Endogenous Oxalate Production in Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 Patients

Abstract

BackgroundPrimary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an inborn error of glyoxylate metabolism, characterized by increased endogenous oxalate production. The metabolic pathways underlying oxalate synthesis have not been fully elucidated, and upcoming therapies require more reliable outcome parameters than the currently used plasma oxalate levels and urinary oxalate excretion rates. We therefore developed a stable isotope infusion protocol to assess endogenous oxalate synthesis rate and the contribution of glycolate to both oxalate and glycine synthesis in vivo.MethodsEight healthy volunteers and eight patients with PH1 (stratified by pyridoxine responsiveness) underwent a combined primed continuous infusion of intravenous [1-13C]glycolate, [U-13C2]oxalate, and, in a subgroup, [D5]glycine. Isotopic enrichment of 13C-labeled oxalate and glycolate were measured using a new gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method. Stable isotope dilution and incorporation calculations quantified rates of appearance and synthetic rates, respectively.ResultsTotal daily oxalate rates of appearance (mean [SD]) were 2.71 (0.54), 1.46 (0.23), and 0.79 (0.15) mmol/d in patients who were pyridoxine unresponsive, patients who were pyridoxine responsive, and controls, respectively (P=0.002). Mean (SD) contribution of glycolate to oxalate production was 47.3% (12.8) in patients and 1.3% (0.7) in controls. Using the incorporation of [1-13C]glycolate tracer in glycine revealed significant conversion of glycolate into glycine in pyridoxine responsive, but not in patients with PH1 who were pyridoxine unresponsive.ConclusionsThis stable isotope infusion protocol could evaluate efficacy of new therapies, investigate pyridoxine responsiveness, and serve as a tool to further explore glyoxylate metabolism in humans.