Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)


Other names people use for this condition
  • Branched chain ketoaciduria
  • Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase deficiency
  • BCKD deficiency
  • Keto acid decarboxylase deficiency
  • MSUD
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Home > Genetic & Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) > Maple syrup urine disease



Maple syrup urine disease
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Maple syrup urine disease is an inherited disorder in which the body is unable to process certain protein building blocks (amino acids) properly. Beginning in early infancy, this condition is characterized by poor feeding, vomiting, lack of energy (lethargy), seizures, and developmental delay. The urine of affected infants has a distinctive sweet odor, much like burned caramel, that gives the condition its name. Maple syrup urine disease can be life-threatening if untreated.[1]

References
  1. Maple syrup urine disease. Genetic Home Reference. 2006 Available at: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=maplesyrupurinedisease. Accessed August 8, 2008.

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For more information about Maple syrup urine disease click on the boxes below:
More Detailed Information NLM Gateway Services Support Groups Clinical Trials & Research
 General | Management Guidelines | Newborn Screening
More Detailed Information (Found 15 resources)
Links where you can find more general information, comprehensive resources, selected full text journal articles, and news updates

  • General

    • eMedicine provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free
    • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains a condition summary on Maple syrup urine disease. Click on the link to go to GHR and review this summary.
    • The Maple Syrup Urine Disease Family Support group has a list of low protein products on their Web site that is intended as a general reference and resource for parents and others involved with the care of persons with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).
    • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine Web site to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
    • MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
    • The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) was established in 1988 as a national resource for molecular biology information.  Click on the link to view information on this topic.
    • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
    • The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Maple syrup urine disease. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.
    • Orphanet is a database dedicated to information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.  Access to this database is free of charge.  Click on the link to read information on this topic.
    • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Maple syrup urine disease. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
    • Save Babies Through Screening Foundation's website has an information page on Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). Click on Save Babies Through Screening Foundation to view this information page. 
  • Management Guidelines

    • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions. Click on the link to view the article on this topic.
  • Newborn Screening

    • The U.S. National Newborn Screening Status Report lists the status of newborn screening state by state and is available on the National Newborn Screening and Genetic Resource Center (NNSGRC) Web site. The NNSGRC provides information and resources in the area of newborn screening and genetics to benefit health professionals, the public health community, consumers and government officials. Click on the link above to view the report.

    • An ACTion (ACT) sheet for this condition has been developed by experts in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics, an organization providing education, resources and a voice for the medical genetics profession. ACT sheets are general guidelines that describe the short-term actions a health professional should follow in talking with the family and deciding the appropriate steps in the follow-up of an infant who has screened positive on a newborn screening test. Click on the link above to view the ACT sheet.
    • An Algorithm for this condition has been developed by experts in collaboration with the American College of Medical Genetics, an organization providing education, resources and a voice for the medical genetics profession. Algorithms are general guidelines for healthcare providers outlining steps involved in determining the diagnosis of an infant who has screened positive on a newborn screening test. Click on the link above to view the Algorithm.
 
NLM Gateway (Found 1 resource)
A tool to search across multiple resources offered on the National Library of Medicine's Website

    • NLM Gateway allows users to search many resources offered on the National Library of Medicine's Web site at once to quickly find more information about this condition. Some of the resources may be a duplicate of the resources listed on this page. To search NLM Gateway, click on the link; the condition name will already be in the search box, so you can just click the “Search” button.
 Healthcare Professional Online Directory | Testing
Services (Found 2 resources)
Links to Web sites that offer services, such as tools to locate specialists, specialty clinics, genetic services, and genetic testing laboratories

  • Healthcare Professional Online Directory

  • Testing

    • GeneTests lists laboratories offering clinical genetic testing for this condition. Clinical genetic tests are ordered to help diagnose a person or family and to aid in decisions regarding medical care or reproductive issues. Talk to your health care provider or a genetic professional to learn more about your testing options.
 Umbrella Organizations | Disease-Specific Organizations | Live Chat/E-mail Lists | Parent Matching Organizations
Support Groups (Found 8 resources)
Groups providing a wide range of services, supportive resources, and information

  • Umbrella Organizations

  • Disease-Specific Organizations

  • Live Chat/E-mail Lists

    • The National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) has partnered with Inspire.com to launch an online community for people with rare diseases called The NORD Rare Disease Community. This community connects medical patients, family members, caregivers, and professionals. Click on The NORD Rare Disease Community to learn more.
    • RareShare is an online social hub dedicated to patients, families and healthcare professionals affected by rare medical disorders. Click on RareShare to learn more.
  • Parent Matching Organizations

 
Clinical Trials & Research (Found 1 resource)
Resources where you may find research studies and clinical trials

    • The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public with current information on clinical research studies. There is a study titled Studies of Children with Metabolic or Other Genetic Disorders which may be of interest to you. To find this trial, click on the link above.

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