Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency

Synonyms of Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency

Hyperammonemia due to Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency
Hyperammonemia Type II
Ornithine Carbamyl Transferase Deficiency
OTC Deficiency

Disorder Subdivisions

General Discussion
Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder characterized by complete or partial lack of the enzyme ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC). OTC is one of six enzymes that play a role in the break down and removal of nitrogen the body, a process known as the urea cycle. The lack of the OTC enzyme results in excessive accumulation of nitrogen, in the form of ammonia (hyperammonemia), in the blood. Excess ammonia, which is a neurotoxin, travels to the central nervous system through the blood, resulting in the symptoms and physical findings associated with OTC deficiency. Symptoms include vomiting, refusal to eat, progressive lethargy, and coma. OTC deficiency is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait.

The urea cycle disorders are a group of rare disorders affecting the urea cycle, a series of biochemical processes in which nitrogen is converted into urea and removed from the body through the urine. Nitrogen is a waste product of protein metabolism. Failure to break down nitrogen results in the abnormal accumulation of nitrogen, in the form of ammonia, in the blood.

Organizations related to Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency

Belgian Association for Metabolic Diseases (BOKS)
Alice Nahonlann 7
Melsele None 9120
Phone #: 323-775-4839
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@boks.be
Home page: http://www.boks.be
CLIMB (Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases)
Climb Building
Crewe Intl CW2 6BG
Phone #: +44- 87-0 7700 325
800 #: --
e-mail: info@climb.org.uk
Home page: http://www.CLIMB.org.uk
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
NIH/National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda MD 20892-3570
Phone #: 301-654-3810
800 #: 800-891-5389
e-mail: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.niddk.nih.gov
National Kidney Foundation
30 East 33rd Street
New York NY 10016
Phone #: 212-889-2210
800 #: 800-622-9010
e-mail: info@kidney.org
Home page: http://www.kidney.org
National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation
4841 Hill Street
La Canada CA 91011
Phone #: 818-790-2460
800 #: 800-386-8233
e-mail: info@nucdf.org
Home page: http://www.nucdf.org
Organic Acidaemias UK
5 Saxon Road
Middlesex Intl TW15 1QL
Phone #: 44--178-4-245989
800 #: --
e-mail: davidpriddy@bigfoot.com
Home page: N/A

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html