Profound metabolic acidosis and oxoprolinuria in an adult.
BACKGROUND
Profound metabolic acidosis in critically ill adults sometimes remains unexplained despite extensive evaluation.


METHODS
A 58-year-old female presented in a confused state to the emergency department; she had been confused for several days. Laboratory evaluation revealed a high anion gap metabolic acidosis and modestly elevated acetaminophen level. Lactic acid was only modestly elevated. There was no evidence of ketoacids, salicylate, methanol, or ethylene glycol. A urine sample submitted on day 1 of hospitalization revealed a markedly elevated level of 5-oxoproline.


CONCLUSIONS
Originally described in children with an inherited defect of glutathione synthetase, 5-oxoproline is an unusual cause of metabolic acidosis. More recently this disturbance has been recognized in critically ill adults without a recognized inherited metabolic disorder. In most of these cases there has been the concomitant use of acetaminophen. Any causal relationship between acetaminophen and this disturbance is speculative.


CONCLUSIONS
In critically ill adults with unexplained metabolic acidosis, 5-Oxoproline should be considered in the differential.
Hodgman
Michael J
MJ
Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, NY, USA. hodgmanm@upstate.edu <hodgmanm@upstate.edu>
Horn
James F
JF
Stork
Christine M
CM
Marraffa
Jeanna M
JM
Holland
Michael G
MG
Cantor
Richard
R
Carmel
Patti M
PM
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000138:Acidosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000652:urine*
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid