Role of immune mediators in predicting hospitalization of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.

BACKGROUND: Several immune mediators (IM) including cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors have been suggested to play a role in COVID-19 pathophysiology and severity. AIM: To determine if early IM profiles are predictive of clinical outcome and which of the IMs tested possess the most clinical utility. METHODS: A custom bead-based multiplex assay was used to measure IM concentrations in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients (n = 326) with varying disease severities as determined by hospitalization status, length of hospital stay, and survival. Patient groups were compared, and clinical utility was assessed. Correlation plots were constructed to determine if significant relationships exist between the IMs in the setting of COVID-19. RESULTS: In PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 patients, IL-6 was the best predictor of the need for hospitalization and length of stay. Additionally, MCP-1 and sIL-2Rα were moderate predictors of the need for hospitalization. Hospitalized PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 patients displayed a notable correlation between sIL-2Rα and IL-18 (Spearman's ρ = 0.48, P=<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: IM profiles between non-hospitalized and hospitalized patients were distinct. IL-6 was the best predictor of COVID-19 severity among all the IMs tested.

Evaluation of antifibrotic and antifungal combined therapies in experimental pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by the Paracoccidioides genus. Most of the patients with chronic form present sequelae, like pulmonary fibrosis, with no effective treatment, leading to impaired lung functions. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the antifibrotic activity of three compounds: pentoxifylline (PTX), azithromycin (AZT), and thalidomide (Thal) in a murine model of pulmonary PCM treated with itraconazole (ITC) or cotrimoxazole (CMX). BALB/c mice were inoculated with P. brasiliensis (Pb) by the intratracheal route and after 8 weeks, they were submitted to one of the following six treatments: PTX/ITC, PTX/CMX, AZT/ITC, AZT/CMX, Thal/ITC, and Thal/CMX. After 8 weeks of treatment, the lungs were collected for determination of fungal burden, production of OH-proline, deposition of reticulin fibers, and pulmonary concentrations of cytokines and growth factors. Pb-infected mice treated with PTX/ITC presented a reduction in the pulmonary concentrations of OH-proline, associated with lower concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and higher concentrations of IL-10 compared to the controls. The Pb-infected mice treated with AZT/CMX exhibited decreased pulmonary concentrations of OH-proline associated with lower levels of TGF-ß1, and higher levels of IL-10 compared controls. The mice treated with ITC/Thal and CMX/Thal showed intense weight loss, increased deposition of reticulin fibers, high pulmonary concentrations of CCL3, IFN-γ and VEGF, and decreased concentrations of IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-17, and TGF-ß1. In conclusion, our findings reinforce the antifibrotic role of PTX only when associated with ITC, and AZT only when associated with CMX, but Thal did not show any action upon addition.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in paracoccidioidomycosis patients from an endemic area in Midwestern Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most important systemic mycosis in Latin America. About 80% of PCM patients are present with its chronic form. The lungs are affected in most patients with the chronic form; however, pleural involvement has rarely been reported. We describe nine cases of PCM that presented with lung involvement and spontaneous pneumothorax. All patients, except one whose condition was not investigated, were smokers. PCM was diagnosed during the pneumothorax episode in three patients, and from 3 to 16 years before the pneumothorax episode in six patients. A total of six patients underwent chest drainage and one died as a direct result of the pneumothorax. We suggest that pneumothorax, although rare, should be considered in PCM patients who present with suddenly worsening dyspnoea. PCM should also be investigated in cases of pneumothorax in adult men from mycosis-endemic areas.

Standardization and Prevalence of the Booster Phenomenon: Evaluation Using a Two-Step Skin Test with 43 kDa Glycoprotein in Individuals from an Endemic Region of Paracoccidioidomycosis.

