N-carbamylglutamate enhances ammonia detoxification in a patient with decompensated methylmalonic aciduria

In patients with methylmalonic aciduria (NIMA), the accumulating metabolite propiony-CoA results in an inhibition of the urea circle via the decreased synthesis of N-acetylglutamate, an essential activator of carbamylphosphat synthetase (CPS). This results in one of the major clinical problems which is hyperammonaemia. In a patient with decompensated MMA, the CPS activator carbamylglutamate was tested for its ability to antagonize the propionyl-CoA-induced hyperammonaemia. Oral carbamylgutamate administration resulted in an impressive increase in ammonia detoxification compared to peritoneal dialysis. Safe, fast and easy to administer, carbamylglutamate improves the acute therapy of decompensated MMA by increasing ammonia detoxification and avoiding hyperammonaemia. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.