Moderate citrullinaemia without hyperammonaemia in a child with mutated and deficient argininosuccinate synthetase.

Abstract

In a patient with microcephaly, feeding problems and restlessness, moderately increased serum and urine citrulline concentrations were observed. Protein and allopurinol loading did not result in additional indications for a urea cycle defect. The diagnosis of citrullinaemia was made at both the enzyme and DNA level, resulting from a novel mutation in the argininosuccinate synthetase gene. The fact that the patient has not suffered from severe deterioration, and that there were only minor abnormalities in metabolite concentrations, suggests that the argininosuccinate synthetase capacity was less affected in vivo than in vitro. In vitro nuclear magnetic resonance investigation suggested an active acetylation mechanism for citrulline. This case illustrates the importance of performing extensive biochemical and molecular investigations in order to reach a definitive diagnosis, particularly in instances of moderate citrullinaemia.

• Authors: Wim Ruitenbeek, Keiko Kobayashi, Mikio Iijima, Jan A M Smeitink, Udo F H Engelke, Ronney A De Abreu, Hanneke T Kwast, Takeyori Saheki, Carolien A Boelen, Jan G N De Jong, Ron A Wevers
• Journal: Annals of clinical biochemistry (Ann Clin Biochem) Vol. 40 Issue Pt 1 Pg. 102-7 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 0004-5632 [Print] England
• PMID: 12542919 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Amino Acids
• Argininosuccinate Synthase

Topics

• Amino Acids (blood)
• Animals
• Argininosuccinate Synthase (deficiency, genetics)
• Child, Preschool
• Citrullinemia (diagnosis)
• DNA Mutational Analysis
• Female
• Fibroblasts (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hyperammonemia (diagnosis)
• Mice
• Mutation, Missense
• Rats
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Skin (metabolism)