Clinical Information

Amino acids are the basic structural units that comprise proteins and are found throughout the body. Many inborn errors of amino acid metabolism that affect amino acid transport or metabolism have been identified, such as phenylketonuria and tyrosinemia. Amino acid disorders can manifest at any age, but most become evident in infancy or early childhood. These disorders result in the accumulation or the deficiency of 1 or more amino acids in biological fluids, which leads to the clinical signs and symptoms of the specific amino acid disorder.

The clinical presentation is dependent upon the specific amino acid disorder. In general, affected patients may experience failure to thrive, neurologic symptoms, digestive problems, dermatologic findings, and physical and cognitive delays. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, amino acid disorders can result in intellectual disabilities and, possibly, death.

In addition, amino acid analysis may have clinical importance in the evaluation of several acquired conditions including endocrine disorders, liver diseases, muscle diseases, neoplastic diseases, neurological disorders, nutritional disturbances, kidney failure, and burns. General elevations in urine amino acid levels, called aminoaciduria, can be seen in disorders with amino acid transport defects, such as lysinuric protein intolerance and Hartnup disease, as well as in conditions with renal tubular dysfunction including Lowe syndrome and Dent disease.