• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.250-253
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• 2010

Citrullinemia type I is an urea cycle defect caused by mutations in the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) gene. We report a novel argininosuccinate synthetase gene mutation in a Korean family with type I citrullinemia. Metabolic evaluation revealed significant hyperammonemia. Amino acid/acylcarnitine screening using tandem mass spectrometry showed high level of citrulline. Plasma amino acid analysis showed high level of citrulline and the urine organic acid analysis showed makedly increased level of orotic acid. To confirm diagnosis of citrullinemia we did mutation analysis of the ASS1 gene. The patient was found to have mutations of c.689G>C (p.G230A) and c.892G>A (p.E298K), which were new types of argininosuccinate synthetase gene mutation have never been reported in Korea. We report a novel case of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 gene mutation and suggest that the gene study to the family members is necessary to carry out when a patient is diagnosed as citrullinemia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.524-528
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• 2002

Citrullinemia is a rare inborn error of metabolism of the urea cycle, and was first reported by McMurray, et al. in 1962. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The normal synthesis of argininosuccinic acid is blocked in this disease due to a deficiency of argininosuccinic acid synthetase(AS), which has been demonstrated in liver cells and fibroblasts. The clinical symptoms are vomiting, lethargy or irritability, convulsion and mental retardation. The diagnosis is made by the finding of an increased plasma citrulline level. Every effort should be made to reduce the blood ammonia level as rapidly as possible before irreversible brain damage occurs. This report describes a case of citrullinemia that was diagnosed through organic acid analysis and amino acid analysis, and reviews the related literatures.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.370-373
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• 2011

Citrin deficiency caused by the SLC25A13 gene mutations is associated with both neonatal-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2), also known as neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency and adult-onset CTLN2. Neonatal-onset CTLN2 is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by poor growth, intrahepatic cholestasis, and increased serum citrulline. A 16-days old infant with hyperammonemia was referred for evaluation of increased plasma citrulline diagnosed using tandem mass spectrometry. Blood amino acid analysis showed significant elevation of citrulline. Mild elevation in serum galactose levels had been found. DNA analysis of the SLC25A13 gene in this patient showed two novel compound heterozygous mutations, c.221C>T in exon4 and c.1645C in exon16 (p.[Ser74Phe]+[Gln549X]). We suggest that infants with a high serum citrulline level on a tandem mass screening test are candidates for gene analysis and blood amino acid analysis for neonatal-onset CTLN2.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 1997

The amino acids formed by degradation of proteins ingested produce ammonia. The ammonia which is broken down and excreted as urea through a process known as the Klebs-Hensleit cycle or the urea cycle (Rezvani, 1995). The urea cycle consists of five enzymes necessary for the synthesis of carbamyl phosphate, citrulline, argininosuccinate, arginine, and urea: carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), argininosuccinate synthetase (AS), argininosuccinate lyase (AL), and arginase (ARG) (Lloyd, 1992). Congenital deficiencies of the enzymes involved in the urea cycle are diseases that are almost fatal without treatment, showing symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, dyspnea, and coma due to hyperammonemia coming from the accumulation of ammonia and metabolic precursors resulting from the deficiency of one of these enzymes (Batshaw and Brusilow, 1983). Among these, the disease manifested by the congenital deficiency of argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) which is associated with the formation of argininosuccinate in citrulline is called argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency or citrullinemia. There have been two reports on this so far in Korea; one in July 1987 by Kim et al. and the other by Park et al. in 1995. We are to report a case of successful treatment of a child with citrullinemia who was transferred to our hospital due to dyspnea, lethargy, feeding difficulties, convulsions and cyanosis together with some document studies related to this case.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.62-69
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• 2016

Newborn screening of some urea cycle disorders has little benefits because of early severe symptoms before the result, low sensitivity (especially hypocitrullinemia) and poor prognosis. But in case of citrullinemia, citrin deficiency and argininosuccinic aciduria diagnosed as elevated citrulline, newborn screening is helpful for early diagnosis and treatment before the symptom. Distinction between the clinical forms of these diseases is based on clinical findings and biochemical results, however, they may not be clearcut. Treatment is different from each other, so exact diagnosis is essential. Here, the diagnostic algorithm for elevated citrulline after tandem mass screening has been proposed. Minimizing total process time from sampling to report of the results is important in Korea for diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.400-405
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• 2006

A 16-month old boy was referred to our hospital for evaluation of recurrent generalized tonic clonic seizures. Metabolic evaluation revealed significant hyperammonemia ($1,112\;{\mu}g/dl$). Amino acid/acylcarnitine screening using tandem mass spectrometry showed markedly increased plasma levels of citrulline ($1,350\;{\mu}M/l$) with undetectable levels of arginine and arginosuccinic acid. Urinary excretion of citrulline was markedly increased ($38,617\;{\mu}M/g$ creatinine). Brain MRI findings showed diffuse high-signal intensity lesions, that involved gray and white matter in both frontal lobes and insula with edematous changes; these findings were consistent with the acute stage of citrullinemia (CTLN). Mutation analysis of the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) gene, in this patient, showed a Gly324Ser mutation in exon 13, and a 67-bp duplication mutation in exon 15 (c.1128-6_1188dup67). The patient was confirmed as having late-onset CTLN1 and treated with anticonvulsants, lactulose enema, protein restricted diet and arginine. Here we describe a case of late-onset CTLN1 in a patient by biochemical analyses and ASS gene mutation confirmation. This is the first report of a Korean patient with late-onset CTLN1 confirmed by ASS gene mutation identification.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2012