BACKGROUND: We estimated the occurrence rate of the booster phenomenon by using an intradermal test with 43 kDa glycoprotein in an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis in the central-west region of Brazil. METHODS: Individuals who had a negative result on a survey performed by using an intradermal test with 43 kDa glycoprotein in an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis underwent a second intradermal test after 10-15 days to determine the presence or absence of the booster phenomenon. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, Chi-square for linear trend test, Student's t test, and binomial test; p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: For the first time, we reported the occurrence of the booster phenomenon to an intradermal reaction caused by 43 kDa glycoprotein at a rate of 5.8-8.4%, depending on the test's cutoff point. This suggests that a cutoff point should be considered for the booster phenomenon in intradermal tests with 43 kDa glycoprotein: a difference of 6-7 mm between readings according to the first and second tests, depending on the purpose of the evaluation. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the prevalence of paracoccidioidal infection in endemic areas is underestimated, as the booster phenomenon has not been considered in epidemiological surveys for this infection.

Herpes simplex Virus Pneumonitis in an Acute/Subacute Paracoccidioidomycosis Patient With Malabsorption Syndrome. Case-Report and Literature Review.

Paracoccidioides sp.-Herpes simplex virus (HSV) co-infection was not reported until now and malabsorption syndrome is a rare complication of the acute/subacute form (AF) of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), characterized by life-threatening abnormalities, such as fat and protein loss, lymphopenia, ascites, and intense immunosuppression. A 21-year-old woman presented the PCM AF with intense involvement of the abdominal and intestinal lymphoid organs, which leads to the malabsorption syndrome and severe immunosuppression. This patient developed a fatal-disseminated HSV infection associated with the paracoccidioidal disease. This case demonstrates that, in addition to the antigen-specific immunosuppression, some PCM patients can present a generalized cell-mediated immune depression and endogenous infection of latent microorganisms. On the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between PCM and HSV infection.

Maple syrup urine disease: further evidence that newborn screening may fail to identify variant forms.

Newborn screening (NBS) by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has allowed for early detection and initiation of treatment in many patients with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) (OMIM 248600), however, a recent report suggests that variants forms may be missed. Information on these patients is limited. We present clinical, biochemical and molecular information on patients with variant forms of MSUD not detected by the California Newborn Screening Program. Between July 2005 and July 2009, 2200,000 newborns were screened in California by MS/MS. Seventeen cases of MSUD were detected and three (two siblings) were missed. Additionally, the NBS cards of two siblings with late onset MSUD, who were born pre-expanded NBS, were retrospectively analyzed. None of the five patients met criteria to be considered presumptive positive for MSUD (leucine>200micromol/L and a ratio of leucine/alanine>or=1.5). Alloisoleucine (allo-ile) was subsequently analyzed in the NBS cards of all five patients, two of whom were found to have elevated levels. The proband in each family was diagnosed following symptoms triggered by an intercurrent illness or increased protein intake. At diagnosis, leucine levels ranged between 561 and >4528micromol/L, and allo-ile ranged from 137 to 239micromol/L. Two affected siblings had normal plasma amino acids when asymptomatic; however, their biochemical profiles were diagnostic of MSUD during intercurrent illnesses. The median age at diagnosis of all patients was one year (range 0.8-6.7). Heterozygous BCKDHB (E1beta) mutations (c.832G>A/c.970C>T) were identified in one family and a homozygous DBT (E2) sequence variant (c.1430 T>G) in another. The third family had one identifiable DBT mutation (c.827T>G), however, a second mutation was not detected. This report provides further evidence that NBS by MS/MS is unable to detect all cases of MSUD. Second-tier testing with allo-ile may improve sensitivity; however, some children with variant forms will invariably be missed.

Comparison of clinico-epidemiological and radiological features in paracoccidioidomycosis patients regarding serological classification using antigens from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex and Paracoccidioides lutzii.

