Abstract
Hyperglycinemia was induced by dipropylacetate (DPA) (dose 14—41 mg/kg per day) in
10 Finnish epileptic patients with neurologically disabling diseases of various kinds.
When comparing the levels of glycine in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and urine from
the patients with 10 otherwise comparable patients, and normal values there was a
fourfold excretion of glycine in urine. All the treated patients had elevated CSF
(49 ± 23 (μmol/l) and plasma (475 ± 76 μmol/l) glycine concentrations. The plasma/CSF
glycine ratio was not influenced by the treatment. In comparison with corresponding
values in nonketotic hyperglycinemia and ketotic hyperglycinemia, this condition probably
arises in a manner similar to secondary hyperglycinemia in organic aciduria. DPA probably
influences metabolism in a way similar to some metabolites of amino acids in organic
acidurias.
Keyword
Aminoacids - anticonvulsive drugs - dipropylacetate - epilepsy - glycine
