1. Sodium phenylbutyrate improved the clinical state in an adult patient with arginase 1 deficiency
- Author
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Eiko Takeshita, Sachio Takashima, Masayuki Nakashima, Hiromi Ishibashi, Yoriko Watanabe, Toshio Hanai, Mayumi Matsufuji, and Kaori Fukui
- Subjects
biology ,Arginine ,business.industry ,Serum albumin ,Hyperargininemia ,Hyperammonemia ,Sodium phenylbutyrate ,General Medicine ,Pharmacology ,medicine.disease ,Arginase ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Developmental Neuroscience ,Urea cycle ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,biology.protein ,medicine ,Neurology (clinical) ,business ,ARG1 ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
An adult female patient was diagnosed with arginase 1 deficiency (ARG1-D) at 4 years of age, and had been managed with protein restriction combined with sodium benzoate therapy. Though the treatment was successful in ameliorating hyperammonemia, hyperargininemia persisted. After being under control with a strict restriction of dietary protein, severe fall of serum albumin levels appeared and her condition became strikingly worsened. However, after sodium phenylbutyrate (NaPB) therapy was initiated, the clinical condition and metabolic stability was greatly improved. Current management of ARG1-D is aimed at lowering plasma arginine levels. The nitrogen scavengers, such as NaPB can excrete the waste nitrogen not through the urea cycle but via the alternative pathway. The removal of nitrogen via alternative pathway lowers the flux of arginine in the urea cycle. Thereby, the clinical complications due to insufficient amount of protein intake can be prevented. Thus, NaPB therapy can be expected as a useful therapeutic option, particularly in patients with ARG1-D.
- Published
- 2020