Atypical phenylketonuria with defective biopterin metabolism. Monotherapy with tetrahydrobiopterin or sepiapterin,screening und study of biosynthesis in man

Administration of a single dose of tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride, 10–20 mg/kg orally, to a patient with dihydrobiopterin deficiency led to disappearance of clinical symptoms for 4 days, normalization of urinary phenylalanine and serotonin and decrease of elevated neopterin for 2–3 days. A dose-dependent stimulation of serotonin production was observed. A similar effect was note with even lower doses of L-sepiapterin. The patient is now under monotherapy with tetrahydrobiopterin·2 HCl, 2.5 mg/kg daily. Other patients with this disease may not respond as well.Results of screening for tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in 228 cases with hyperphenylalaninemia, including 140 newborns, are reported.There is evidence that biopterin biosynthesis in human kidney and liver proceeds via a dioxo compound and L-sepiapterin.     

Tetrahydrobiopterin therapy of atypical phenylketonuria due to defective dihydrobiopterin biosynthesis.

A patient with atypical phenylketonuria (defective BH2 synthesis), detected at age 6 months because of severe muscle hypotonia and serum phenylalanine of 20 mg/100 ml, had normal activities of phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase and DHPR in liver biopsy, but only 2% activity in the phenylalanine-4-hyroxylase in vivo test using deuterated phenylalanine. After IV administration of 2.5 mg/kg chemically pure tetrahydrobiopterin bishydrochloride (BH4 . 2HCl), serum phenylalanine decreased from 20.4 to 2.1 mg/100 ml within 3 hours. Administration of 25 mg BH4 . HCl and 100 mg ascorbic acid through a gastric tube decrease; serum phenylalanine from 13.7 to less than 1.6 mg/100 ml within 3 hours and it remained less than 2 mg/100 ml for 2 days.     

二氢蝶啶还原酶缺乏症一例的诊治及基因突变分析

目的 探讨二氢蝶啶还原酶(DHPR)缺乏症的临床诊治和基因突变分析.方法 (1)归纳、总结临床症状、体征,血苯丙氨酸(Phe)浓度;(2)进行Phe(100 mg/kg)+四氢生物蝶呤(BH4)(20 mg/kg)负荷试验、尿蝶呤谱分析及红细胞DHPR测定;(3)进行DHPR基因QDPR突变检测;(4)采用BH4、神经递质前质等治疗,随访疗效.结果 (1)患儿男,生后5个月出现抬头困难、头发黄、抽 搐、肌张力低下.生后1岁6个月Phe 600 μmol/L;(2)负荷试验前血Phe浓度476 μmol/L,Phe负荷3 h上升至1355 μmol/L,BH4负荷24 h血Phe浓度缓慢降至610 μmol/L;(3)尿新蝶呤2.92 mmol/mol肌酐,生物蝶呤7.44 mmol/mol肌酐,生物蝶呤百分比71.79％;(4)DHPR活性(0.27～0.51)nmol/(min·5 mm disc),为正常对照的6.11％～10.60％,诊断为DHPR缺乏症;(5)患儿QDPR基因突变类型为c.515C＞T及c.661C＞T,c.515C＞T突变未见报道;(6)患儿普食下接受BH4(10～20)ms/(kg·d)或联合少量无Phe奶粉、神经递质前质L-DOPD(3～5)ms/(kg·d)(联合carbidopa)、5羟色氨酸(3～5)ms/(kg·d)及叶酸15 mg/d治疗.治疗6个月症状明显改善,抽搐停止、会扶走,血Phe 60 μmol/L.结论 (1)DHPR缺乏症具有肌张力低下等BH4缺乏症共同特点;(2)BH4负荷后血 Phe浓度下降缓慢;尿生物蝶呤增高,DHPR活性低下是确诊依据;(3)c.515C＞T(P172L)是QDPR基因新的致病突变;(4)神经递质前质、叶酸及大剂量BH4(或联合无Phe奶粉)治疗疗效显著.     

Tetrahydrobiopterin loading test in hyperphenylalaninemia.

