Norman E J, Martelo O J, Denton M D
Blood. 1982 Jun;59(6):1128-31.
A study was made to assess the value of cobalamin deficiency detection through quantitation of urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA). Urinary MMA was measured in 1118 patients suffering from megaloblastic anemia, other anemias, elevated red cell mean corpuscular volume, or unexplained neurologic disorders. Patients without proven cobalamin deficiency had urinary MMA levels less than 20 micrograms/ml. All patients (n = 27) confirmed to have cobalamin deficiency showed MMA levels greater than 20 micrograms/ml. Data are presented showing the Schilling test results, the comparison of serum cobalamin to urinary MMA levels, and other basic hematologic data. MMA levels are a good indication of cobalamin distribution and function since they are directly related to a cobalamin-dependent metabolic pathway. With rapid, reliable quantitation by mass spectrometry, urinary MMA can now be a useful clinical test.
开展了一项研究，以评估通过定量测定尿甲基丙二酸（MMA）来检测钴胺素缺乏症的价值。对1118例患有巨幼细胞贫血、其他贫血、红细胞平均体积升高或不明原因神经系统疾病的患者测定了尿MMA。未证实存在钴胺素缺乏症的患者尿MMA水平低于20微克/毫升。所有确诊为钴胺素缺乏症的患者（n = 27）的MMA水平均高于20微克/毫升。文中给出了希林试验结果、血清钴胺素与尿MMA水平的比较以及其他基本血液学数据。MMA水平是钴胺素分布和功能的良好指标，因为它们与钴胺素依赖的代谢途径直接相关。通过质谱法进行快速、可靠的定量测定，尿MMA现在可以成为一项有用的临床检测。
