[Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in adult].
BACKGROUND
Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is a X-linked inherited disorder characterized by hyperammoniemic encephalopathy in male neonates. However, there is an increased evidence of late-onset disease, including in adults.


METHODS
A 23-year-old woman presented with vomiting, somnolence, confusion and hyperammonemia. Familial history revealed OTC deficiency in three brothers and one sister, but urinary orotic acid level was normal at birth in the reported patient who therefore was considered as mutation-free. The mother was asymptomatic but had cognitive defect and moderate mental deficiency. Molecular biology demonstrated that both our patient and her mother were heterozygous for complete OCT deletion.


CONCLUSIONS
OCT deficiency could be diagnosed in adult patients at any age and clinical features are various, including hyperammonemic encephalopathy, psychiatric disorders or mental deficiency.
Brajon
D
D
Médecine interne orientée vers les maladies orphelines et systémiques, Tour Drouet, hôpitaux de Brabois, CHU de Nancy, 54511 Vandœuvre cedex, France.
Carassou
P
P
Pruna
L
L
Feillet
F
F
Kaminsky
P
P
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020163:Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult