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Hope Northrup, MD; Ellen S. Sigman, MD; Adelaide A. Hebert, MD
Division of Medical Genetics Department of Pediatrics; Department of Dermatology; Department of Dermatology The University of Texas Medical School at Houston 6431 Fannin, Suite 1.204 Houston, TX 77030

Arch Dermatol. 1993;129(3):384-385.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is caused by a block in the breakdown of three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs): leucine, isoleucine, and valine.¹ We describe an infant with classic MSUD where inadequate dietary intake of BCAAs² resulted in an exfoliative dermatitis. When the BCAA intake was increased, the eruption resolved.

Report of a Case.—

A 4.5-month-old boy presented at another hospital with hypoglycemia, acidosis, and seizures requiring intubation and phenobarbital therapy. Physical examination was unremarkable except for mild hepatomegaly and marked growth retardation. By day 3 of hospitalization, he was extubated. His unusual urine odor led to an evaluation for MSUD, and the infant received a BCAA-deficient diet. Seven days before he was transferred to our hospital, gradually worsening skin changes developed.

Amino acid levels drawn prior to his transfer revealed the following elevated values: valine, 595.5 µmol/L (normal, 145 to 316 µmol/ L); leucine, . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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