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Encyclopedia > Argininosuccinic aciduria

Argininosuccinic aciduria is an inherited disorder that causes ammonia to accumulate in the blood. Ammonia is toxic, especially to the nervous system, and argininosuccinic aciduria usually becomes evident in the first few days of life. A genetic disorder, or genetic disease is a disease caused, at least in part, by the genes of the person with the disease. ... Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. ...


An infant with argininosuccinic aciduria may seem lethargic or be unwilling to eat, have poorly-controlled breathing rate or body temperature, experience seizures or unusual body movements, or go into a coma. Complications from argininosuccinic aciduria may include developmental delay and mental retardation. Progressive liver damage, skin lesions, and brittle hair may also be seen. Immediate treatment and lifelong management (following a strict diet and using appropriate supplements) may prevent many of these complications. Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ... This article is about the medical term, epileptic seizure, as distinct from psychogenic non-epileptic seizure. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Mental retardation (also called mental handicap and, as defined by the UK Mental Health Act 1983, mental impairment and severe mental impairment) is a term for a pattern of persistently slow learning of basic motor and language skills (milestones) during childhood, and a significantly below-normal global intellectual capacity as...


Occasionally, an individual may inherit a mild form of the disorder in which ammonia accumulates in the bloodstream only during periods of illness or other stress.

Contents


Epidemiology

Argininosuccinic aciduria occurs in approximately 1 in 70,000 live births.


Genetics

Mutations in the ASL gene cause argininosuccinic aciduria. Argininosuccinic aciduria belongs to a class of genetic diseases called urea cycle disorders. The urea cycle is a sequence of reactions in the cells of the liver. It processes excess nitrogen, generated when protein is used by the body, to make a compound called urea that is excreted by the kidneys. This article has been identified as possibly containing errors. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... What is a Urea Cycle Disorder? A urea cycle disorder is a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of one of the enzymes in the urea cycle which is responsible for removing ammonia from the blood stream. ... The liver is one of the largest internal organs of the human body. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Non-proprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. ... Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed The kidneys are bean-shaped excretory organs in vertebrates. ...


In argininosuccinic aciduria, the enzyme that starts a specific reaction within the urea cycle is damaged or missing. The urea cycle cannot proceed normally, and nitrogen accumulates in the bloodstream in the form of ammonia.


Ammonia is especially damaging to the nervous system, so argininosuccinic aciduria causes neurological problems as well as eventual damage to the liver.


This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means two copies of the gene in each cell are altered. Most often, the parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder are carriers of one copy of the altered gene but do not show signs and symptoms of the disorder.


References

  • Kleijer WJ, Garritsen VH, Linnebank M, Mooyer P, Huijmans JG, Mustonen A, Simola KO, Arslan-Kirchner M, Battini R, Briones P, Cardo E, Mandel H, Tschiedel E, Wanders RJ, Koch HG (2002). Clinical, enzymatic, and molecular genetic characterization of a biochemical variant type of argininosuccinic aciduria: prenatal and postnatal diagnosis in five unrelated families. J Inherit Metab Dis 25 (5): 399-410. PMID 12408190
  • Lee B, Goss J (2001). Long-term correction of urea cycle disorders. J Pediatr 138 (1 Suppl): S62-71. PMID 11148551
  • Reid Sutton V, Pan Y, Davis EC, Craigen WJ (2003). A mouse model of argininosuccinic aciduria: biochemical characterization. Mol Genet Metab 78 (1): 11-6. PMID 12559843
  • Scaglia F, Brunetti-Pierri N, Kleppe S, Marini J, Carter S, Garlick P, Jahoor F, O'Brien W, Lee B (2004). Clinical consequences of urea cycle enzyme deficiencies and potential links to arginine and nitric oxide metabolism. J Nutr 134 (10 Suppl): 2775S-2782S; discussion 2796S-2797S. PMID 15465784 Full text
  • Stadler S, Gempel K, Bieger I, Pontz BF, Gerbitz KD, Bauer MF, Hofmann S (2001). Detection of neonatal argininosuccinate lyase deficiency by serum tandem mass spectrometry. J Inherit Metab Dis 24 (3): 370-8. PMID 11486903
  • Wilcken B, Smith A, Brown DA (1980). Urine screening for aminoacidopathies: is it beneficial? Results of a long-term follow-up of cases detected bny screening one millon babies. J Pediatr 97 (3): 492-7. PMID 7411317

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Argininosuccinic aciduria - Genetics Home Reference (605 words)
Argininosuccinic aciduria is an inherited disorder that causes ammonia to accumulate in the blood.
An infant with argininosuccinic aciduria may seem lethargic or be unwilling to eat, have poorly-controlled breathing rate or body temperature, experience seizures or unusual body movements, or go into a coma.
Mutations in the ASL gene cause argininosuccinic aciduria.
Argininosuccinic Aciduria (481 words)
Argininosuccinic aciduria is a rare inherited disorder characterized by deficiency or lack of the enzyme argininosuccinate lyase (ASL).
Argininosuccinate lyase is one of six enzymes that play a role in the breakdown and removal of nitrogen from the body, a process known as the urea cycle.
Argininosuccinic aciduria is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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