Metabolomics Profile in ABAT Deficiency Pre- and Post-treatment

Metabolomic profiling is an emerging technology in the clinical setting with immediate diagnostic potential for the population of patients with Inborn Errors of Metabolism. We present the metabolomics profile of two ABAT deficiency patients both pre- and posttreatment with flumazenil. ABAT deficiency, also known as GABA-transaminase deficiency, is caused by recessive mutations in the gene ABAT and leads to encephalopathy of variable severity with hypersomnolence, hypotonia, hypomyelination, and seizures. Through metabolomics screening of multiple patient tissues, we identify 2-pyrrolidinone as a biomarker for GABA that is informative in plasma, urine, and CSF. These data will enable noninvasive diagnostic testing for the population of patients with disorders of GABA metabolism.