#282 The Evolution of Caring for Females With OTC Deficiency

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC-D) is the most common urea cycle disorder (UCD) and is inherited in an X-linked manner. Females with OTC-D are affected to varying degrees. Some female patients will develop chronic and nonspecific symptoms, such as headaches, and all women with OTC-D are at risk of experiencing hyperammonemic crises. Additionally, recent studies suggest these women can experience neurocognitive changes even though they may appear to be “asymptomatic” or have mild symptoms. As our understanding of the disease has evolved, so too have the ways in which we refer to these women and approach their care.

In this episode, we’re delving into the evolution of caring for heterozygous females with OTC-D, including the unique challenges to diagnosis and management of these patients with variable and nonspecific symptoms.

Joining us are two esteemed guests well-versed in the unique needs of females with OTC-D.

Annette Feigenbaum, MBChB, FRCPC, DABMG (Rady Children’s Hospital and University of California San Diego), is a metabolic geneticist with over 30 years of experience in the field. She recently retired from her clinic role at Rady Children’s Hospital, where she served as an associate physician for the past 12 years. She and her team recently published a case report on the prenatal and postpartum management of a female with OTC-D. She has also published an overview of the challenges of managing female heterozygotes with OTC-D.

Joshua Baker, DO (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago), is a metabolic geneticist and the director of the Inborn Errors of Metabolism Program in the Division of Genetics, Genomics, and Metabolism. He and his team recently published a case report on a family with variable manifestations of OTC-D.

On This Episode, We Discuss:

How our understanding and approaches to managing heterozygous females with OTC-D have changed over time

Management challenges unique to females with OTC-D and best practices for encouraging continued engagement in their care

Opportunities to support the care of females with OTC-D

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