N-acetylglutamate synthase deficiency and the treatment of hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

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Elpeleg O, Shaag A, Ben-Shalom E, Schmid T, Bachmann C

N-acetylglutamate synthase deficiency and the treatment of hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Ann Neurol. 2002 Dec;52(6):845-9.

PubMed ID
12447942 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

Carbamylphosphate synthase is the first enzymatic reaction of the urea cycle. Its activator, N-acetylglutamate, is synthesized from acetyl-CoA and glutamate in a reaction catalyzed by N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS). We have identified the putative human NAGS gene and report the first mutation in this gene in a family with carbamylglutamate responsive hyperammonemia and normal activity of the urea cycle enzymes. Mutation analysis has a higher diagnostic specificity than the enzymatic assay in NAGS deficiency. A therapeutic trial with carbamylglutamate is recommended whenever hyperammonemia without an organic aciduria, increased orotate excretion, or diagnostic amino acidemia/uria is detected.

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