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Burlina A, Gasperini S, la Marca G, Pession A, Siri B, Spada M, Ruoppolo M, Tummolo A. Long-Term Management of Patients with Mild Urea Cycle Disorders Identified through the Newborn Screening: An Expert Opinion for Clinical Practice. Nutrients 2023; 16:13. [PMID: 38201843 PMCID: PMC10780676 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) are a group of rare inborn errors of metabolism caused by a deficiency in one of the six enzymes or one of the two transporters involved in the urea cycle. Current guidelines suggest that early diagnosis and treatment of mild UCDs may improve survival and prevent decompensation and neurocognitive impairment. Nevertheless, clinical studies are very difficult to carry out in this setting due to the rarity of the diseases, and high-level evidence is scant and insufficient to draw conclusions and provide clinical guidelines. With the early introduction of newborn screening, the Italian healthcare organization fostered an advancement in expertise in metabolic disease management and screening programs, by allocating resources, and favoring the expansion of newborn screening. A group of experts operating in Italian centers decided to share their experience and provide advice for the management of mild UCDs in clinical practice. A consensus was reached by the Estimate-Talk-Estimate (ETE) method. Five items were identified, and statements for each item were agreed. Briefly, the panel advised completing the diagnosis by expanded newborn screening (ENS) with biochemical and genetic confirmation and by following up with the patient during the first year of life, with a routine laboratory and metabolic profile as well as with clinical observation. Early initiation of therapy is advised and should be followed by therapy adjustment once the diagnostic profile is completed. The therapy should be based on a low-protein diet and nitrogen scavengers. The long-term follow-up is based on growth and nutritional assessment, clinical and neurocognitive evaluation, and laboratory and instrumental parameter monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albero Burlina
- Division of Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Reference Centre for Expanded Newborn Screening, University Hospital of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Serena Gasperini
- Inherited Metabolic Unit Disorders, Pediatric Department, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| | - Giancarlo la Marca
- Newborn Screening Lab, IRCCS Meyer Children’s Hospital, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Andrea Pession
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Barbara Siri
- Division of Metabolic Diseases and Hepatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marco Spada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy;
| | - Margherita Ruoppolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples, Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy;
- CEINGE–Biotecnologie Avanzate S.C.A.R.L., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Albina Tummolo
- Department of Metabolic Diseases and Clinical Genetics and Diabetology, Giovanni XXIII Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale, 70126 Bari, Italy;
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