Some cases of primary hyperphenylalaninemia are not caused by the lack of phenylalanine hydroxylase, but by the lack of its cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin. These patients are not clinically responsive to a phenylalanine-restricted diet, but need specific substitution therapy. Thus, it became necessary to examine all newborns screened as positive with the Guthrie test for tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency. Methods based on urinary pterin or on specific enzyme activity measurements are limited in their availability, and the simplest method, based on the lowering of serum phenylalanine after loading with cofactor, was discouraged by the finding that some dihydropteridine reductase-deficient patients were unresponsive. The preliminary observation that this limitation could be overcome by increasing the dose of the administered cofactor prompted us to reevaluate the potential of the tetrahydrobiopterin loading test in hyperphenylalaninemia. Fifteen patients, eight with ultimate diagnosis of phenylketonuria, three with 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase-, and four with dihydropteridine reductase-deficiency, have been examined by administering synthetic tetrahydrobiopterin both orally, at doses of 7.5 and 20 mg/kg, and i.v., at a dose of 2 mg/kg. All the tetrahydrobiopterin-deficient patients, unlike those with phenylketonuria, responded to the oral dose of 20 mg/kg cofactor by lowering their serum phenylalanine concentration markedly below baseline to an extent easily detectable by Guthrie cards. This method allows for a simple screening method when enzyme or pterin studies are not available.     

Biotin deficiency complicating parenteral alimentation: diagnosis, metabolic repercussions, and treatment

Biotin deficiency associated with total parenteral nutrition is an emerging clinical problem; criteria for diagnosis and dosage for treatment are unclear. We have diagnosed and successfully treated biotin deficiency in three patients. Each patient had alopecia totalis, hypotonia, and developmental delay. Two developed the characteristic scaly periorificial dermatitis; one had only an intermittent scaly rash on the cheeks and occipital scalp. Zinc and essential fatty acid supplements were adequate; serum zinc levels and triene/tetraene ratios confirmed sufficiency of these nutrients. None of the patients received biotin prior to diagnosis, and each had decreased excretion of urinary biotin and increased urinary excretion of organic acids diagnostic of deficiency of two biotin-dependent enzymes (methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and priopionyl-coenzyme A carboxylase). Only one patient had a plasma biotin concentration below the normal range (Ochromonicas danica assay). The rash, alopecia, and neurologic findings responded dramatically to biotin therapy (100 micrograms/day in all patients; an initial larger dose of 1 mg/day for 1 week plus 10 mg/day for 7 weeks in one patient), and did not recur. However, abnormal organic acid excretion persisted in one patient who did not receive the larger dose. We conclude that plasma biotin concentration does not reflect biotin status in all cases and speculate that the biotin supplement currently recommended for pediatric patients (20 micrograms/day) may not be adequate therapy for biotin deficiency and might not even be adequate to maintain normal biotin status during TPN.     

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目的探讨四氢生物蝶呤反应性苯丙氨酸羟化酶(PAH)缺乏症这一新的临床变异型在高苯丙氨酸血症(HPA)中的发生率,并进一步了解其PAH基因突变类型。方法2001年1月至2004年12月,上海第二医科大学附属新华医院收治的106例中位年龄2个月(0.5～59个月)的HPA患儿纳入研究。所有患儿做辅酶的羟生物蝶呤(BH4,20mg/kg)或联合血苯丙氨酸(Phe,100mg/kg)负荷试验、尿蝶呤谱分析及红细胞二氢蝶啶还原酶活性(DHPR)测定。以口服BH4后24h内血Phe浓度下降30%以上且排除BH4缺乏症为诊断标准。对13例BH4反应性PAH缺乏症患儿进行PAH基因突变检测。结果106例HPA者中41例(38.7%)为BH4反应性的PAH缺乏症。血Phe浓度在服用BH4前为(816±431)μmol/L,服BH4后24h内降至(267±198)μmol/L,反应下降率(67±19)%。41例尿蝶呤及DHPR活性均正常。106例中轻度HPA(18例)其BH4反应性PAH缺乏症发生率为61.1%(11/18)。13例做PAH基因突变检测,R241C为最多见突变类型(43.8%)。结论61.1%轻度HPA(11/18)及42.4%(28/66)轻度PKU对BH4有较大反应性。BH4负荷试验是该病有效而简便的鉴别诊断方法。     

Atypical (mild) forms of dihydropteridine reductase deficiency: neurochemical evaluation and mutation detection.

