Peritoneal dialysis in a neonate with maple syrup urine disease. A case report

Abstract

Maple syrup disease is an autosomal recessive entity caused by a congenital error in the metabolism of three essential branched-chain amino acids: valine, leucine and isoleucine. The neonatal form of this disease is expressed by a severe and progressive neurological compromise, associated with a peculiar smell of urine, a consequence of the elimination of the excess of these amino acids. This smell of burnt sugar mimics the molasses obtained from maples, which gives its name to this disease. The best method to eliminate these toxins is hemodiafiltration, but in centers where this practice is not possible, peritoneal dialysis is an alternative. We present a newborn with leukinosis with severe central nervous system involvement in whom peritoneal dialysis was useful to overcome metabolic decompensation.