[Diagnosis and treatment of urea cycle disorders in adult patients]

Rev Med Interne. 2016 Oct;37(10):680-684. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2016.02.011. Epub 2016 Mar 28.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are inborn errors of metabolism in which the clinical picture is mostly due to ammonia intoxication. UCD onset may be observed at any age. Acute decompensations of UCDs include neuro-psychiatric symptoms such as headache, confusion, convulsions, ataxia, agitation or delirium, as well as digestive symptoms, namely nausea and vomiting along with abdominal pain. Acute decompensations may lead to an irreversible coma in the absence of specific therapy. The first step is to measure promptly ammonemia in such patients, and start appropriate therapy on an emergency basis.

Keywords: Ammonia intoxication; Déficits du cycle de l’urée; Intoxication par l’ammoniac; Urea cycle disorders.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Confusion / diagnosis
  • Confusion / etiology
  • Headache / diagnosis
  • Headache / etiology
  • Humans
  • Nausea / diagnosis
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Seizures / diagnosis
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn / complications
  • Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn / diagnosis*
  • Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn / therapy*
  • Vomiting / diagnosis
  • Vomiting / etiology