title: Organic aciduria in hypoxic premature newborns simulating an inborn error of metabolism.
abstract: A very unusual pattern of organic acid excretion was established in the urine of two premature newborns with severe respiratory distress and cerebral haemorrhages. By combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry the following acids were identified: lactic acid, alpha-hydroxy-butyric acid, beta-hydroxy-butyric acid, alpha-hydroxy-isovaleric acid, and p-hydroxy-phenyllactic acid. Calculation of the concentration revealed an excessive excretion of lactic acid and also very high excretion of the other acids. A postmortem blood sample from one of the patients revealed a comparable pattern. The abnormal urinary organic acid excretion pattern was most probably caused by severe tissue hypoxia.
mesh_terms: D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000652:urine; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007773:Lactates / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007773:Lactates