We investigated two patients with an atypical (mild) form of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) deficiency. Both responded to the loading test with tetrahydrobiopterin; their plasma phenylalanine levels were lowered from 278 mumol/L to 85 and 48 mumol/L and from 460 mumol/L to 97 and 36 mumol/L after 4 and 8 h, respectively. In one of the patients, a combined loading test with phenylalanine followed by tetrahydrobiopterin was also carried out and showed a profile typical for DHPR deficiency. The phenylalanine hydroxylation rate was calculated to be 43 and 87%, 4 and 8 h after cofactor administration, respectively. Diagnosis was confirmed by the absence of DHPR activity in the patient's erythrocytes. In cultured fibroblasts, residual activity of 4 and 10%, respectively, was found. Excretion of urinary pterins was essentially normal, and the biopterin to neopterin ratio in cerebrospinal fluid was increased. Although in both patients cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid was found to be normal, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was substantially reduced, there was no sign of neurologic alterations until the age of 2 y. However, one of the patients recently developed deceleration of head growth, whereas psychomotor development continued to be normal for age. Using the chemical cleavage method on the amplified cDNA, mismatches of T to G at nucleotide 659 and of G to A at nucleotide 475, respectively, were identified. These results also demonstrate that screening for tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency by urinary pterin analysis alone can miss some newborns with mild DHPR deficiency and that all children with tetrahydrobiopterin defects need full neurochemical evaluation together with analysis of the enzyme activity.     

Partial 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency in an infant with fatal outcome due to progressive respiratory failure

Isolated partial 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) deficiency has been described to be the cause for a distinct relatively mild clinical picture in a single patient. We describe another patient with isolated partial MCC deficiency who suffered from failure to thrive, muscular hypotonia and progressive respiratory insufficiency with fatal outcome at the age of 6.5 months. MCC deficiency was suspected at 3 months of age on the basis of mildly elevated urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid and 3-methylcrotonylglycine and confirmed by enzyme analysis in lymphocyte and fibroblast homogenates. Residual MCC activity in lymphocytes was 25% of the mean normal value. Residual activity in fibroblasts was lower than in lymphocytes (3.8% of mean normal) and not significantly different from that in patients with complete MCC deficiency. However, the residual incorporation of ¹⁴C-isovalerate into macromolecules in intact fibroblasts, was clearly higher (28% of mean normal) than in fibroblasts with complete MCC deficiency (<4%). In both patients with partial deficiency the residual MCC activity was higher in lymphocytes than in fibroblasts. Clinical symptoms and signs in our patient attributable to MCC deficiency include muscular hypotonia, failure to thrive (already present at birth), progressive respiratory failure due to diaphragmatic paresis and a moderate brain atrophy. The clinical presentation was more severe than in many patients with complete MCC deficiency. Dietary therapy was biochemically effective as shown by normalization of organic acid excretion, however, had no effect on the CNS symptoms. Conclusion We speculate that the severity of the disease could be related primarily to deficiency of MCC activity in the brain. Variable MCC activity among various organs may explain the peculiar clinical picture in this patient. Received: 14 April 1997 and in revised form: 16 June 1997 / Accepted: 22 August 1997     

Effect of hypoxia on renal prostaglandin E2 production in human and rat neonates.

Effect of hypoxia on renal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was shown in asphyxic newborn infants and experimental hypoxic rats. In asphyxic infants, at postnatal day 1, the urinary excretion of PGE2 in severe asphyxia (1.00 +/- 0.19 pg/kg/min, n = 10) was lower than that of the mild asphyxia (2.15 +/- 0.18 pg/kg/min, n = 10) or normal newborn infants (2.65 +/- 0.25 pg/kg/min, n = 8) (p less than 0.01). The urinary excretion of PGE2 was inversely correlated with the urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (r = -0.84, p less than 0.01). The urine volume in mild asphyxia (0.04 +/- 0.005 ml/kg/min) was higher in comparison to normal newborn infants (0.026 +/- 0.002 ml/kg/min) (p less than 0.01), but had no correlation with the urinary excretion of PGE2. In experimental hypoxic rats, the renal PGE2 concentration increased from 0.19 +/- 0.02 ng/mg protein to the maximum level of 0.59 +/- 0.03 ng/mg protein at 10 min of hypoxia. The renal PGE2 concentration then decreased to the minimum level (0.105 +/- 0.02 ng/mg protein) at 24 h after 20 min hypoxia. The renal ATP rapidly decreased during 20 min hypoxia, and gradually increased to 55.1 +/- 6.2 nmol/mg protein at 24 h after 20 min hypoxia, which recovered only about 60% of the control level. It seems likely that renal PGE2 does not play a major role in diuresis in mild birth asphyxia and that severe birth asphyxia suppresses the renal PGE2 production in early neonatal period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Identification of a novel compound heterozygote SCO2 mutation in cytochrome c oxidase deficient fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy

Fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy (OMIM No. 604377) is a disorder of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and is characterised by neonatal progressive muscular hypotonia and cardiomyopathy because of severe Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. Here we report a novel mutation in the Cytochrome c oxidase assembly gene SCO2 in an infant with fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy despite normal initial metabolic screening. CONCLUSION: In newborns with unexplained muscular hypotonia and cardiomyopathy genetic testing of mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders might be helpful to establish a final diagnosis and guide treatment decisions.     

