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Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency
Other Names for this Disease
- DPD deficiency
- Familial pyrimidinemia
- Hereditary thymine-uraciluria
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Overview
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency is a condition in which the body cannot break down the nucleotides thymine and uracil. DPD deficiency can have a wide range of severity; some individuals may have various neurological problems, while others have no signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms in severely affected individuals begin in infancy and may include seizures, intellectual disability, microcephaly, increased muscle tone (hypertonia), delayed motor skills, and autistic behavior.[1] All individuals with the condition, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms, are at risk for severe, toxic reactions to drugs called fluoropyrimidines which are used to treat cancer. Individuals with no symptoms may be diagnosed only by laboratory testing or after exposure to fluoropyrimidines. DPD deficiency is caused by mutations in the DPYD gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.[1]
References
- Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/dihydropyrimidine-dehydrogenase-deficiency. Accessed November 28, 2012.
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General Information
- Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. Click on the link to go to GHR and review the information.
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- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
- The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.