Magnetic resonance imaging in neonatal citrullinemia

Abstract

Citrullinemia is a rare inborn error of urea cycle metabolism causing hyperammonemia. In the classic form, a newborn presents with poor feeding, vomiting, progressive lethargy and signs of increasing intracranial pressure 3?7 d after birth, rapidly progressing to apnea, coma and death if untreated. We found only two reported cases in the literature describing magnetic resonance imaging findings of neonatal citrullinemia. We present a case of neonatal citrullinemia with more extensive and asymmetric magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, including evidence of both superficial and deep venous cerebral infarction.