Active clinical trials for "Argininosuccinic Aciduria"

Newborn screening (NBS) is a global initiative of systematic testing at birth to identify babies with pre-defined severe but treatable conditions. With a simple blood test, rare genetic conditions can be easily detected, and the early start of transformative treatment will help avoid severe disabilities and increase the quality of life. Baby Detect Project is an innovative NBS program using a panel of target sequencing that aims to identify 126 treatable severe early onset genetic diseases at birth caused by 361 genes. The list of diseases has been established in close collaboration with the Paediatricians of the University Hospital in Liege. The investigators use dedicated dried blood spots collected between the first day and 28 days of life of babies, after a consent sign by parents.

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are not have specific clinical signs, they masquerade as other diseases, and are difficult to diagnose using only clinical manifestations or routine laboratory tests. IEM most commonly manifest in early infancy and childhood. Despite the fact that most IEM are rare in the population, they occupy one of the first places in the structure of childhood pathology, early infant mortality and disability. IEM often remains undiagnosed, while timely diagnosis and timely treatment started can prevent severe systemic damage leading to death and disability. The appointment of a special treatment (diet therapy, cofactors, enzyme replacement therapy) prevents or significantly inhibits the development of the pathological process, especially if the diagnosis is made in the early stages of the disease. To start pathogenetic treatment as early as possible, it is necessary to diagnose IEM as accurately and as early as possible. Among the diseases included in mass screening programs IEM are especially important due to the development of disability and early mortality in the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment, as well as a high risk of recurrence in burdened families. In this connection, the main goals of mass screening - the prevention of disability in children and the reduction of early infant mortality - dictate the need to introduce modern technologies for preclinical diagnosis of IEM. Based on the results of the study, it is planned to scientifically substantiate the need for the introduction of selective screening of children for hereditary metabolic diseases using the technology of tandem mass spectrometry in the Republic of Kazakhstan for timely diagnosis, therapy of IEM and prevention of disability. The introduction of a selective newborn screening program for IEM should always be preceded by a study aimed at studying the prevalence of the disease in a certain region, determining regional reference values of the studied metabolites. Local incidence and outcome data can be used to persuade health officials to prioritize screening in health care spending. The main scientific question and hypothesis of the project is whether it is necessary to introduce tandem mass spectrometry technology in the neonatal screening program for IEM.

This is a multi-center, cross-sectional study to assess risk for liver fibrosis and hepatic injury in individuals with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) using serum biomarkers, Fibroscan, and MRE. This study will be conducted at 5 sites of the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium: Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle, WA, Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA, and Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C.

This is a multi-site, retrospective chart review as well as a prospective study to evaluate histopathologic findings in liver samples from individuals with any UCD diagnosis. This study will be conducted at all Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium (UCDC) sites: Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C.

This is a study involving a dietary supplement. Patients with argininosuccinate lyase deficiency (ASLD) will be randomly assigned to receive either a nitric oxide dietary supplement or placebo for 24 weeks, and then crossed-over to receive the other treatment for 24 weeks. The investigators will assess the effects of the supplement in domains of general cognition, memory, executive functioning, and fine motor functioning in individuals with ASLD.

Urea cycle disorders are inherited illnesses in which the body does not produce enough of the chemicals that remove ammonia, a byproduct of protein metabolism, from the blood stream. Elevated ammonia levels can lead to brain damage and death. Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is a type of urea cycle disorder that is characterized specifically by high levels of argininosuccinic acid, a chemical involved in the urea cycle. People with ASA are at risk for serious liver damage, which may be due to the elevated levels of argininosuccinic acid. Sodium phenylbutyrate (Buphenyl-TM) is a drug that has been used to treat other types of urea cycle disorders. This study will evaluate whether Buphenyl-TM in conjunction with decreased arginine dose (in addition to a normal regimen of protein) will improve short-term liver function and decrease plasma citrulline and ASA levels in people with ASA.

This is a study involving a dietary supplement. Patients with argininosuccinic aciduria will be randomly assigned to receive either a nitric oxide dietary supplement or placebo for 2 weeks, and then crossed-over to receive the other treatment for two weeks. The investigators expect to see that : 1) Patients with ASA will have a decreased ability for their arteries to dilate due to nitric oxide deficiency, 2) Treatment of ASA with the nitric oxide supplement will improve the ability of their arteries to dilate, and 3) Through the testing of subjects' fibroblasts (cells in connective tissue that produce collagen and other fibers), the investigators hope to predict which patients may respond NO supplementation.

Objectives: To study nutrition and immune system problems in people with urea cycle disorders. To study how people with urea cycle disorders and healthy volunteers respond to standard flu and/or hepatitis A vaccines. To compare differences in nutrition and immune systems of people with urea cycle disorders with that of healthy volunteers. Eligibility: Healthy males and females at least 2 years of age who are able to travel to the National Institutes of Health hospital in Bethesda, MD Males and females at least 2 years of age who have a urea cycle disorder and are able to travel to the National Institutes of Health hospital in Bethesda, MD. Design: For Patients with urea cycle disorder: Participants will spend 2 to 3 days in the National Institutes of Health hospital for the following tests: A physical exam and review of medical history Food log for 3 days before the start of the study Blood tests 24-hour urine collection Resting metabolism test DEXA scan imaging study of bones and body fat Participants who are old enough to do certain tasks by themselves (like dressing and eating) can choose to have the following extra tests: 24-hour metabolic room measurements BodPod(Registered Trademark) study to measure bones and body fat Participants may choose to have a flu shot and/ or Hepatitis A shot at the end of the study and will be monitored to check for possible side effects. Participants will return within 1 to 3 months for follow-up tests/immunizations. For Healthy Volunteers: Participants will be seen at the outpatient clinics at the National Institutes of Health hospital for up to 2 visits for the following: Review food log completed 3 days before the start of the study Blood tests Participants may choose to have a flu shot and/ or Hepatitis A shot at the end of the study and will be monitored to check for possible side effects. Participants will return within 1 to 3 months for follow-up tests/immunizations. Review of second food log completed 3 days before second outpatient visit