Premium
Urinary organic acid screening in children with developmental language delay
Author(s) -
Michelson M.,
Harel S.,
Gutman A.,
LermanSagie T.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of inherited metabolic disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1573-2665
pISSN - 0141-8955
DOI - 10.1023/a:1005558108125
Subject(s) - urine , urinary system , excretion , medicine , developmental disorder , endocrinology , el niño , pediatrics , psychiatry , autism
The prevalence of 3‐methylglutaconic aciduria was evaluated among children with developmental language disorders. A urine specimen was obtained from 40 children referred for developmental language delay to the Tel‐Aviv Child Development Center during 12/96–6/97 and from 50 age‐matched controls. Urine organic acids were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Urinary 3‐methylglutaconic acid was quantified. A mildly increased excretion of 3‐methylglutaconic acid was found in 8 children with developmental language delay. The combined excretion of 3‐methylglutaconic and 3‐methylglutaric acid was increased in 9 patients. There were no differences in the excretion of other organic acids. The patients with elevated 3‐methylglutaconic acid did not differ from the other patients with developmentallanguage disorders in any of the parameters evaluated. Mildly elevated urinary levels of 3‐methylglutaconic acid may be a marker of a still undefined metabolic disorder presenting with developmental language delay. A further study in large groups of children with different developmental disorders is mandatory.