Genotyping of the genus Paracoccidioides showed its diversity and geographical distribution. Four species constituting the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex and Paracoccidioides lutzii are etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). However, there are no studies comparing the clinical and epidemiological aspects between PCM caused by the P. brasiliensis complex and by P. lutzii. Demographic and clinical data from 81 patients with PCM-confirmed by mycological and/or histopathological examination-from Mato Grosso do Sul state (Brazil) were studied. All patients underwent serology by immunodiffusion with antigens obtained from the P. brasiliensis complex (ExoPb and gp43) and Cell Free Antigens obtained from P.lutzii (CFAPl).The cases were classified regarding their serological profile into three groups: G1: PCM patients seropositive to ExoPb and/or gp43 and seronegative to CFAPl (n = 51), assumed to have PCM caused by P. brasiliensis complex; G2: PCM patients seronegative to gp43 and seropositive to CFAPl (n = 16), with PCM caused by P. lutzii; and G3: PCM patients seropositive to ExoPb or gp43 and seropositive to CFAPl (n = 14), with undetermined serological profile, was excluded from the analyses. The Fisher's exact test or the Mann-Whitney U test, and cluster analysis according to Ward's method and Euclidean distance were used to analyze the results. Patients with serological profile suggestive of P. lutzii lived predominantly in municipalities in the Central and Southern regions of the state, while those with serological profile indicative of the P. brasiliensis complex were distributed throughout the state. No differences were found between the two groups regarding gender, age, schooling, rural work, clinical form, severity, organs involved, intensity of pulmonary involvement, degree of anemia, erythrocyte sedimentation rate values, and therapeutic response. PCM patients with serological profile suggestive of P. lutzii and PCM patients with serological profile indicative of P. brasiliensis complex showed the same clinical and radiological presentations.

Bone marrow necrosis related to paracoccidioidomycosis: the first eight cases identified at autopsy.

AIMS: To report the first eight bone marrow necrosis (BMN) cases related to paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) from patient autopsies with well-documented bone marrow (BM) histology and cytology. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective evaluation was performed on BM specimens from eight autopsied patients from Botucatu University Hospital with PCM-related BMN. Relevant BMN literature was searched and analysed. CONCLUSIONS: All eight patients had acute PCM. Six had histological only (biopsies) and two cytological only (smears) specimens. Five biopsy specimens revealed severe and one mild coagulation patterned necrotic areas. Five had osteonecrosis. The cytological specimens also showed typical BMN patterns. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast forms were visible within necrotic areas in all cases.

Essential fatty acid profiling for routine nutritional assessment unmasks adrenoleukodystrophy in an infant with isovaleric acidaemia.

We report a 16-month-old asymptomatic male with enzyme confirmed isovaleric acidaemia (IVA; isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency; OMIM 243500) who, upon routine nutritional follow-up, presented evidence of peroxisomal dysfunction. The newborn screen (2 days of life) revealed elevated C(5)-carnitine (2.95 µmol/L; cutoff <0.09 µmol/L) and IVA was subsequently confirmed by metabolic profiling and in vitro enzymology. Plasma essential fatty acid (EFA) analysis, assessed to evaluate nutritional status during protein restriction and L: -carnitine supplementation, revealed elevated C(26:0) (5.0 µmol/L; normal <1.3). Subsequently, metabolic profiling and molecular genetic analysis confirmed X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (XALD). Identification of co-inherited XALD with IVA in this currently asymptomatic patient holds significant treatment ramifications for the proband prior to the onset of neurological sequelae, and critically important counselling implications for this family.

Two alpha subunit donor splice site mutations cause human trifunctional protein deficiency.

Human trifunctional protein catalyzes three steps in mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acids, including the long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase step. Deficiency of this heterocomplex, which contains 4 alpha and 4 beta subunits, causes sudden unexplained infant death, a Reye-like syndrome, cardiomyopathy, or skeletal myopathy. We determined the molecular basis of this deficiency in a patient with neonatal presentation and later sudden death using reverse transcription and PCR amplification of his alpha subunit mRNA. We demonstrated a universal deletion of exon 3 (71 bp) in his mRNA. This deletion causes a frameshift and very early premature termination. Amplification of genomic DNA demonstrated that the patient was a compound heterozygote with two different mutations in the 5' donor splice site following exon 3: a paternally inherited G to A transversion at the invariant position +1 and a maternally inherited A to G mutation at position +3. Both allelic mutations apparently cause exon 3 skipping, resulting in undetectable levels of alpha subunit protein, and complete loss of trifunctional protein. This is the initial molecular characterization of trifunctional protein deficiency.

