The urinary excretion of ethylmalonic acid: what level requires further attention?

The urinary excretion of ethylmalonic acid was studied in various patients, including children with glutaric aciduria type II and with beta-ketothiolase deficiency. An increased excretion at a modest level was found in 20 out of 5000 children who were referred for screening of inherited metabolic disease. Two children were studied longitudinally, but no clue to the origin of ethylmalonic acid was found in these cases. It is concluded that follow-up investigation of abnormal ethylmalonic acid excretion is only indicated when additional organic acids such as dicarboxylic acids are excreted in large amounts.