Réplica: Tratamiento de la encefalopatía inducida por ácido valproico con ácido carbaglúmico / Reply: Treatment of encephalopathy by means of valproic acid with carglumic acid

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Tratamiento de la encefalopatía por ácido valproico con ácido carbaglúmico: descripción de dos casos y revisión de la bibliografía / Treatment of encephalopathy by means of valproic acid with carglumic acid: two case reports and a review of the literature

Introducción. El ácido valproico (VPA) es un fármaco principalmente usado en la epilepsia. La encefalopatía hiperamoniémica por VPA es una complicación grave e infrecuente. El mecanismo por el que el VPA influye en la elevación del amonio es bloqueando el ciclo de la urea, inhibiendo la N-acetilglutamato sintasa y disminuyendo la acetil coenzima A. De forma general, el tratamiento que se ha empleado ha sido la suspensión del VPA y la administración de arginina, carnitina, antibióticos, glucosa y restricción proteica. La experiencia con ácido carbaglúmico se limita a comunicaciones de casos aislados de pacientes pediátricos. Casos clínicos. Descripción de dos casos de pacientes adultos con encefalopatía por VPA tratados, además de las medidas convencionales, con ácido carbaglúmico. Tras el tratamiento con el fármaco se aprecia una normalización de los niveles de amonio. En uno de los casos, al existir otra causa de encefalopatía, no se apreció mejora clínica. Conclusiones. Desde el punto de vista bioquímico es lógico tratar la encefalopatía por VPA con ácido carbaglúmico, ya que revierte el bloqueo del ciclo de la urea condicionado por el VPA. El mecanismo propuesto por el que se produce la toxicidad cerebral y, por tanto, la encefalopatía, es el paso de amonio en forma de glutamina al interior celular, que retorna a amonio y glutamato en la mitocondria y genera estrés oxidativo. El ácido carbaglúmico ha de considerarse como parte importante del tratamiento en pacientes adultos con encefalopatía hiperamoniémica por VPA, aunque es necesario realizar un ensayo clínico aleatorizado con el fármaco para comprobar su eficacia (AU)

Introduction. Valproic acid (VPA) is a drug mainly used to treat epilepsy. Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy due to VPA is a rare but serious complication. The mechanism by which VPA influences the increase in ammonia consists in blocking the urea cycle, thereby inhibiting N-acetylglutamate synthase and diminishing acetyl coenzyme A. Generally, the treatment employed has been to withdraw VPA and to administer arginine, carnitine, antibiotics, glucose and protein restriction. Previous experience with carglumic acid is limited to reports of isolated cases of paediatric patients. Case reports. We report the cases of two adult patients with encephalopathy due to VPA who were treated with carglumic acid, in addition to the conventional measures. Following treatment with the drug, ammonia levels can be seen to return to normal values. In one of the two cases, owing to the existence of another cause of encephalopathy, no clinical improvementwas observed. Conclusions. From the biochemical point of view, treating encephalopathy due to VPA with carglumic acid is a logical step, as it reverses the blockage of the urea cycle conditioned by VPA. The mechanism proposed as being the one by which brain toxicity and, therefore, encephalopathy are produced is the passage of ammonia in the form of glutamine to the inside of the cell, which then returns to ammonia and glutamate in the mitochondria and leads to oxidative stress. Carglumic acid must be considered an important part of the treatment in adult patients with hyperammonaemic encephalopathy due to VPA, although a randomised clinical trial needs to be conducted with the drug in order to test its efficacy (AU)

Proceso de transición de la asistencia pediátrica a la adulta en pacientes con errores congénitos del metabolismo. Documento de consenso / Transition process from paediatric to adult care in patients with inborn errors of metabolism. Consensus statement

Antecedentes y objetivo: El proceso de transición de la asistencia pediátrica a la adulta es un tema de gran interés en los últimos años, especialmente en enfermedades crónicas de inicio en la infancia, como los errores congénitos del metabolismo (ECM). Los avances en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de estas enfermedades han mejorado su pronóstico, encontrando en la actualidad un elevado número de pacientes con ECM que alcanzan la edad adulta y necesitan ser atendidos por profesionales no pediátricos. El objetivo de este trabajo es establecer unas pautas de actuación para que los especialistas involucrados garanticen una transición exitosa de la atención sanitaria de estos pacientes. Metodología: Tras realizar una revisión bibliográfica del tema, los autores, partiendo de su propia experiencia, elaboraron un documento inicial que fue sometido a sucesivos debates hasta obtener el documento definitivo. En caso de discrepancia de criterio, la recomendación de consenso se decidió por mayoría. Resultados: Se presentan una serie de recomendaciones para el mejor abordaje clínico de la transición asistencial de los pacientes con ECM desde el entorno pediátrico a la asistencia de adultos, con el objetivo de conseguir los mejores resultados en este proceso, dadas las características especiales de este subgrupo de pacientes, así como las principales dificultades que conlleva el proceso de transición Conclusiones: Se resalta el papel del médico internista en este proceso de transición y su correcta articulación con el entorno pediátrico y social. Asimismo, se recomiendan acciones y actitudes para mejorar la calidad de dicha transición (AU)

Background and objective: The transition process from paediatric to adult care is a subject of great interest in recent years, especially in chronic diseases with childhood onset, such as inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). Advances in diagnosis and treatment of these diseases have improved their prognosis, with a high number of patients with IEM who currently reach adult age and need to be attended to by non-paediatric professionals. The objective of this work is to establish action guidelines so that the specialists involved can guarantee a successful transition of these patients’ healthcare. Methodology: After carrying out a bibliographic review of the subject, the authors, beginning with their own experience, produced an initial document which was subjected to successive debates until the final document was obtained. The consensus recommendation was decided by the majority in case of criterion discrepancy. Results: A series of recommendations are presented for the best clinical management of the transitions of care of patients with IEM from the paediatric to adult care setting in order to achieve the best results in this process given the special characteristics of this patient subgroup and the main difficulties entailed in the transition process. Conclusions: The role of the internal medicine doctor in this transition process and correct interrelation with the paediatric and social setting is stressed. Furthermore, actions and attitudes are suggested to improve the quality of said transition (AU)

[Transition process from paediatric to adult care in patients with inborn errors of metabolism. Consensus statement]. / Proceso de transición de la asistencia pediátrica a la adulta en pacientes con errores congénitos del metabolismo. Documento de consenso.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The transition process from paediatric to adult care is a subject of great interest in recent years, especially in chronic diseases with childhood onset, such as inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). Advances in diagnosis and treatment of these diseases have improved their prognosis, with a high number of patients with IEM who currently reach adult age and need to be attended to by non-paediatric professionals. The objective of this work is to establish action guidelines so that the specialists involved can guarantee a successful transition of these patients' healthcare. METHODOLOGY: After carrying out a bibliographic review of the subject, the authors, beginning with their own experience, produced an initial document which was subjected to successive debates until the final document was obtained. The consensus recommendation was decided by the majority in case of criterion discrepancy. RESULTS: A series of recommendations are presented for the best clinical management of the transitions of care of patients with IEM from the paediatric to adult care setting in order to achieve the best results in this process given the special characteristics of this patient subgroup and the main difficulties entailed in the transition process. CONCLUSIONS: The role of the internal medicine doctor in this transition process and correct interrelation with the paediatric and social setting is stressed. Furthermore, actions and attitudes are suggested to improve the quality of said transition.