A novel mutation in medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase causes sudden neonatal death.

Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency is the most common known genetic disorder of fatty acid oxidation. Most (approximately 80%) cases are homozygous for a single mutation: A to G replacement at nucleotide 985 (A985G). MCAD deficiency typically presents in the second year of life as hypoketotic hypoglycemia associated with fasting and may progress to liver failure, coma, and death. Prompt diagnosis and management may prevent long-term sequelae. MCAD deficiency was verified by analysis of urinary acylglycine and serum acylcarnitine species from two neonates referred for diagnosis. Full-length cDNA and MCAD exon 7 and 11 genomic clones were prepared for sequence analysis. Normal and mutant cDNAs were expressed in bacteria, and enzymatic activity was assayed by the ferricenium hexaflurophosphate method. Four compound heterozygote individuals from two unrelated families with A985G on one allele and a novel G to A mutation at nucleotide 583 (G583A) as the second mutant allele presented with MCAD deficiency in the first week of life. The expressed G583A mutant protein lacks enzymatic activity. This novel mutation, G583A, is associated with severe MCAD deficiency causing hypoglycemia or sudden, unexpected neonatal death. This previously unrecognized phenotype of MCAD deficiency may contribute significantly to preventable infant deaths.

Lack of mitochondrial trifunctional protein in mice causes neonatal hypoglycemia and sudden death.

Mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) is a hetero-octamer of four alpha and four beta subunits that catalyzes the final three steps of mitochondrial long chain fatty acid beta-oxidation. Human MTP deficiency causes Reye-like syndrome, cardiomyopathy, or sudden unexpected death. We used gene targeting to generate an MTP alpha subunit null allele and to produce mice that lack MTP alpha and beta subunits. The Mtpa(-/-) fetuses accumulate long chain fatty acid metabolites and have low birth weight compared with the Mtpa(+/-) and Mtpa(+/+) littermates. Mtpa(-/-) mice suffer neonatal hypoglycemia and sudden death 6-36 hours after birth. Analysis of the histopathological changes in the Mtpa(-/-) pups revealed rapid development of hepatic steatosis after birth and, later, significant necrosis and acute degeneration of the cardiac and diaphragmatic myocytes. This mouse model documents that intact mitochondrial long chain fatty acid oxidation is essential for fetal development and for survival after birth. Deficiency of MTP causes fetal growth retardation, neonatal hypoglycemia, and sudden death.

Reduction of the false-positive rate in newborn screening by implementation of MS/MS-based second-tier tests: the Mayo Clinic experience (2004-2007).

The continued expansion of newborn screening programmes to include additional conditions increases the responsibility of newborn screening laboratories to provide testing with the highest sensitivity and specificity to allow for identification of affected patients while minimizing the false-positive rate. Some assays and analytes are particularly problematic. Over recent years, our laboratory tried to improve this situation by developing second-tier tests to reduce false-positive results in the screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), tyrosinaemia type I, methylmalonic acidaemias, homocystinuria, and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Beginning in 2004, this approach was applied to Mayo's newborn screening programme and resulted in a false-positive rate of 0.09%, a positive predictive value of 41%, and a positive detection rate of 1 affected case in 1672 babies screened.

ETHE1 mutations are specific to ethylmalonic encephalopathy.

