HealthAugust 15, 2026
hyperisovaleric
HY-per-eye-so-va-LER-ik
Definition
A medical condition characterized by elevated levels of isovaleric acid in the blood, caused by a metabolic disorder involving the breakdown of leucine.
Etymology
The word combines the Greek 'hyper' meaning 'over' or 'excessive' with 'isovaleric,' derived from the chemical compound isovaleric acid, which was named for its origin in the valerian plant.
In the news
Hyperisovaleric acidemia is listed as one of the 19 genetic diseases the initiative is actively screening for in newborns to prevent long-term disability.
'100M Healthy Lives' Initiative: 792K newborns screened for genetic diseases
Read the full article ↗Egypt Today