Urocanicacidurea associated with Hepatic Coma

Abstract

WHILE studying the urinary chromatographic pattern of a patient in hepatic coma the presence of an abnormal spot R _F 0.14 and 0.54 in propanol/ammonia, 7 : 3, and butanol/acetic acid/water, 4 : 1 : 5, respectively, was noted after spraying paper chromatograms with diazotized p-sulphanilic acid. This colour reaction suggested that it might be an imidazole derivative, yet chromatography excluded the possibility of it being histamine, histidine or 1-methylimidazole-4-acetic acid (Table 1). As the presence of this unknown compound could not be related to the diet, or therapy, of the patient and appeared to be associated with the disease, an attempt was made to isolate it.