Mutations in ETHE1, a gene located at chromosome 19q13, have recently been identified in patients affected by ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE). EE is a devastating infantile metabolic disorder, characterised by widespread lesions in the brain, hyperlactic acidaemia, petechiae, orthostatic acrocyanosis, and high levels of ethylmalonic acid in body fluids. To investigate to what extent ETHE1 is responsible for EE, we analysed this gene in 29 patients with typical EE and in 11 patients presenting with early onset progressive encephalopathy with ethylmalonic aciduria (non-EE EMA). Frameshift, stop, splice site, and missense mutations of ETHE1 were detected in all the typical EE patients analysed. Western blot analysis of the ETHE1 protein indicated that some of the missense mutations are associated with the presence of the protein, suggesting that the corresponding wild type amino acid residues have a catalytic function. No ETHE1 mutations were identified in non-EE EMA patients. Experiments based on two dimensional blue native electrophoresis indicated that ETHE1 protein works as a supramolecular, presumably homodimeric, complex, and a three dimensional model of the protein suggests that it is likely to be a mitochondrial matrix thioesterase acting on a still unknown substrate. Finally, the 625G-->A single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene encoding the short chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (SCAD) was previously proposed as a co-factor in the aetiology of EE and other EMA syndromes. SNP analysis in our patients ruled out a pathogenic role of SCAD variants in EE, but did show a highly significant prevalence of the 625A alleles in non-EE EMA patients.

Renal phosphate wasting in fibrous dysplasia of bone is part of a generalized renal tubular dysfunction similar to that seen in tumor-induced osteomalacia.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of bone is characterized by focal replacement of normal bone and marrow with abnormal bone and fibrous tissue. It arises from postzygotic activating mutations of the GNAS1 gene. Hypophosphatemia due to renal phosphate wasting has been reported in association with FD as a part of the McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS), which is characterized by FD, skin hyperpigmentation, and precocious puberty. To date, the prevalence and mechanism of phosphate wasting has not been well studied. We evaluated 42 patients with FD/MAS. Serum and urine samples were tested for indices of mineral metabolism, amino acid handling, and markers of bone metabolism. Twenty (48%) patients had some degree of renal phosphate wasting. Nephrogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was normal in FD patients, suggesting that the underlying cause of phosphate wasting is not the presence of activating GNAS1 mutations in the kidney. In addition, there was evidence of a more generalized renal tubulopathy as represented by the presence of abnormal vitamin D metabolism, proteinuria in 36 (86%) patients, and aminoaciduria in 39 (94%) patients. Renal phosphate wasting significantly correlated with the degree of bone involvement, as assessed by serum and urine markers of bone metabolism, suggesting that a circulating factor produced by FD bone and impacting on the kidney may be the mechanism. These data show that phosphaturia as part of a generalized renal tubulopathy represents the most common extraskeletal manifestation of FD and that the observed tubulopathy is similar to that seen in tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO).

Production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis.

Monocytes and macrophages can produce a large repertoire of cytokines and participate in the pathogenesis of granulomatous diseases. We investigated the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes from patients with active paracoccidioidomycosis. Peripheral blood monocytes from 37 patients and 29 healthy controls were cultivated with or without 10 microg/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 18 h at 37 degrees C, and the cytokine levels were determined in the culture supernatants by enzyme immunoassay. The results showed that the endogenous levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta detected in the supernatant of patient monocytes cultivated without stimulus were significantly higher than those produced by healthy controls. These data demonstrated that monocytes from patients with active paracoccidioidomycosis produce high levels of cytokines with both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activities. However, patient monocytes produced significantly lower TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in response to LPS when compared to normal subjects, suggesting an impairment in their capacity to produce these cytokines after LPS stimulation. Concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-8 and IL-10 in cultures stimulated with LPS were higher in patients than in controls. These results suggest that an imbalance in the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines might be associated with the pathogenesis of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Effect of cytokines on the in vitro fungicidal activity of monocytes from paracoccidioidomycosis patients.

