Pyroglutamic acidosis in a renal transplant patient

Abstract

Metabolic acidosis is a common acid–base disorder in critically ill patients. Elucidation of the cause usually commences with the calculation of the anion gap. Increased anion gap metabolic acidosis is commonly due to lactic acidosis, renal failure, ketoacidosis as well as a multitude of drugs including toxic alcohols. Pyroglutamic acidosis (5-oxoprolinuria) is a rare cause of increased anion gap acidosis and has not previously been reported in a renal transplant patient.