Subject(s)
Malondialdehyde/blood , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances , Adult , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Humans , Porphyria Cutanea Tarda/blood , Porphyria, Erythropoietic/blood , Reference Standards , Reference Values , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Spectrophotometry/methodsABSTRACT
Despite the prevalence of cannabis use in the community, reports of adverse effects in young children are rare. Two cases of cannabis-induced coma are reported following accidental ingestion of cannabis cookies. The possibility of cannabis ingestion should be considered in cases of unexplained coma in a previously well young child if signs of conjunctival hyperaemia, pupillary dilatation and tachycardia are present and other causes such as CNS infection or trauma are unlikely. Specific screening for cannabinoids should be undertaken.
Subject(s)
Cannabis , Coma/chemically induced , Food Contamination , Child, Preschool , Emergency Service, Hospital , Humans , Infant , Male , Substance Abuse DetectionSubject(s)
Chromatography, Thin Layer/methods , Theophylline/urine , Drug Overdose , Humans , Infant , Theophylline/poisoningABSTRACT
In describing the clinical, biochemical, and family findings in five children with porphyria, we examine initial treatments and, where appropriate, the effectiveness of long-term therapy. We note that porphyria diagnosis, particularly in childhood, relies heavily on specialist laboratory investigations. Because disease expression in some porphyrias requires exposure to precipitating factors, it may be prevented or delayed by their avoidance.
Subject(s)
Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors , Porphyrias/diagnosis , Porphyrias/therapy , Adolescent , Aged , Aminolevulinic Acid/urine , Child , Child, Preschool , Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase/blood , Female , Flavoproteins , Humans , Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase/blood , Male , Mitochondrial Proteins , Oxidoreductases/blood , Porphobilinogen/urine , Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase , Reference Values , Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase/bloodABSTRACT
A child who was grossly malnourished and who showed increased excretion of porphyrin and porphyrin precursor had normal activity of erythrocyte porphobilinogen deaminase (EC 4.3.1.8) and leukocyte protoporphyrinogen oxidase (EC 1.3.3.4). Clinical symptoms, coincident with the excretion of rose-colored urine, were consistent with the diagnosis of an acute porphyria. The disease resolved spontaneously after the withdrawal of carbamazepine and sodium valproate and the commencement of parenteral nutrition with subsequent carbohydrate loading. In addition to normal concentrations of enzyme activities, the patient is unusual in presenting before puberty and in having no family history of porphyria.