Study findings on Coma are outlined in reports from Y.C. Wong and colleagues
2007 OCT 16 -- "Adult-onset type II citrullinemia is an inborn error of urea cycle metabolism that can lead to hyperammonemic encephalopathy and coma. However, type II citrullinemia is rare outside Japan, and diagnosis and treatment can be delayed," scientists writing in the journal Archives of Neurology report. "Magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be a useful adjunct to magnetic resonance imaging, and has been applied to noninvasively study chemical metabolism in the human brain. We describe 2 patients with type II citrullinemia who presented with episodic postprandial somnolence and coma. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed bilaterally symmetrical signal abnormalities of the insular cortex and cingulate gyrus. On magnetic resonance spectroscopy, glutamine and glutamate levels were elevated, and choline and myoinositol levels were decreased," wrote Y.C. Wong and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "The diagnosis of citrullinemia was confirmed based on elevated plasma ammonia and citrulline levels. Characteristic features found at the time of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be helpful for early diagnosis of type II citrullinemia in adult patients who present with hyperammonemic encephalopathy and coma." Wong and colleagues published their study in Archives of Neurology (Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in adult-onset citrullinemia - Elevated glutamine levels in comatose patients. Archives of Neurology, 2007;64(7):1034-1037). Additional information can be obtained by contacting T. Lim, National Institute Neuroscience, Dept. of Neurology, Singapore, Singapore. The publisher of the journal Archives of Neurology can be contacted at: American Medical Association, 515 N State St., Chicago, IL 60610-0946, USA. Keywords: Singapore, Singapore, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Coma, Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Drugs, Glutamine, Liver Transplant, Organ Transplant, Pharmaceuticals, Spectroscopy, Surgery, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by Medical Imaging Law Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Medical Imaging Law Week via NewsRx.com.
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