Hemoglobin D-Los Angeles [beta 121(GH4)Glu----Gln] in the Province of Liège, Belgium.

Since 1975, more than 19,000 persons have been tested for hemoglobin abnormalities in Liège. Nine unrelated carriers of Hb D-Los Angeles were discovered. They were of Belgian origin.

A treatment of non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia.

The treatment comprising a special diet (without glycine, serine, and with a reduced amount of threonine), strychnine nitrate and ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) led to normoglycinaemia in this form of severe non-ketotic glycine encephalopathy. Diet and treatment were well tolerated but without significant effect upon psychomotor development. This treatment should be more effective if administered before irreversible brain damage occurs, particularly in moderate and chronic forms of NKH.