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Alcaptonuria - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Ocronosis alcaptonúrica; ACU; Deficiencia de la oxidasa del ácido homogentísico

Definición:

Es un raro trastorno hereditario en el cual la orina se torna de color negro-marrón oscuro con la exposición al aire.

Ver también: error innato del metabolismo

Causas:

Un defecto en el gen HGD causa la alcaptonuria.

Este defecto hace que el cuerpo sea incapaz de descomponer en forma apropiada ciertos aminoácidos (tirosina y fenilalanina) y, como resultado, una sustancia llamada ácido homogentísico se acumula en la piel y otros tejidos corporales. Este ácido sale del cuerpo a través de la orina, la cual se torna de color marrón-negro cuando se mezcla con el aire.

La alcaptonuria es hereditaria, lo cual significa que se transmite de padres a hijos. Para contraer esta enfermedad, cada uno de los padres tiene que pasarle al hijo una copia del gen defectuoso HGD.

  • Reviewed last on: 5/15/2011
  • Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section on Medical Genetics, Winston-Salem, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Chakrapani A, Holme E. Disorders of tyrosine metabolism. In: Fernandes J, Saudubray J-m, van den Berghe G, Walter JH, eds. Inborn Metabolic Diseases: Diagnosis and Treatment. 4th ed. New York, NY: Springer;2006:chap 18.

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