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Epic Code LAB3170 Pipecolic Acid, Serum

Important Note

Fasting specimen required - 12 hours or more.

  • Draw infants and small children just before next feeding

Additional Codes

Mayo Code: PIPA

Epic Code: LAB 3170

 

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Useful For

Differentiating between disorders of peroxisomal biogenesis (eg, Zellweger syndrome) and disorders with loss of a single peroxisomal function

 

Detecting abnormal elevations of pipecolic acid in serum

Specimen Type

Serum


Necessary Information


Patient's age is required.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: Fasting 12 hours or more. (Collect specimens from infants and small children just before next feeding)

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial.


Laboratory Test Directory Note:

COLLECTION NOTE: Volumes listed are in serum or plasma, draw approximately 2 1/2 times the requested volume in whole blood.

Specimen Minimum Volume

1 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 94 days
  Refrigerated  14 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday

Reference Values

<6 months: ≤6.0 nmol/mL

6 months-<1 year: ≤5.9 nmol/mL

1-17 years: ≤4.3 nmol/mL

≥18 years: ≤7.4 nmol/mL

Clinical Information

Pipecolic acid (PA) is an intermediate of lysine metabolism and is oxidized in the peroxisomes by the enzyme L-pipecolate oxidase. In peroxisome biogenesis disorders (eg, Zellweger syndrome), the activity of this enzyme is lost, resulting in an increase in pipecolic acid levels. In contrast, in peroxisomal disorders involving single enzyme deficiencies such as D-bifunctional protein deficiency, PA is not elevated; therefore, PA analysis is useful for differentiating between these 2 groups of disorders.

 

Increased pipecolic acid levels may also be seen in alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy), hyperlysinemia types 1 and 2, and defects in proline metabolism.

 

Theoretically, a defect in L-pipecolate oxidase can exist, and several cases of hyperpipecolic acidemia have been reported, but a specific enzyme deficiency has not been described in any of the patients.

Cautions

Newborns with disorders of peroxisomal biogenesis often have normal levels of pipecolic acid that increase with age.

 

Abnormal results may reflect either prematurity or nongenetic liver or kidney disease.

 

Vigabatrin interferes with pipecolic acid determination.

 

Methylmalonic acid interferes with pipecolic acid determination.

Interpretation

Elevated pipecolic acid levels are seen in disorders of peroxisomal biogenesis; normal levels are seen in disorders with loss of a single peroxisomal function.

 

Abnormal levels of pipecolic acid should be interpreted together with the results of other biochemical markers of peroxisomal disorders, such as plasma C22-C26 very long-chain fatty acids, phytanic acid, and pristanic acid (POX / Fatty Acid Profile, Peroxisomal [C22-C26], Serum); red blood cell plasmalogens (PGRBC / Plasmalogens, Blood); and bile acid intermediates (BAIPD / Bile Acids for Peroxisomal Disorders, Serum).

Reporting Name

Pipecolic Acid, S

Method Name

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Method Description

Pipecolic acid is quantitated by a stable isotope dilution method; electron capture negative chemical ionization gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry of pentafluorobenzyl esters.(Kok RM, Kaster L, de Jong AP, et al. Stable isotope dilution analysis of pipecolic acid in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, urine and amniotic fluid using electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography. Clin Chim Acta. 1987;168:143-152, Kuhara t, Akiyama T, Ohse M, et al. Identification of new biomarkers of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy by GC/MS-based urine metabolomics. Anal Biochem. 2020;604:113739. doi:10.1016/j.ab.2020.113739)

CPT Code Information

82542

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PIPA Pipecolic Acid, S 32334-5

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
81326 Pipecolic Acid, S 32334-5
29962 Interpretation 59462-2
29964 Reviewed By 18771-6

Report Available

3 to 9 days

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Clinical Reference

1. Gartner J, Rosewich H, Thoms S. The peroxisome biogenesis disorders. In: Valle D, Antonarakis S, Ballabio A, Beaudet AL, Mitchell GA, eds. The Online Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. McGraw-Hill Medical; 2019. Accessed November 02, 2023. Available at https://ommbid.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2709&sectionid=22554226

2. Wanders RJA, Barth PG, Heymans HAS. Single peroxisomal enzyme deficiencies. In: Valle D, Antonarakis S, Ballabio A, Beaudet AL, Mitchell GA, eds. The Online Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. McGraw-Hill Medical; 2019. Accessed November 02, 2023. Available at https://ommbid.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2709&sectionid=225542524

3. Peduto A, Baumgartner MR, Verhoeven NM, et al. Hyperpipecolic acidaemia: a diagnostic tool for peroxisomal disorders. Mol Genet Metab. 2004;82(3):224-230

4. Braverman N, Raymond G, Rizzo WB, et al. Peroxisome biogenesis disorders in the Zellweger spectrum: An overview of current diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and treatment guidelines. Mol Genet Metab. 2016;117(3):313-321

Highlights

Measurement of pipecolic acid is a useful diagnostic tool for differentiating between peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (Zellweger spectrum disorders) and peroxisomal disorders caused by single enzyme deficiencies, such as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

 

Results must be interpreted together with the results of other biochemical markers for peroxisomal disorders.

 

Both urine and plasma are suitable specimens for the detection of pipecolic acid.