Peripheral blood monocytes obtained from paracoccidioidomycosis patients and healthy individuals were preactivated with recombinant gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in different concentrations (250, 500 and 1000 U/ml) and evaluated for fungicidal activity against Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis strain 18 (Pb 18, high-virulence strain) and strain 265 (Pb 265, low-virulence strain) by plating of cocultures and counting of colony-forming units, after 10 d. Monocytes from healthy individuals failed to present fungicidal activity against P. brasiliensis even after IFN-gamma activation at the three concentrations. However, patient monocytes activated with IFN-gamma (1000 U/ml) showed a significant fungicidal activity when compared to that obtained with non-activated or activated cells with other IFN-gamma concentrations (250 and 500 U/ml). Moreover, patient monocytes presented higher fungicidal activity than the control, even before the activation process. These results may be explained by the activation state of patients' cells as a function of the in vivo contact with the fungus, which was confirmed by their higher capacity to release H(2)O(2) in vitro. Unlike the results obtained with Pb 18, patient and control cells presented a significant fungicidal activity against Pb 265, after priming with IFN- gamma. These results are explained by the higher levels of TNF-alpha in supernatants of cultures challenged with Pb 265. Moreover, higher levels of the cytokine were obtained in patient cell supernatants. Taken together, our results suggest that for effective killing of P. brasiliensis by monocytes, an initial activation signal induced by IFN-gamma is necessary to stimulate the cells to produce TNF-alpha. This cytokine may be involved, through an autocrine pathway, in the final phase activation process. The effectiveness of this process seems to depend on the virulence of the fungal strain and the activation state of the challenged cells.

Study of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in paracoccidioidomycosis: cytopathology and alveolar macrophage function in response to gamma interferon; comparison with blood monocytes.

Patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) present marked involvement of the lungs during the course of the mycosis. The purpose of this work was to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from these patients to study the cytopathology, TNF levels and the oxidative and fungicidal response of alveolar macrophages (AMs) to in vitro incubation with recombinant IFN-gamma. To compare the lung and blood compartments, these determinations were also made in plasma and blood monocytes (BMs) obtained from the same patients. The cytopathology of BAL fluid revealed a predominance of macrophages, but with the presence of neutrophil exudation, and rare lymphocytes and epithelioid and giant cells. Comparison of the oxidative status and fungicidal activity of AMs and circulating BMs demonstrated that both cell types are highly activated for these two functions when compared to control cells. However, TNF levels were higher in BAL fluid than in plasma. The possible mechanisms involved in the hyperresponsiveness of cells from PCM patients are discussed.

Childhood encephalomyopathy with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency, ataxia, muscle wasting, and mental impairment.

The son of third cousins was normal until age 2 when he had difficulty walking. At age 8 there was limb weakness, ataxia, loss of tendon reflexes, dislalia, and he was mildly retarded. During fasting, urinary organic acid excretion was abnormally high. Cytochrome c oxidase activity in muscle was 7% of the normal mean. The enzyme in platelets was 16% of controls with a decreased cytochrome aa3 peak. These data suggest an autosomal recessive transmission of this variant of cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

Impaired fatty acid oxidation in children on valproic acid and the effect of L-carnitine.

Fatty acid oxidation was studied in 12 patients (aged 3 to 19 years) receiving valproic acid (VPA), predominantly as monotherapy, before and after 1 month of L-carnitine supplementation (50 mg/kg/day po) in order to determine whether L-carnitine plays a role in preventing the hepatotoxic effects of this drug. Five of these patients were also studied prior to VPA treatment. Only one patient taking VPA had an abnormally low plasma free carnitine. Acyl-/free carnitine ratios were elevated in five patients on VPA and normalized after L-carnitine supplementation. Mean plasma concentrations of free fatty acids, beta-OH-butyrate, and cumulative excretion of 13CO2 after administration of 1-13C-octanoic acid were not changed by VPA or L-carnitine treatment. Urinary dicarboxylic acids, acylglycines, and octanoylcarnitine were elevated during VPA therapy and unaltered by L-carnitine. These results suggest that, in patients at low risk for VPA-induced hepatotoxicity (patients aged > 2 years and taking VPA as monotherapy), VPA causes metabolic abnormalities resembling those found in inborn errors of mitochondrial beta-oxidation which are not corrected by L-carnitine.