title: Alkaptonuria with lumbar disc herniation: a report of two cases.
abstract: METHODS
  Two cases of lumbar disc herniation with alkaptonuria are presented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a probable clinical course of lumbar disc herniation with alkaptonuria, a rare metabolic disease.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although lumbar disc disease is a common clinical occurrence in alkaptonuria, lumbar disc surgery is needed rarely in this disease. A patient with alkaptonuria without ochronotic signs is also rarely seen.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cause, clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques and treatment of alkaptonuria with lumbar disc disease are reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The symptoms of the patients disappeared after surgery, and there were no symptoms on follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alkaptonuria frequently occurs in association with lumbar disc disease. In patients with no other signs of alkaptonuria or ochronosis, early detection of the disease is important to treat involvement of other systems (e.g., cardiovascular and urinary).
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Vakíf Gureba Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karagöz
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Aydín
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hacísalihoğlu
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Seyithanoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000474:Alkaptonuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male