the excessively excreted amino acids.

The second documented case of prolidase deficiency is presented. Clinical manifestations include chronic otitis media and sinusitis, dermatitis, and splenomegaly. Prolidase is undetectable in the white blood cells of the patient and near or less than the lower range of normal in each parent. The peptide chromatographic pattern of the urine is similar to that of the previously reported patient with prolidase deficiency. The quantity of amino acids excreted in urine per 24 hours is at least three times that of the upper range of normal (of these same amino acids) for the patients age group. More than 80% of the total amino acids excreted are in peptide form. The proline-to-hydroxyproline ratio suggests that the dipeptides are the catabolic products of other proteins in addition to collagen.

Propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency in a patient with biotin-responsive 3-methylcrotonylglycinuria.

The abnormal metabolites 3-hydroxypropionic acid (1.6-4.0 mg/day) and methylcitric acid (3.7-5.8 mg/day) were identified and quantitated in the urine of a patient in whom biotin-responsive 3-methylcrotonylglycinuria and deficiency of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase had previously been documented. The level of excretion of these metabolites was in the lower range of those found in patients with propionic acidemia in whom there is a deficiency of propionyl-CoA carboxylase. The activity of this enzyme in fibroblasts derived from the patient and grown in media low in biotin was 4% of normal. This is the range of patients with propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency. Documented deficiency in this patient of two carboxylase, both of which contain biotin, suggests that the primary defect is in the metabolism of biotin.

[Carnitine deficiency]. / Carnitinmangel.

Carnitine facilitates the transport of activated fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane and regulates energy metabolism through regeneration of intramitochondrial coenzyme A. In carnitine deficiency it may be a limiting factor for fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis. Primary myopathic carnitine deficiency is characterized by low carnitine concentrations usually restricted to muscle; whereas systemic carnitine deficiency shows decreased concentrations in other organs and plasma as well. The latter condition features recurrent metabolic crises similar to those seen in Reye's syndrome and nonketotic hypoglycemia. A therapy with L-carnitine should be undertaken, but does not always prove effective. Similar symptoms may be caused by defects in beta-oxidation, Krebs cycle or respiratory chain enzymes. The conditions may be associated with secondary carnitine deficiency. Patients with organic acidurias exhibit an increased excretion of carnitine esters and an insufficiency of free carnitine. Carnitine supplementation may ameliorate the metabolic disturbance. Secondary carnitine deficiency has also been described in patients receiving chronic valproic acid therapy. Hemodialysed chronic renal patients may benefit from L-carnitine therapy and show improvement of their hyperlipidemia. Nutritional carnitine deficiency can be primarily expected in premature infants receiving a carnitine free diet, since these infants have an impaired capacity for carnitine biosynthesis.

Use of amniotic fluid amino acids in prenatal testing for argininosuccinic aciduria and citrullinaemia.

Prenatal testing of 12 pregnancies at risk for argininosuccinic aciduria due to argininosuccinate lyase (ASAL) deficiency and three pregnancies at risk for citrullinaemia due to argininosuccinate synthatase (ASAS) deficiency was performed by metabolite detection in amniotic fluid and measurement of enzyme activity in uncultured and cultured chorionic tissue and in cultured amniocytes. From our data and those of previous studies, amniotic fluid argininosuccinate measurement alone is clearly a reliable and rapid diagnostic test for both severe and mild ASAL deficiency if maternal ASAL deficiency can be excluded. For prenatal diagnosis of ASAS deficiency, however, both measurement of the amniotic fluid citrulline level and enzyme assay should be employed.