Infantile cardiomyopathy and neuromyopathy with β-galactosidase deficiency

We observed an infant with congenital cardiomyopathy, muscular weakness and hypotonia, who developed hepatosplenomegaly and died from heart failure at the age of 8 months. His condition (including electromyographic findings) resembled infantile Pompe disease but was different by echocardiography, morphology of lymphocyte inclusions, and enzymatic studies demonstrating an almost total deficiency of -galactosidase activity towards methylumbelliferyl substrate in leucocytes, plasma and fibroblasts. His parents had about half the normal activities in leucocytes and plasma. Whilst -galactosidase deficiency in an infantile storage disorder is characteristic of generalized (type 1) GM₁-gangliosidosis, this patient differed by the striking involvement of the cardiac and skeletal muscles and the lack of facial and osseous changes. This case and a similar one reported underlines the necessity to consider storage disorders apart from glycogenosis in congenital cardiomyopathy.     

Prenatal diagnosis of “dihydrobiopterin synthetase” deficiency,a variant form of phenylketonuria

Amniocentesis was performed at 19 weeks gestation in a mother who had previously delivered a boy with dihydrobiopterin synthetase (DHBS) deficiency. The amniotic fluid contained neopterin in high (136 nmol/l) and biopterin in very low concentrations (1.8 nmol/l). The activity of the phosphate-eliminating enzyme (PEE, also called 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase, substrate: 7,8-dihydroneoptein triphosphate) which is present in liver and erythrocytes and defective in DHBS deficiency, was measured in the erythrocytes of the family members. The fetal sample showed only 2% of the activity of healthy adult controls and was comparable with that of the affected sibling. Obligate heterozygotes had activities around 20% of the controls. Two fetal control samples showed even higher activities than adult erythrocytes. Sepiapterin reductase activities were normal in all cases. At autopsy, PEE deficiency was confirmed in the liver of the fetus. We concluded that DHBS deficiency (and most probably also GTP cyclohydrolase I deficiency) can be diagnosed by metabolite measurements in amniotic fluid. PEE activity is measurable in erythrocytes, although the assay needs to be improved. Since maternal tetrahydrobiopterin does not cross the placenta, treatment of a tetrahydrobiopterin-deficient fetus with tetrahydrobiopterin in utero is not possible.Abbreviations B biopterin - BH₄ d-erythro 5,6(R),7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin - %B 100 B/(B+N) - DHBS dihydrobiopterin synthetase - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - N neopterin - PEE phosphate-eliminating enzyme=6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase, substrate: 7,8-dihydroneopterin triphosphate     

Hyperlipidemia and fatty acid composition in patients treated for type IA glycogen storage disease

Because glycogen storage disease type IA (GSD-IA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia that promote a marked elevation in blood triglyceride levels, we evaluated plasma lipid levels in 12 patients with GSD-IA on a regular basis. Six of the 12 patients had plasma fatty acid composition measured; because of possible essential fatty acid deficiency, urinary prostaglandin excretion was also measured. All patients had triglyceride levels between 1440 and 6120 mg/dl (16.25 to 69.09 mmol/L) before treatment. After treatment to promote blood glucose levels of 75 to 85 mg/dl (4.2 to 4.7 mmol/L), triglyceride levels in each of 11 patients were between 189 +/- 31 (2.13 +/- 0.35 mmol/L) and 510 +/- 60 mg/dl (5.76 +/- 0.68 mmol/L). The lipoprotein fatty acid composition in six patients showed a substantial elevation in C16:0, C16:1 omega 7, and C18:1 omega 9, but no increase in C20:3 omega 9 (the fatty acid that characteristically increases in essential fatty acid deficiency). In addition, each of the six patients had normal 24-hour urinary excretion of prostaglandin. One patient, whose triglyceride levels remained elevated despite dietary treatment, was given either clofibrate, lovastatin, niacin, or fish oil. With the exception of lovastatin, these agents produced a decrease in triglyceride values for 1 to 2 months; however, by 3 months triglycerides reached pretreatment levels. Combined treatment with clofibrate and niacin resulted in a sustained decrease in plasma triglyceride levels for 4 months. The findings indicate that dietary management of GSD-IA is usually associated with improvements in triglyceride levels; however, patients maintain triglyceride values between 300 and 500 mg/dl (3.38 to 5.65 mmol/L). No patient had biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid deficiency.     

