title: Metabolic investigations prevent liver transplantation in two young children with citrullinemia type I.
abstract: Acute liver failure may be caused by a variety of disorders including inborn errors of metabolism. In those cases, rapid metabolic investigations and adequate treatment may avoid the need for liver transplantation. We report two patients who presented with acute liver failure and were referred to our center for liver transplantation work-up. Urgent metabolic investigations revealed citrullinemia type I. Treatment for citrullinemia type I avoided the need for liver transplantation. Acute liver failure as a presentation of citrullinemia type I has not previously been reported in young children. Although acute liver failure has occasionally been described in other urea cycle disorders, these disorders may be underestimated as a cause. Timely diagnosis and treatment of these disorders may avoid liver transplantation and improve clinical outcome. Therefore, urea cycle disorders should be included in the differential diagnosis in young children presenting with acute liver failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Metabolic Diseases, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martijn J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuppen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eling
authors.forename: Frans W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Verheijen
authors.forename: Edmond H H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Rings
authors.forename: Dirk-Jan
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Reijngoud
authors.forename: Maaike M C
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Francjan J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Spronsen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020159:Citrullinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020160:Sodium Benzoate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001120:Arginine; D005947:Glucose; D020160:Sodium Benzoate