Since the causative gene, SLC25A13 which encodes citrin, was discovered in 1999, over 500 cases with citrin deficiency have been identified. Two phenotypes can occur by citrin deficiency, neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis by citrin deficiency (NICCD) and adult-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2). Some patients with NICCD develop CTLN2 in their later lives. Although cholestatic jaundice is spontaneously resolved within the first year of life in most cases with NICCD, a few cases experience progressive hepatic failure. In this report, two neonates with severe type of NICCD were described. Both cases exhibited neonatal cholestatic jaundice, hyperammonemia and severe coagulopathy. Of note, plasma citrulline and blood galactose levels were extremely high. Serum ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein, plasma methionine, arginine, and threonine-to-serine ratio were elevated as well. SLC25A13 mutations were found in all the four alleles of both patients. With the commencement of lactose-free formula, coagulopathy and hyperammonemia were resolved, and galactose level was normalized. Currently, no factor has been identified to predict the prognosis of NICCD. More experiences are needed to build up the adequate therapeutic strategies for severe type of NICCD. Our experience, however, indicates that the degree of citrullinemia and galactosemia might reflect the severity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2016

Adult-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2) is characterized by episodes of neurologic symptoms associated with hyperammonemia leading to disorientation, irritability, seizures, and coma. CTLN2 is distinct from classical citrullinemia, which is caused by a mutation of the argininosuccinic acid synthetase (ASS) gene. The serum citrulline level is elevated, while the activity of ASS in liver tissue is decreased. CTLN2 is known to have a poor prognosis if the proper treatment is not taken. We reported a female aged 37 years who developed recurrent attacks of altered consciousness, aberrant behavior, and vomiting. We initially suspected the patient had CTLN2 because of the signs of hyperammonemic encephalopathy, such as altered mentality, memory disturbance, and aberrant behaviors provoked by exercise-induced stress and excessive intravenous amino acid administration. Through her peculiar diet preferences and laboratory findings that included hyperammonemia and citrullinemia, we diagnosed the patient as CTLN2, and SLC25A13 sequencing revealed known compound heterozygous mutations (IVS11+1G>A, c.674C> A). Her parents were heterozygous carriers, and we identified that her older sister had the same mutations. The older sister had not experienced any episodes of hyperammonemia, but she had peculiar diet preferences. The patient and her sister have been well with conservative management. When considering the clinical course of CTLN2, it was meaningful that the older sister could be diagnosed early in an asymptomatic period and that preemptive treatment was employed. Through this case, CTLN2 should be considered in adults who present symptoms of hyperammonemic encephalopathy without a definite etiology. Because of its rare incidence and similar clinical features, CTLN2 is frequently misdiagnosed as hepatic encephalopathy, and it shows a poor prognosis due to the lack of early diagnosis and proper treatment. A high-carbohydrate diet, which is usually used to treat other urea cycle defects, can also exaggerate the clinical course of CTLN2, so proper metabolic screening tests and genetic studies should be performed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2015

Citrullinemia type1 is an autosomal recessive disorder of the urea cycle characterized by neonatal or late onset of hyperammonemia caused by a deficiency of the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS). An ASS1 deficiency demonstrates fatal clinical manifestations that are characterized by the neonatal metabolic coma and early death when untreated. It causes a broad spectrum of effects, ranging from a mild disorder to a severe mental retardation, epilepsy, neurologic deficits. An acute neonatal form is the most common. Infants are normal at birth followed by an acute illness characterized by vomiting, lethargy, seizures and coma. These medical problems are life-threatening in many cases. A later onset form is less frequent and may be milder than the neonatal form. This later-onset form is associated with severe headaches, visual dysfunction, motor dysfunction, and lack of energy. Citrullinemia type1 is caused by mutations in the ASS1 gene located on chromosome 9q34.1 that encodes argininosuccinate synthetase, the third enzyme of the urea cycle catalyzing the formation of argininosuccinic acid from citrulline and aspartic acid. The enzyme is distributed in tissues including liver and fibroblasts. This mutation leads to hyperammonemia, arginine deficiency and elevated citrulline level. In the urea cycle, argininosuccinate synthetase catalyses the conversion of citrulline and aspartate to argininosuccinate.. Here, we describe a female newborn patient with lethargy, rigidity and hyperammonemia who was diagnosed as citrullinemia type1 with a c.[421-2A>G], c.[1128-6_1188dup] mutation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.186-190
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• 2014

Citrullinemia type 2 (citrin deficiency) is an autosomal recessive inborn error metabolism, caused by the SLC25A13 gene mutation. Citrin deficiency is associated with two clinical phenotype; neonatal-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2), also known as neonatal intraphepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD) and adult-onset CTLN2. Clinical manifestations of NICCD include poor growth, intrahepatic cholestasis, liver dysfunction and increased plasma citrulline, methionine, threonine, arginine. The molecular diagnosis could be confirmed by SLC25A13 gene mutation analysis. A 3-month-old male infant with persistent jaundice was referred for evaluation. Newborn screening was normal at birth. Mild elevation of serum ammonia and AST/ALT were observed. Plasma amino acid analysis showed significantly elevated citrulline, methionine, threonine. DNA sequence analysis of the SLC25A13 gene revealed two compound heterozygous mutations, c.[852_855del]($p.Met285Profs^*2$) and [1180+1G>A]. We suggest that NICCD should be considered as one of the cause of in infants with cholestatic jaundice, although the newborn screening was normal.