[Situation of adult patients with inborn errors of metabolism. A survey in Germany].
OBJECTIVE
Advances in diagnosis and therapy of inborn errors of metabolism have improved prognosis and outcome of affected patients. Many patients have reached adulthood already, and thus may be attended by adult physicians. In this study the authors evaluated the situation of adult patients with metabolic diseases in Germany.


METHODS
26 pediatric departments with a special metabolic unit were asked to answer a questionnaire of 14 questions.


RESULTS
16/26 departments completed the questionnaire. Only one hospital maintains an outpatient department for adult patients with metabolic diseases. Two additional internal medical departments collaborate with a pediatric metabolic center. Many of the answering pediatric departments conceded problems in the treatment of adult patients with metabolic diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
Adults with inborn errors of metabolism are mostly attended by pediatricians, also beyond adolescence. There is an urgent need for structures that guarantee appropriate and sufficient treatment of this continuously growing population.
Hoffmann
Björn
B
Klinik für Allgemeine Pädiatrie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf. hoffmann@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Schwarz
Martin
M
Häussinger
Dieter
D
Mayatepek
Ertan
E
Wendel
Udo
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013038:Specialization