二次白消安腹腔注射致小鼠精子再生模型的建立

目的 建立一种小鼠精子再生模型.方法 采用不同剂量白消安(单剂10 mg/kg、20 mg/kg和间隔24 d二剂10 mg/kg)小鼠腹腔注射,分别于给药后第一、二、三、四、六、八周取材,进行光镜和电镜观察.二次给药组采用免疫组化检测生精细胞Ki-67表达,TUNEL标记法检测生精细胞凋亡.结果 间隔24 d二剂10 mg/kg白消安对生精上皮的损伤效应介于单剂10 mg/kg和20 mg/kg之间.第二次给药后2周,生精上皮仅基底部残留以单个型精原细胞(As型)为主精原细胞和支持细胞;第三周As型精原细胞增多;第四周分化精原细胞和精母细胞出现;6～8周出现精子发生,生精上皮结构逐步恢复正常.二次给药后1～2周生精细胞凋亡指数显著高于对照组(P＜0.01),以后逐步下降,至第六～八周恢复至对照组水平(P＞0.05).精原细胞Ki-67阳性率在第一～二周最低,在第三周最高,第四周开始下降,第六～八周与对照组无显著差异.结论 间隔24 d二次白消安(10mg·kg-1·次-1)腹腔注射可建立小鼠精子再生模型,诱导凋亡为白消安致生精细胞损伤的重要机制.二次给药后3周主要为精原干细胞增殖期,4周为分化期,6～8周为精子发生恢复期.     

Biotinidase deficiency: a congenital metabolic disease which can be successfully treatment with vitamin H

At the age of 13 months a patient developed muscular hypotonia, deafness of the inner ear and cutaneous symptoms (alopecia; skin rash, complicated by superinfection with monilia). Biochemical assays revealed compensated metabolic acidosis, pathologically high lactate and pyruvate concentrations in the blood and cerebro-spinal fluid, as well as increased urinary excretion of 3-OH-isovaleric acid, 3-methylcrotonylglycine and lactate. The patient was diagnosed as suffering from autosomal recessive biotinidase deficiency on the basis of severely reduced biotinidase activity in plasma (0.05 nmol/min/ml). In both his parents and brother heterozygosity was found. Institution of therapy with a daily dose of 10 mg biotin rapidly removed most of the symptoms; after six months of treatment the deafness had improved significantly.     

“Peripheral” tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency with hyperphenylalaninaemia due to incomplete 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase deficiency or heterozygosity

Four patients in three families with peripheral tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency were investigated. They were characterized biochemically by a tetrahydrobiopterin-responsive hyperphenylalaninaemia, a high neopterin/biopterin ratio in urine and plasma, and normal or elevated concentrations of biopterin, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid. From measurements of the activity of erythrocyte 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase (PTS, formerly called phosphate-eliminating enzyme) and phenylalanine loading tests in the patients and their parets, one patient was demonstrated to be heterozygous for PTS deficiency. The others were obviously genetic compounds (allelism) with incomplete PTS deficiency. Three of the children developed normally, two of them under treatment with tetrahydrobiopterin. In the latter two patients, significantly lower concentrations of biopterin, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid were noted at age 7 months (when treatment was interrupted) than those observed at 3 and 5 weeks, respectively. The infant who is heterozygous for PTS deficiency was born small for gestational age and showed a moderately delayed psychomotor development. It is concluded that peripheral tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency is caused by a partial PTS deficiency with sufficient activity to cover the tetrahydrobiopterin requirement of tyrosine 3-hydroxylase and tryptophan 5-hydroxylase in brain but not enough for phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase in liver. For therapy, tetrahydrobiopterin, 2–5 mg/kg in a single oral dose per day, is recommended to keep plasma phenylalanine normal. A careful observation of the mental development is indicated.Abbreviation PTS 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase     

A rare inborn error of intracellular processing of cobalamine presenting with microcephalus and megaloblastic anemia: a report of 3 children

