Argininosuccinic Aciduria News and Articles

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Recent Argininosuccinic Aciduria News and Articles

• Agency Reviews Patent Application Approval Request for \"Analysis of Total Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid in Plasma by Lc-Ms/Ms from a Plasma Separator Device (Psd)\"

Study Results from Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the Area of Clinical Trials Research Published

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, "Subjects were randomized to receive either a low-dose of arginine therapy (100 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) combined with sodium phenylbutyrate (500 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) (LDA arm) or a high-dose of arginine alone (500 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) (HDA arm) for one week. At the end of one week of therapy, liver function tests were assessed and metabolite fluxes were measured using a multi-tracer stable isotope protocol. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and measures of synthetic functions of the liver were the primary outcomes. Subjects had significantly increased levels of argininosuccinate (P <0.03) and AST levels (P <0.01) after treatment with high-dose arginine. In the subset of subjects with elevated AST or ALT, treatment with high-dose of arginine was associated with further increases in plasma levels of both aminotransferases. Whereas subjects had increased arginine and citrulline flux with high-dose arginine therapy, the glutamine flux was not different between the two treatment arms. The synthetic liver functions as assessed by prothrombin time, INR, and coagulation factor levels were not different between the HDA and LDA arms. Administering higher doses of arginine in subjects with ASA results in increases in AST and ALT levels, especially in the subset of patients with elevated baseline aminotransferases."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Hence, low-dose arginine sufficient to normalize arginine levels in plasma combined with nitrogen scavenging therapy should be considered as a therapeutic option for treatment of ASA in patients with elevations of hepatic aminotransferases."

For more information on this research see: A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of high-dose versus low-dose of arginine therapy on hepatic function tests in argininosuccinic aciduria. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 2012;107(3):315-321. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism can be contacted at: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Molecular Genetics and Metabolism - www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/622920)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from S.C.S. Nagamani, Howard Hughes Med Inst, Houston, TX 77030, United States.

Keywords for this news article include: Texas, Houston, United States, Brain Diseases, Basic Amino Acids, Diamino Amino Acids, Drugs and Therapies, Essential Amino Acids, Clinical Trial Research, North and Central America, Argininosuccinic Aciduria, Inborn Urea Cycle Disorders, Central Nervous System Diseases, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

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