Misidentification of propionic acid as ethylene glycol in a patient with methylmalonic acidemia.

Shoemaker, J D; Lynch, R E; Hoffmann, J W; Sly, W S · J Pediatr · 1992

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Reexamination of serum from a child thought to have died of ethylene glycol poisoning showed that the child had methylmalonic acidemia. The gas chromatographic peak identified as ethylene glycol by a clinical laboratory was actually due to propionic acid. Proof of a metabolic basis for the child's symptoms eventually exonerated his mother of the charge of murder.

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