INTRODUCTION: Defects of methionine synthase or methionine synthase reductase result in an impaired remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Patients present with megaloblastic anemia, failure to thrive and various neurological manifestations including mental retardation, cerebral atrophy, muscular hypotonia or hypertonia, ataxia, seizures, nystagmus and visual disturbances. PATIENTS: We report on three children (two girls, one boy), aged 3.5-7.5 years, who presented with severe megaloblastic anemia, micro-cephalus and partly nystagmus (2/3) due to a rare inborn error of remethylation. RESULTS: Methionine synthase reductase deficiency, cblE type of homocystinuria (OMIM 236270), is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder described only in 14 patients worldwide. Metabolic hallmarks of the disease are hyperhomocysteinemia (median 98 micromol/l, normal range <15) without methylmalonic aciduria but often hypomethioninemia. The patients described here were diagnosed at ages of 2-18 months. The importance of an early recognition of this possibly underdiagnosed congenital disease is stressed. Treatment consisted of the application of hydroxocobalamine (1-2 mg weekly, i.m.), betaine (100-200 mg/kg daily, p.o.), folate (5-10 mg daily, p.o.) and intensive physical therapy. CONCLUSION: Defects of intracellular processing of cobalamine must be considered in all patients with neurological symptoms in combination with megaloblastic anemia. Measurements of homocysteine and methionine in plasma as well as methylmalonic acid in urine is required for confirming the diagnosis. Early treatment im-proves the outcome, although mental disability may not be prevented. Treatment has a positive impact on megaloblastic anemia but only slight effect on hyperhomocysteinemia. The long-term cardiovascular risk of hyperhomocysteinemia in cblE deficient patients is not known yet.     

Congenital muscular dystrophy with laminin-a2 deficiency in early infancy: diagnosis and long-term follow-up

Congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) is a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders characterized by muscle weakness and hypotonia at birth or within the first few months of life. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. About half of the patients have a deficiency of the alpha-2-chain of laminin (merosin). We describe a case of congenital muscular dystrophy in an infant with laminin-a2-chain deficiency, which appeared hypotonia in early infancy. Diagnosis was made by clinical features and the histological and immunohistochemical studies on muscle biopsy.     

Hyperphenylalaninemia due to impaired dihydrobiopterin biosynthesis

A fourteen month-old boy with atypical phenylketonuria was treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan, L-dopa and peripheral aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor (Ro 4-4602:benserazide). Despite the good control of plasma phenylalanine on a low phenylalanine diet, he had shown no improvement in his development but progressive neurological symptoms, such asiirritability, convulsions and decrease voluntary movement. After beginning neurotransmitter therapy, his irritability disappeared promptly and the other symptoms diminished. He gradually reached his developmental milestones. At two and a half years of age, he had recovered sufficiently to be able to walk freely on treatment with 13 mg/kg/day of 5-hydroxytryptophan, 11 mg/kg/day of L-dopa and 2.7 mg/kg/day of benserazide in combination with slight restriction of phenylalanine intake (100 mg/kg/day).Levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were low in the patient's CSF. His urinary biopterin (Crithidia factor) excretion was low. An increase in serum biopterin following L-phenylalanine loading was not found. Dihydropteridine reductase activity in his skin fibroblasts was normal. He excreated large amounts of erythro- and threo-neopterins (but only a trace of biopterin) in his urine. After loading with phenylalanine the urinary excretion of neopterins was even more enhanced, but biopterin remained at low levels. These findings indicated that the patient has a dihydrobiopterin synthetase deficiency.     

Pharmacokinetics of quinine in children

Serum quinine concentrations were measured in seven children after intravenous infusion of quinine dihydrochloride, in eight children after intramuscular injection of quinine dihydrochloride, and in six children after nasogastric administration of a solution of quinine dihydrochloride. The mean (+/- SD) half-life of quinine was 11.1 +/- 4.8 hours, and the volume of distribution was 1.39 +/- 0.37 L/kg. To attain a serum level of 10 microgram/ml quinine, we suggest that children with severe malaria be given a loading dose of 20 mg/kg quinine dihydrochloride parenterally, followed by 7.5 mg/kg every 8 hours. Once recovery begins, quinine sulphate 10 mg/kg may be given orally every 8 hours. Serum concentrations should be monitored, if possible, because they vary greatly from person to person. Quinine is rapidly and completely absorbed after either intramuscular or nasogastric administration.