Primary Hyperoxaluria and L-Glyceric Aciduria in the Cat

Abstract

L-Glyceric aciduria (primary hyperoxaluria type 2; McKusick 26000) is a rare inherited disorder characterized in man by recurrent calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, chronic renal failure and early death from uraemia. To date only eight cases have been described in the literature (Williams and Smith, 1968; Chalmers et al., 1984). A defect in D-glycerate dehydrogenase has been demonstrated in human leukocytes (Williams and Smith, 1968). Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of hydroxypyruvate which is then reduced to L-glycerate by lactate dehydrogenase. The cause of the increased urinary oxalate is unclear but may represent an alternative route of hydroxypyruvate metabolism.